One of the most common questions we get at Withers & Co is simply, how many do I need to order. The honest answer depends on what kind of custom apparel you are after, because not all custom is created equal. A one colour logo on a t-shirt and a fully cut and sew garment built from scratch are completely different processes, and the minimum order quantities reflect that. Here is how it breaks down across the three categories we work in, for both the New Zealand and Australian markets.
Sublimated Sports Uniforms
Sublimated sportswear is one of our biggest categories, covering touch uniforms, rugby, rugby league, netball, basketball and pretty much any team kit you can think of. The design is dye sublimated into the fabric itself, meaning unlimited colours and full coverage graphics rather than a single printed logo.
The minimum order here is 10 pieces per garment. That is the standard across the industry in both New Zealand and Australia, so you will find it fairly consistent no matter who you order from. Production and shipping typically takes around six weeks. You can see some examples of recent sublimated touch uniforms we have produced here.
Cut & Sew Apparel
This is where the word custom actually earns its meaning. At Withers & Co, custom apparel means the garment itself is built or significantly altered for you, whether that is a new pattern, a specific cut, custom trims, woven labels or construction details that do not exist on an off the shelf blank. It is a different level of work compared to decorating an existing garment.
Because of that, most suppliers in this space sit around a 200 piece minimum. Ours is 20 pieces, which is unusually low for true cut and sew work. We are able to offer that because of a relationship we have built with a small factory just outside Shenzhen, one we have visited in person, which allows us to run smaller custom production without the huge minimums that are typical elsewhere.
A good example is the Heineken Urban Polo project, where we delivered a fully custom polo shirt for just 20 units on a six week turnaround. You can read more about that project here.
Branded Apparel
Branded apparel is different again. This is where you take an existing, already made garment, such as a t-shirt, polo or hoodie, and decorate it with your logo, typically through screen printing a one colour design in a single position. Nothing about the garment itself changes, only the decoration added to it.
Because there is no garment construction involved, the minimum order quantity here can be as low as 1 piece. This makes it the most accessible option if you need a small run, a single sample, or just want to test a design before committing to a bigger order. We stock a wide range of blanks for this, including our American Apparel range, which you can browse here.
Which Category Is Right for You
If you need team uniforms with full colour graphics, sublimation is the way to go, with a 10 piece minimum. If you want a genuinely bespoke garment built to your specifications, custom apparel gets you there from 20 pieces, well below what most suppliers can offer. And if you just need your logo on a quality existing garment, branded apparel starts from a single piece.
If you are not sure which option fits your project, get in touch and we can talk you through the best route for your budget, timeline and quantity.
