Fabric & blank apparel sourcing in Vietnam
Material is the single biggest factor in the quality and cost of the finished product. Startee works with three main material groups, depending on the order type:
- Finished products — product lines made on Startee’s own patterns (local-brand apparel, uniforms).
- Blank t-shirts — plain, pre-made garments in standard sizes, ready for printing/embroidery on demand, no sewing from scratch required.
- Roll fabric — fabric cut and sewn to a custom pattern, used for bulk orders or garments with a specific fit.
1. Finished products on custom patterns
Product lines Startee sews on its own patterns — local-brand apparel and uniforms with a specific fit. A good fit when a brand needs one consistent silhouette across repeat runs, or a uniform order wants its own fit rather than an off-the-shelf blank. See products made on custom patterns.
2. Blank t-shirts
Plain garments imported in standard S–3XL sizing, ready to print or embroider immediately with no sewing from scratch — shortening lead time and, with no pattern or sample cost, cost-effective even from a single piece. Blanks come in many colors and fabrics (100% cotton, cotton blends, pique), suited to small runs, gifts and group uniforms. See blank t-shirts.
3. Roll fabric
Fabric cut and sewn to a custom pattern, for bulk orders or garments needing a specific fit. Startee uses properly imported, certified fabric — important for corporate uniforms and products that need proof of origin. See roll fabric.
Fabric choice drives which decoration method works. Combed cotton and high-cotton blends take DTG on a Brother GTX with OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certified Innobella ink and come back soft and photo-accurate; polyester and cool-touch knit are better suited to screen printing or heat transfer. Pique — a textured cotton knit — is the standard for structured office polos. All fabric is properly imported and certified, which matters for corporate uniforms and export orders that need proof of origin.
Minimum order & sampling
There is no rigid minimum: we print blanks from a single piece, and cut-and-sew roll-fabric orders scale to full bulk runs, quoted per order. Ask for a swatch set or a free sample garment before committing to a production run. Startee is a manufacturer in Hanoi, Vietnam — see the sourcing guide or our custom uniform service for lead times and certifications.
Choosing fabric by printing method and product
| Fabric | Breathability | Shape retention | DTG suitability | Suggested use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% cotton | High | Moderate (wrinkles easily) | Excellent | Event t-shirts, garments worn close to skin |
| CVC cotton blend | Good | Good | Good | Bulk uniforms balancing cost and feel |
| TC cotton blend | Moderate | Excellent (low wrinkle) | Fair | Durable, budget-friendly uniforms |
| Pique (cá sấu) | Good | Excellent (holds shape) | Good | Office and corporate polo shirts |
| Cool-touch / poly | High (dries fast) | Good | Not suitable | Sports uniforms, corporate sports days |
Fabric weight (GSM) also affects feel: heavier fabric is more durable and holds its shape but runs hotter, while lighter fabric is cooler but loses shape faster — tell us your use case for the right weight recommendation.
Quick picks by situation
- Office / corporate uniforms: pique polo for a structured, smart look; embroidered logo for durability and a premium feel.
- Event t-shirts / team building: 100% cotton or CVC for breathability; screen printing for large few-color runs, DTG for multi-color designs.
- Sports / running uniforms: lightweight cool-touch (poly) knit; heat transfer and heat-transfer vinyl for numbers and names.
- Oversized local-brand pieces: heavier-weight cotton to hold an oversized silhouette; custom-pattern production for a specific fit.
Read deeper by topic
- What is fabric weight (GSM)? — what fabric thickness decides, with the real weight table Startee uses today.
- 100% cotton vs. cotton blends (CVC, TC)
- 2-way vs. 4-way stretch fabric
- Fleece fabric for hoodies, sweaters
- Kate & oxford fabric for dress shirts
- Custom fabric sourcing for bulk orders