When it comes to blanks, most people are asking the wrong questions.
Let's Talk About Garments
Defining The Job
Before anything else, define what you’re making. Here’s a breakdown of the most common use cases we see:
Brand/Retail: Priority is silhouette, with fit, fabric, and feel coming in next. The goal here is creating pieces that people want to wear again and again. Note: if you have hype designs and shit garments you may only sell out once.
Band / Tour Merch: Priority is design first, garment second. Most promoters use the absolute cheapest garment they can and still command top dollar.
Promo / Event Staffing / “Swag”: priority is price, followed by availability and speed. The goal is that everything looks like the part for the show + a reliable distribution of wearable billboards.
Agency / Corporate: Priority is clean execution. The goal here is no surprises. Good idea to double confirm dispatch dates and shipping times. Avoid that full hierarchy “cc” pile on.
The 80/20 Rule
20% of garments get 80% of our prints
Start with AS Colour. All come in a tonne of colours, have men’s and women’s options, and have a slightly cropped (minus 5cm) variation. Here is what we touch most at FRESH:
- Classic Tee - 5026: Every. Single. Day. Classic fit, 220 GSM, preshrunk.
- Staple Tee - 5001: The staple. Good enough for white labelling, cost effective enough for promo.
- Heavy Faded - 5089: The Streetwear Starter: coming in at 240 GSM, garment dyed (dyed after making), drop shoulder, preshrunk.
If you’re still unsure, start with the Classic Tee (or Classic Minus Tee for a boxier fit).
What Actually Matters
- Fit & silhouette: if it doesn’t fit right, nothing else matters. **hint for the boys - men’s fits are often the cause for the girls not donning the drape**
- Purpose: match the garment to the job.
- Availability: some garments are always in stock, some aren’t. Most job delays happen due to availability - lock your garments in early.
- Decoration compatibility: Not all garments embellish equally. Over-dyed fabrics can destroy your print colour, coated fabrics can be tough to stick down in the print process, leading to ghosting. Some garments just actually suck.
- Price: last, not first. Price is a constraint, not the driver.
Quick reality check
For a lot of merch, especially events and tours, the hierarchy is: I like this design -> I was there -> it fits okay. That’s it. So no, you don’t need to over-engineer every decision. But if you’re building a brand, people will notice the difference.
Try before you buy [in bulk]
The best way to choose a garment is to try it on, wash it, wear it out. There are AS Colour retail stores across most major cities, so you can get a feel for what you’re buying before committing to bulk.
Bottom Line
Get the garment right, and everything gets easier. We aren’t reinventing the wheel, we’re printing it. If you’re feeling unsure, that’s what we’re here for.
What Next?
Get a quote, and make sure it’s dialled before your job goes to production.