Custom Apparel Guide: How to Choose the Right Garment
When ordering custom apparel, the artwork is only part of the finished product. The garment itself can have just as much impact on how the order looks, feels and performs.
Fabric, weight, fit, sizing, construction and intended use can all influence comfort, durability, appearance and price.
The best garment is not necessarily the most expensive one. The goal is to choose something appropriate for who will wear it, how it will be used, how often it will be worn, and the budget for the project.
Start With How the Apparel Will Be Used
Before choosing a brand or style number, think about the purpose of the order.
Events, Promotions and Giveaways
For events, promotions, fundraisers and giveaways, practical considerations may include:
• Keeping the overall order cost manageable
• Having a broad size range
• Consistent garment colors
• Availability in larger quantities
• A garment suitable for the intended printing method
• Easy reordering if additional pieces are needed
A dependable everyday garment can often be the best choice for this type of project.
Staff and Company Apparel
For employees and customer-facing teams, comfort and appearance may become more important because the garments are likely to be worn repeatedly.
Consider:
• How frequently employees will wear the apparel
• Whether they work indoors or outdoors
• The level of physical activity involved
• Whether the garment needs to look more casual or professional
• Whether durability, moisture management or stain resistance matters
• How the fit reflects your company's image
A landscaping crew, restaurant team, trade business and corporate event staff may all need very different garments.
Schools, Teams, Churches and Organizations
Group orders often require a balance of:
• Budget
• Adult and youth sizing
• Durability
• Comfort
• Color availability
• Repeat ordering
• Consistent styles across a large group
For these orders, choosing a garment with a dependable size and color range can be just as important as choosing based on softness or price.
T-Shirts
T-shirts remain one of the most versatile choices for custom apparel.
They can range from practical heavyweight cotton tees to lightweight retail-style garments and moisture-wicking performance shirts.
When comparing T-shirts, consider:
• Cotton versus blends
• Fabric weight
• Softness
• Fit
• Intended frequency of wear
• Available colors
• Adult, youth and extended sizes
• Budget
A shirt intended for a one-day event may not need to be the same garment you would select for employees who wear branded shirts every week.
Polos and Work Shirts
Polos can give branded apparel a more professional appearance while remaining comfortable enough for everyday use.
They are commonly considered for:
• Customer-facing employees
• Sales teams
• Office staff
• Service businesses
• Corporate events
• Golf and hospitality applications
Performance polos may also offer features such as moisture management, stretch or snag resistance. For example, the available catalog includes polyester performance polos as well as traditional and work-oriented styles. Company Casuals
Work shirts may prioritize durability, stain resistance, movement and repeated washing over softness.
Hoodies, Sweatshirts and Fleece
Hoodies and fleece are useful for:
• Schools and teams
• Outdoor employees
• Clubs and organizations
• Fall and winter events
• Branded merchandise
• Staff uniforms
Consider garment weight, pullover versus full-zip construction, pockets, fabric composition and the location of the artwork.
Pockets, seams and zippers can affect where artwork can practically be placed, so the garment style should be considered together with the design.
Caps and Headwear
Caps offer another way to extend a brand beyond shirts.
Available styles can include structured and unstructured caps, mesh-back styles, performance caps, stretch-fit styles, visors, beanies and other headwear. Company Casuals
Fit, construction and decoration area vary substantially between cap styles, so we recommend choosing the garment first and then confirming the most appropriate decoration approach.
Performance and Activewear
Performance garments are useful where heat, moisture and movement are important considerations.
These may suit:
• Sports teams
• Gyms and fitness groups
• Outdoor employees
• Landscaping and service businesses
• Warm-weather events
• Active staff programs
Performance fabrics are commonly polyester or technical blends and may have different printing requirements from standard cotton garments.
Outerwear and Workwear
For businesses that need more substantial uniform pieces, available categories also include jackets, vests, soft shells, rainwear, work jackets and other outerwear, as well as industrial and safety-oriented workwear. Company Casuals
When selecting these garments, consider the working environment first.
Durability, weather resistance, visibility, freedom of movement and garment construction may matter more than selecting the lowest-priced option.
Cotton, Blends and Performance Fabrics
100% Cotton
Cotton provides the familiar feel associated with traditional T-shirts and is widely used for custom printing.
Different cotton garments can still vary significantly in softness, weight and construction.
Cotton/Polyester Blends
Blended garments can offer combinations of:
• Softness
• Reduced shrinkage
• Lighter weight
• Shape retention
• Comfort
• A more modern feel
Performance Fabrics
Polyester and technical fabrics are often chosen when moisture management, durability or athletic performance are priorities.
The intended decoration method should be considered when selecting these garments.
Lightweight vs. Heavyweight
Fabric weight influences both feel and appearance.
A lighter garment may feel cooler and softer.
A heavier garment may feel more substantial and durable.
Neither is automatically better.
The right choice depends on how the garment will actually be used.
Fit and Sizing
Not all garments fit the same way.
Some are traditional and roomy, while others have a more modern or retail-inspired fit.
Depending on your group, you may also need:
• Men's and women's styles
• Unisex garments
• Youth sizes
• Tall sizes
• Extended sizes
The available catalog includes dedicated women’s, youth and tall categories as well as extended sizing on many individual styles. Company Casuals
If you are ordering for a large group, choosing a garment with an appropriate size range can prevent problems later.
A Wide Range of Garment Brands
We can source apparel from a broad range of brands commonly used for custom apparel.
Examples available through the catalog include Gildan, BELLA+CANVAS, Next Level Apparel, Comfort Colors, Port & Co, Port Authority, Sport-Tek, Nike, Carhartt, New Era, Champion, OGIO, The North Face, TravisMathew and many others. Company Casuals
Rather than choosing on brand name alone, consider the garment's:
• Intended use
• Fabric
• Fit
• Color
• Size availability
• Durability
• Performance features
• Budget
We can then help narrow down suitable options.
Browse Available Apparel
If you would like to explore garments before requesting your quote, you can browse the apparel catalog for brands, styles, colors and sizes.
Use the catalog to identify styles that interest you, then send us the brand and style number with your quote request.
Please note that catalog pricing represents suggested retail pricing for the blank garment; customization and final pricing may vary. Company Casuals
Garment availability, colors, sizes and suitability for a particular decoration method may also vary, and we will confirm those details when preparing your quote.
How Garment Choice Affects Your Quote
The blank garment is one component of the total cost.
Two orders with identical artwork and quantities can still price differently because of differences in:
• Garment brand and style
• Fabric and construction
• Size range
• Extended sizes
• Quantity
• Garment color
• Decoration method
• Number of print locations
• Number of print colors
That is why we prepare a custom quote rather than applying one price to every garment.
Should You Order Extra Pieces?
For businesses, teams and organizations, ordering a few extra garments can sometimes be practical.
They may be useful for:
• New employees
• Last-minute participants
• Incorrect size selections
• Replacement garments
• Future promotions
A small additional quantity during the original production run can sometimes be more practical than placing a very small reorder later.
Not Sure What to Choose?
You do not need to know a brand or style number before contacting us.
Tell us:
• What type of item you need
• How it will be used
• Who will wear it
• Approximate quantity
• Preferred colors
• Approximate budget
• Whether price, comfort, durability or appearance matters most
We can help narrow the choices before your order moves into production.