How to Choose T-Shirts: GSM, Fabric, Print and Supplier

GSM is grams per square metre. A light summer T-shirt is around 140 to 160 GSM, an everyday cotton T-shirt about 170 to 190 GSM, and a premium or heavyweight T-shirt 200 GSM and above. Heavier is not always better: the right weight depends on the climate and the price point of your market.

Yarn quality changes the feel. Carded cotton is the cheapest and a little rougher. Combed cotton has short fibres removed, so it is smoother and stronger. Ring-spun combed cotton is the premium choice for a soft, durable hand. Most T-shirts use single jersey knit; interlock is thicker, smoother on both sides and used for premium and polo-style garments. A small percentage of elastane improves recovery; polyester blends reduce shrinkage and cost.

Knitted T-shirts shrink more than woven garments, mostly in length, and often twist if the fabric was not properly finished. Ask for compacted, pre-shrunk fabric and set a limit, typically within about 5% in length and 3% in width after wash, tested to ISO 6330 or AATCC 135. Check side-seam twist as part of the same test.

Dark and bright reactive-dyed colours are the usual fastness risk. Test colour fastness to washing, rubbing and perspiration to the ISO 105 series. Pilling, the small balls of fibre on the surface, is tested to ISO 12945-2 and matters most for blends and low-grade yarn.

Screen printing gives the best durability and cost per piece on large runs of the same design, but needs a screen per colour. Digital (DTG) printing suits small runs and photographic artwork, at a higher unit cost. Heat transfer works for multi-colour and fine detail and suits sportswear. Embroidery is premium and long-lasting, and suits logos on polo shirts and caps. Ask for a strike-off (a printed sample on the real fabric) before bulk, and test the print for wash and rub fastness.

• Plastisol or water-based screen print: durable, best for volume.
• Digital (DTG): small runs, full-colour designs.
• Heat transfer: detailed or multi-colour artwork.
• Embroidery: logos, premium finish.

Inspect against AQL 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects under ISO 2859-1: check measurements, neck rib recovery, stitching, shade consistency across cartons, print placement and hand-feel against the sample. T-shirts are folded, polybagged and packed by size ratio, with sticker size labels on the bag.

Hurain Garments Exporter is a trading and export company: our t-shirts are made by partner factories and we handle sampling, inspection, packing, documents and shipping. Because we buy in volume from those factories, prices are competitive and below the average wholesale price.

For T-shirts we agree GSM, yarn type, colourways, print method and size ratio on a pre-production sample, with a strike-off approved for any printed design.

T-shirts are folded and individually polybagged with a size sticker, then packed in export cartons by size ratio, with carton marks showing style, colour and quantity.

• Minimum order: Typically 1,000–2,000 pieces per colour and style, falling to 500 pieces for stock colours with simple prints. A half container or a full container is also possible, as per your requirement.
• Lead time: 30–45 days including dyeing and print approval; 20–25 days on stock knit fabric.
• Samples: a pre-production sample is approved before bulk; sample and courier costs are normally adjusted against the first order.
• Payment: 50% advance to confirm the order and 50% before dispatch; L/C can be discussed on request.
• Terms and documents: EXW, FOB, CFR or CIF, with commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading, plus inspection and test reports on request.
• Different garments can be combined in one consolidated FCL or LCL shipment.