MOQ 100PCS
100 Cotton T Shirts Wholesale: A Real Buyer’s Guide
Buyers searching for 100 cotton t shirts wholesale usually want a simple answer. Which blank will print cleanly, feel good after washing, and still make sense at their order size?
Cotton is often the right starting point. It is not an automatic quality grade. Yarn, knitting, finish, collar construction, dyeing, and shrinkage control can turn two shirts with the same fiber label into very different products.
If you need plain stock blanks next week, use a stocked wholesaler. If you need your own fit, Pantone color, label set, packaging, or consistent restocks, treat the T-shirt as a custom product. The spec sheet and sample matter far more than the word “cotton.”
What 100 cotton t shirts wholesale should mean on an RFQ
A useful request for quotation does not stop at “100% cotton.” Put these points in writing.
- Fiber composition for every color, including heathers
- Fabric weight in GSM and the knit construction
- Yarn type, such as ring-spun and combed
- Fit, size chart, neckline, collar rib, and body construction
- Fabric finish, washing treatment, and shrinkage requirement
- Print method, artwork size, ink feel, labels, and packaging
- Quantity per style, color, and size
That first point catches more mistakes than people expect. A supplier may show a solid-color sample in 100% cotton, then quote a heather color that contains polyester. Nothing is wrong with the blend if you approved it. The problem starts when the purchase order still says 100% cotton.
GSM tells you fabric weight, not quality. A heavier tee can feel dry and stiff. A lighter tee can feel smooth and well made. Yarn and finishing decide much of that.
One detail buyers often miss is the difference between ring-spun and combed cotton. Ring spinning describes how the yarn is made. Combing removes more short fibers before spinning. The terms are related, but they are not interchangeable. If you want a smooth surface for a clean screen print or DTG result, ask what the supplier means instead of accepting “soft cotton” as a full answer.
Then look at the collar. The body fabric may survive washing while a weak rib starts waving or curling. Rib recovery, neck-tape application, stitching, and the balance between collar weight and body weight all show up after laundering. A tidy collar on the first sample is nice. A tidy collar after repeated washing is the real test.
Cotton, polyester, organic, Pima, or a premium blank?
Keep the categories straight. Cotton and polyester name fibers. Organic describes how the cotton was grown and traced. Pima identifies a long-staple cotton category. Premium is a positioning word until a specification and an approved sample back it up.
100% cotton
Cotton absorbs moisture and usually gives screen printing and DTG a friendly surface. It also wrinkles and can shrink if the fabric and garment have not been controlled well. “Pre-shrunk” reduces risk. It does not mean zero movement after washing.
For branded merchandise, cotton is a safe default when hand feel matters more than quick drying. For a gym class or outdoor event in hot weather, it may be the wrong default.
Polyester
If your search started with polyester t shirts wholesale, the intended use should drive the fabric choice. Polyester dries faster, holds its shape well, and suits performance tees. It is also the standard base for sublimation because the dye bonds with the fiber.
Dark polyester needs care with heat-applied decoration. Dye migration can tint a light logo after pressing, sometimes hours later. Ask the decorator to test the actual production fabric, ink system, temperature, and artwork. A generic white swatch proves very little.
Organic cotton
Organic is a sourcing and traceability claim. It does not promise a softer hand, a particular GSM, or a better collar.
The paperwork matters. The Organic Content Standard tracks certified organic material and chain of custody. GOTS covers organic fiber plus processing, environmental, and social criteria. A GOTS scope certificate shows what a supplier can produce within its certified scope. It does not prove that your shipment is certified. For that, ask for the shipment’s transaction certificate and verify the supplier in the GOTS certified supplier system.
Goodley Garments does not currently claim GOTS certification. If certified organic product is a firm requirement, put the certification and document requirements in the RFQ before sampling. We will only state what the material and paperwork for that order can support.
Pima cotton
American Pima is commonly classed as extra-long staple cotton, as explained in Cotton Incorporated’s cotton classing guide. Longer fibers can support smoother, finer yarns with good strength.
Still, pima cotton on a sales sheet does not rescue loose knitting, poor finishing, or a cheap collar. Ask for fiber documentation when the origin claim matters. Then judge the actual tee.
Premium blank
A premium blank should have a measurable reason to earn the word. Maybe it uses combed ring-spun yarn, a dense and smooth jersey, a well-proportioned collar, custom grading, or a wash finish you have approved. “Premium” on its own is fog. Do not pay for fog.
The sample is where the argument ends
Do not approve bulk production from a fabric swatch. A swatch can show color, weight, and surface. It cannot show neckline shape, body twist, sleeve pitch, fit, or how the decoration behaves on a finished garment.
Start by measuring the sample against the size chart. Wash it according to the care instructions, then measure it again after several cycles. Check body length, chest width, sleeve length, shoulder position, and collar opening. Lay the shirt flat. If a side seam starts walking toward the front, you have a twisting problem, even if the fabric still feels nice.
Print tests need the same discipline. Rub the surface. Stretch it gently. Wash it. Look for cracking, peeling, dye migration, heavy ink buildup, or a stiff rectangle that feels nothing like the rest of the shirt. For DTG, inspect fine lines and dark-color pretreatment. For screen print, look at registration and ink coverage. For sublimation, check color on the final polyester base, not on paper.
Goodley works on custom production rather than commodity stock resale. Our Guangzhou team coordinates fabric sourcing, sampling, bulk production, quality checks, and shipment through one contact person. For a new cut-and-sew T-shirt, the starting MOQ is 100 pieces per style per color. Adding a logo or custom labels to an existing garment does not have one blanket minimum.
We normally make a pre-production sample in 5 to 7 working days. That sample becomes the reference for fabric, fit, color, decoration, and labels. You can see the available choices on our custom T-shirt production page and review how our custom production process works.
One practical habit helps. Approve the sample in writing and attach the final measurement chart, fabric specification, Pantone reference, artwork placement, label files, and packaging notes to the purchase order. A chat message saying “sample looks good” leaves too much room for memory.
What changes the quote, and what should you send?
Fiber is only one quotation variable. Yarn grade, fabric weight, custom dyeing, the number of colors and sizes, print coverage, embroidery stitch count, private labels, packaging, testing, certification paperwork, and delivery route all change the production plan. Two quotes are comparable only when those details match.
For a useful first quote, send this brief.
- T-shirt type and intended use
- Reference photo, tech pack, or an existing sample
- Quantity per style and color
- Fiber choice, target GSM, and the hand feel you want
- Fit and size range
- Stock color or Pantone target
- Artwork files, decoration method, size, and placement
- Neck label, care label, hang tag, and packaging needs
- Required certification or third-party testing
- Destination country and required in-hand date
If you do not know the yarn or GSM yet, describe the physical result. “Dense but not board-like, smooth enough for DTG, collar stays flat” is useful. “High quality cotton” is not.
Is 100% cotton always better than a cotton-poly blend?
No. Cotton usually wins on natural hand feel and print friendliness. A cotton-poly blend can reduce wrinkling and improve shape retention. Choose from the use case, then test the sample.
Which fabric works best for a clothing brand?
For a retail brand, start with fit and hand feel. Combed ring-spun cotton is a common direction. Pima may suit a higher-positioned line if the documentation and sample justify it. Organic cotton belongs in the conversation when traceability is part of the brand promise.
Which fabric works best for team or event shirts?
Cotton works well for merch and casual staff wear. Polyester makes more sense for active use, sweat, quick drying, or all-over sublimation. Some event programs use both, one cotton tee for supporters and one performance tee for participants.
What is Goodley’s MOQ for custom T-shirts?
New cut-and-sew development starts at 100 pieces per style per color. Existing garments with logo printing, embroidery, or custom labels do not have one fixed minimum. The feasible quantity depends on the blank, decoration, color, and label setup.
Send the brief, not just “100% cotton tee.” Use the Goodley inquiry form and include your quantity, colors, logo method, destination, and required date. We will reply with the questions that affect your sample and quote.
