Review of the Sample Orders from Printify

I told myself I’d follow a system—from (finally) creating a business plan to (hopefully) achieving financial freedom by building an apparel brand for introverts alike. This year, that journey officially began, and it’s already proving to be an exciting mix of creativity and practicality.

As part of this venture, one crucial step has been ensuring the product quality aligns with my brand’s vision. Earlier this month, I placed sample orders with two Print on Demand (POD) companies through Printify to evaluate the prints, design placement and size, and apparel fit. One printer is US-based, intended for my US market, while the other is local for accessible production and delivery in Australia.

The anticipation of receiving those samples was palpable. When you’ve spent time crafting designs and envisioning how they’ll look and feel, there’s a thrill in seeing them come to life. The local printer’s order arrived quickly—within one week. The US order took a bit longer– delivered in 3 weeks. Then came the real test: inspection.

First Impressions: Print Quality

The t-shirts were printed by a local POD company.

On the grey and black t-shirts, the designs appeared less vibrant—likely due to the fabric. While the prints were sharp and well-aligned, the muted colours fell short of the vibrancy shown in the digital mock-ups.

The sweatshirts, on the other hand, were produced by both US and local POD companies.

Interestingly, the prints on the sweatshirts stood out. Despite using similar fonts and graphic sizes, the sweatshirts delivered noticeably better results. This highlighted how much the fabric type can influence the final print quality.

Fabric and Feel: Beyond the Prints

Offering quality fabrics is a priority for my brand. For samples, I ordered several Gildan products:

• Gildan 64000: Unisex Softstyle T-Shirt
• Gildan 5000: Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee
• Gildan 18000: Unisex Heavy Blend Crewneck Sweatshirt
• Gildan SF000: Unisex Midweight Softstyle Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt

The unisex fit is versatile, accommodating both men and women, with sizes ranging from XS to 2XL. For instance, the large size fits my husband snugly, while I prefer a looser, oversized look, making the medium size perfect for me.

T-Shirts
I tested two t-shirt styles: the Softstyle in grey and the Heavy Cotton in black. The Softstyle feels lighter and softer, making it my preferred option. However, I’m still searching for something even softer and more breathable. The Heavy Cotton, while sturdier and thicker, comes at a slightly higher price. Both options are budget-friendly through Printify, which is great, but I’m open to exploring other brands that offer a more premium feel without stretching my budget.

Sweatshirts
I’m impressed with both Gildan sweatshirt options. The Heavy Blend Crewneck offers cozy softness, but I prefer the lighter feel of the Midweight Softstyle Fleece. Unfortunately, the Midweight Fleece is only available in the US. For now, I’ll stick with the Heavy Blend Crewneck for the Australian market, and I’m happy with that choice.

Design Placement and Sizing: Getting the Details Right

Another focus was evaluating the placement and sizing of the designs. Seeing the physical product is crucial, as mock-ups don’t always tell the full story.

For these samples, I tested two placements: top centre chest and top left pocket. The designs were well-aligned and retained their proportions without appearing stretched or distorted.

However, I’m considering slightly increasing the design sizes. My target market values subtle, minimalist prints, but a touch more visibility could enhance their appeal. Finding the right balance between visibility and minimalism will be vital to achieving my next design goal.

Lessons Learned

Getting my hands on those samples has been a real eye-opener and an essential part of starting this journey.
Here are my key takeaways:

1. Fabric Matters: The material can make or break the print quality and overall feel. I’ll explore softer, more premium options while staying within budget. (Suggestions welcome!)
2. Print Quality Depends on Fabric: The fabric significantly impacts how colours and sharpness appear in prints. For instance, light-coloured designs looked much better on sweatshirts than t-shirts from the same POD company.
3. Design Size Counts: Minimalist prints are my focus, but slightly larger designs tend to stand out better without losing their subtle charm.
4. Timing Is Key: In hindsight, I should have aligned my designs with a Mother’s Day collection so these samples could double as mock-ups. My next sample order will focus on that!

This whole process has been a mix of small wins and lessons learned, but it’s setting me up to create something I’m truly proud of. The journey has just begun, and I can’t wait to share updates as I get closer to launching my first collection. Stay tuned!