Introduction
Every great printed shirt starts with a great blank. For creative inkers, choosing the right supplier is essential. In this post, we’ll explore recommended suppliers (both blank-only and POD), pros and cons, tips for due diligence, and how to incorporate sublimation shirts, sublimation design, and dtf transfers.
1. Why blanks matter
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The base fabric’s quality determines color vibrancy, wash durability, and feel.
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Inconsistent blanks lead to misprints, shading problems, or peeling.
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For sublimation designs to pop, you need correct polyester content and finish.
2. Blank-only suppliers & brands to consider
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Performance sportswear brands (often manufacture blank sublimation jerseys)
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Blank apparel wholesalers like American Apparel, A4, Holloway, etc. (some have poly blanks)
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Sublimation blank specialty stores — online shops that carry blanks optimized for dye sublimation
3. POD platforms that function as blank + printing suppliers
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Printify, Printful, etc, as discussed in previous post
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Additional ones to check:
4. Supplier evaluation checklist
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Fabric data sheets (poly %, weight, whiteness)
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Color consistency across batches
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Shrinkage & distortion tolerance
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Turnaround times / lead times
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MOQ / bulk discount structure
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Logistics & shipping cost from supplier to you / final customer
5. Sample order and quality validation
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Order 1–5 units and run them through your full production process
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Test wash/dry cycles
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Check alignment, bleed, white ink spots, seam mismatches
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Compare color across multiple blanks
6. Integration with your design pipeline
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Make your sublimation design files match the blank template dimensions
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Keep margins / safe zones to avoid being cut-off
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If offering dtf transfers, ensure design consistency across both media
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Use color profiles (sRGB, AdobeRGB) uniformly across your design + supplier prints
7. Geographic & logistic considerations
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Local supplier vs overseas: local means lower shipping and faster tests; overseas often lower unit cost
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Fulfillment partners in target markets may offer better shipping rates
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Some POD providers allow you to ship blanks to their facility and they print local
8. Examples / success stories
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A brand in Europe sources blanks from a local textile factory, but uses Printful POD for international orders.
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A fitness apparel startup buys blanks in bulk, prints in-house, and reserves POD for drop-shipping abroad.
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A small shop uses a mix of blank + POD to gradually scale without inventory risk.
9. Pitfalls & mitigation
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Switching blank supplier mid-product run (color difference)
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Underestimating customs/import costs
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Poor communication or specs from supplier
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Failure to validate wash durability
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