How to Start a Private Label T-Shirt Program

A private label tee program is product made to your brand's specs and sold under your name: your graphics, your neck label, your hang tag, your packaging. Nothing about it points back to the factory. This guide walks through what a program costs, what minimums to expect, how long it takes and what should be included, using Premium Shirts' published numbers as a working example.

Brand program vs. merch: know which one you need

Before you get quotes, be clear about what you are buying, because the two are often confused.

• Merch is usually a logo printed on an off-the-shelf blank. It is fast and cheap per order, and it works for events, giveaways and small runs.
• A brand apparel program is product developed to your specs, from fabric and fit to graphics, labels and packaging, and made to sell at retail.

If customers are paying full price for your tees, and they sit on a shelf next to other brands, you need a brand program. That is the kind of program this guide covers, and the only kind Premium builds.

What a private label tee program costs

Every program is quoted on its own styles, decoration and volume, so treat any number you see before a quote as an estimate.

As a reference point, a typical first run at Premium is 2,500 units of a core Apex or Forge tee at about $9.50 a unit, roughly $23,750 total. Unit pricing improves as the program grows.

What matters is what that unit price includes. At Premium, it is all-in:

• Design and development
• Standard embellishment
• Neck label, plus care and content label
• Hang tag
• Individual poly bag
• Shipping to Laredo, TX

Pricing is FOB Laredo, TX, which means your freight responsibility starts there. If delivery is more than six months after development, the development work is invoiced up front and credited back 100% on the production invoice.

When you compare quotes from different manufacturers, line these items up side by side. A lower unit price that excludes design, labels, packaging or freight is often not lower once those are added back. You can model your own volumes with Premium's pricing calculator.

Minimums for a private label tee program

Full-package manufacturers set minimums at three levels:

A graphic can be split across men's, women's and youth styles, as long as each graphic reaches 300 units and each colorway reaches 150. That gives you room to offer a design in more than one fit without doubling your commitment.

Customization raises the bar. Custom fits start around 25,000 units a year (12,000 units per order), and custom fabrics around 100,000 units a year (25,000 units per order).

If you are under 2,500 units a year, a private label program is probably early for you. Print-on-demand, small-batch or blank apparel suppliers will serve you better for now. Premium's partner directory lists options.

Timelines: 30, 60 or 90 days

Production timelines depend on your styles, decoration and quantities. Premium works on 30, 60 or 90-day timelines, made possible by a vertically integrated factory in Lerma, Mexico, with ground freight through Laredo, TX.

Plan backward from your launch date. Leave time for:

1. Planning: goals, audience, what is selling, and a line plan built around your launch dates
2. Design: graphics, styles and tech packs
3. Development: lab dips, strike-offs and samples, each approved by you before bulk
4. Production and delivery: knit, dye, sew, print, pack and ship

You do not need a tech pack to start. A full-package manufacturer's design and development team should be able to build the specs with you.

What a full program should include

Beyond the garment itself, a well-run program should cover:

• A dedicated team, line planning and merchandising
• Graphic design, 3D cards and tech packs
• Samples and setups
• Standard embellishing (screen printing, embroidery and more; see embellishment options)
• Retail-ready packaging
• Shipping and logistics
• Quality inspection, such as AQL 2.5 audits
• Annual product testing against a restricted substances list, including PFAS
• Performance testing and social compliance, such as SMETA

At Premium, all of these are included in every program.

Choosing a starting style

Most programs start with core styles that are in stock year-round and fully customizable with your graphics, labels and packaging. At Premium, that means:

• Apex Tee: 150 GSM (4.3 oz), 30s combed ring-spun cotton, classic fit, XS to 4XL, 18 colors. A soft, everyday tee.
• Forge Heavyweight Tee: 200 GSM (6 oz), 20s combed ring-spun cotton, boxy fit. Heavier and more structured.
• Nomad Fleece Hoodie: 270 GSM (8 oz) midweight fleece pullover.

Long sleeve, women's and youth versions are available. Full details are on the spec sheets.

How a program grows

Starting at 2,500 units does not lock you into a small program. Premium structures programs in three tiers:

• Start (2,500 to 25,000 pieces a year): core styles and standard embellishing, around 2 deliveries a year. See Start programs.
• Grow (25,000 to 100,000): adds custom colors, more embellishments, upgraded packaging, special make-ups, pick and pack, evergreen replenishment, VMI, international shipping and direct-to-store delivery.
• Scale (100,000 to 600,000+): adds custom fabrics, custom styles and fits, novelty dye treatments and washes, unlimited embellishments, custom packaging, out-of-sequence orders and Higg Index reporting.

FAQ

How much does it cost to start a private label t-shirt program?

It depends on styles, decoration and volume. As an estimate, a typical first run at Premium Shirts is 2,500 units of a core tee at about $9.50 a unit, roughly $23,750 total, with design and development included. Pricing is FOB Laredo, TX.

What is the minimum order for private label t-shirts?

Premium Shirts programs start at 2,500 units a year, with 300 units per graphic and 150 units per colorway.

Do I need a tech pack to start a private label program?

No. Premium's design and development team builds the specs with you.

How long does a private label tee program take?

Production runs on 30, 60 or 90-day timelines depending on styles, decoration and quantities.

What is the difference between merch and a brand apparel program?

Merch is usually a logo printed on an off-the-shelf blank. A brand apparel program is product developed to the brand's specs, from fabric and fit to graphics, labels and packaging, and made to sell at retail.

Will the tees have the manufacturer's name on them?

Not with Premium. Every program ships under your brand, with custom neck labels, care and content labels, hang tags and poly bags.

Get a quote for your program

The fastest way to an accurate number is a short conversation about your styles, graphics and volumes. Book a 30-minute intro call or request pricing and a sample kit.