Knit t-shirts are the highest-volume category Bangladesh produces, and the one where specification detail separates suppliers most sharply. A quoted price means little without the yarn, the weight and the construction attached to it.
What fabric weights are available for t-shirt production?
The 160 to 180 band is the retail standard; 140 to 150 suits promotional and hot-climate programmes; 200 and above produces the structured handfeel premium basics and streetwear require.
Weight is quoted finished, after compacting. A greige fabric at 165 grams finishes near 180, a difference of 8 to 10 percent, so every quotation must state which figure it refers to. What GSM means and how to verify it covers the measurement and the tolerance to write into a contract.
What is the difference between combed and carded cotton here?
Carded yarn is cleaned and aligned mechanically. Combed yarn passes through an additional stage that removes short fibres, producing a smoother, stronger, less pilling-prone yarn at 8 to 15 percent higher fabric cost.
The difference shows immediately in handfeel and over time in pilling. Combed compact yarn — a further refinement — produces the smoothest surface and the cleanest print base. Where a buyer is comparing two quotes at the same GSM and materially different prices, yarn type is almost always where the gap sits.
Specify yarn count alongside type. A 30s combed single jersey and a 20s combed single jersey are different fabrics at the same weight, the finer count producing a tighter, more uniform loop.
Which decoration methods are offered, and at what quantities?
Screen printing suits volume and flat colour. Direct-to-garment suits short runs and photographic artwork. Embroidery suits logos and small marks and requires at least 180 GSM to avoid puckering without backing.
| Method | Viable from | Best for | Adds to calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen print | Higher volume per design | Flat colour, large areas | Screen setup per colour |
| Direct-to-garment | Low volume | Photographic, multiple designs | Minimal |
| Embroidery | Any volume | Logos, small marks | Digitising, one-off die charge |
| Heat transfer | Low to mid | Complex small artwork | Minimal |
Screen printing carries a setup cost per colour per design, which is why a four-colour design on 300 pieces prices badly and the same design on 3,000 prices well. Artwork must arrive as vector files with colours specified by Pantone reference.
What minimum order quantity applies to knit t-shirts?
Knit minimums sit below woven minimums because jersey is knitted domestically and held in standard weights, which removes the imported-fabric lot constraint that governs woven categories.
Selecting a fabric the knitter already holds avoids the dyeing lot minimum entirely and can halve the effective minimum. Consolidating colourways within one fabric has the same effect.
How is shrinkage controlled in bulk jersey production?
Compacting sets the fabric dimensionally before cutting, and the approved specification states a residual shrinkage tolerance — commonly 5 percent on length and 3 percent on width after a standard wash test.
Shrinkage is the most common source of post-delivery dispute in knits, and it is preventable by specifying the tolerance rather than assuming it. Ask for the fabric test report with the shipment; every reputable knitter issues one. Bio-polishing, an enzyme treatment that removes surface fibres, reduces pilling and is worth specifying where the garment will be laundered frequently. Pique and interlock knits follow the same compacting and tolerance rules, covered under polo shirt production.
T-shirt specification at a glance
| Attribute | Value on this programme |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Single jersey, weight quoted finished after compacting |
| Weight range | Promotional and hot-climate weights through retail standard to premium and streetwear; the exact GSM is agreed per style |
| Yarn type | Carded, combed or combed compact cotton |
| Yarn count | Stated with type, for example 20s or 30s combed |
| Body construction | Tubular or side-seam |
| Decoration | Screen print, direct-to-garment, embroidery (180 GSM and above without backing), heat transfer |
| Shrinkage tolerance | Commonly 5% length and 3% width after a standard wash test |
| Optional finish | Bio-polishing against pilling |
| Minimum order set by | Fabric held by the knitter versus a new dyeing lot |
How do I order t-shirt manufacturing?
Send a reference garment or state weight, yarn count, yarn type, construction and decoration. We quote against that specification and flag anything that will affect price before the number is firm.
Buyers who need chemical-safety evidence can specify fabric certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 at quotation stage.
For t-shirts without a production calendar, check current t-shirt stock, where lots list weight, composition, size ratio and available pieces. For your own brand, read what private label covers before specifying labelling.