Good decisions.
Better merchandise.
A first clothing drop has enough decisions already. A structured screen printing brief helps turn the idea into a quote you can actually compare. Start with the finished garment: who will wear it, which blank and colour you want, how many of each size you need, and the artwork for every print position. Then add the required arrival date and the decisions you still need help making.
This guide is for a clothing brand preparing its first screen printed run. It takes you through the specification, quote and approval so the production team can understand the same garment you have in mind. Keep the brief in one document, update it when a decision changes and use it beside the final proof.
Define the clothing drop before choosing the print
Write one sentence about the product and its intended wearer. “A black everyday T-shirt for our first online release, with a small front identity and a larger back graphic” gives the order a direction. “Premium merch” leaves the garment, fit and decoration open to interpretation. Explain the look you want in terms that can guide an actual choice: a relaxed silhouette, a particular fabric feel or a graphic that should be noticed from a distance.
Separate the first launch from the range you might build later. You can have ideas for several garments without quoting all of them as one committed order. Identify the design you want to make now, then mark alternatives clearly. If you want two garment options compared, ask for two clearly labelled specifications so you can see what changes.
The useful starting point is our screen printing service. If you are unsure whether screen printing fits the artwork or quantity, describe the result and ask for the method to be reviewed before finalising the order.
Choose a specific garment, colour and fit
A T-shirt and a hoodie can carry the same brand identity while needing different placement decisions. Give the exact garment manufacturer and product code where you have one. Add the colour name, available size range and the fit you want. If you have not chosen a blank, say that and describe the priorities the recommendation must meet, including the budget for the complete decorated garment.
Review a garment's actual specification rather than relying on a photograph alone. Ask about fit and sizing information, and discuss a sample if the feel or silhouette is central to the launch. State whether the garment choice is fixed or whether you would consider an alternative. That makes it easier to resolve availability without quietly changing a decision that matters to your brand.
Include fabric information when you know it and flag anything unusual about the construction. Pockets, seams and a hood can affect the area you are trying to show in a placement reference. Ask the team to review the intended decoration against the exact blank.
Write the size split beside each garment and colour
A total quantity is only the beginning. List the number in each size for every garment and colour. A simple table makes the order easier to quote and check than several messages containing separate adjustments. Add a total for each row, then check that the complete order total agrees with your budget and stock plan.
| Garment and colour | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chosen T-shirt, black | 5 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 40 |
This is an illustration of how to write the breakdown, not a recommended size ratio. Use what you know about the intended buyers. Check that the sizes exist in the blank you are discussing. If you are allocating pieces for photography, staff or samples, include them within the total and keep a separate note of how the finished stock will be used.
Project Print's service page currently states a screen printing minimum of 25 units per design. Ask how that applies to your proposed garment and colour split; do not assume that different designs combine into one qualifying run.
Give the front and back their own specification
“Front and back print” describes two positions without defining either. Name each position, assign the correct artwork file and give a proposed finished width and height. A small left-chest mark and a larger back graphic should appear as separate entries even when they share elements of the same logo. If the sleeve is also decorated, add a third entry.
Make the placement reference easy to interpret. Show the garment from the relevant side and identify where the artwork sits. Say whether the back design should sit high or lower, and point out any relationship to a seam, pocket or hood that matters. Treat your dimensions as a proposal for review against the blank and size range.
A mockup communicates the composition; it does not replace the measurement. A design can look smaller or larger depending on how the garment photograph has been cropped. A paper preview at the proposed dimensions helps you judge whether the smallest wording still reads and whether the overall graphic feels right.
Describe the print colours and contrast you want
List the intended colours for each position and attach brand colour references where you have them. Keep the garment colour beside the print specification. The same artwork can give a different impression on a different base colour, so do not treat the blank as a background decision made after the decoration has been quoted.
For tonal branding, explain what you mean by “black on black”. You may want a very quiet effect or a more visible charcoal difference. Include a reference and name the part you like: the level of contrast, the surface appearance or the scale of the mark. Ask how the proposed result would work on your chosen garment.
Flag gradients, small lettering, fine lines and any special effect as details for production review. Do not convert a complex illustration into a guessed colour count simply to make the enquiry seem complete. Send the original artwork and ask what preparation and print specification are appropriate. Keep decisions about colour, preparation and any setup with the confirmed quote.
Send the original artwork and a separate placement mockup
Find the best original file you have. Our screen printing page lists AI, EPS or PDF vector files as preferred, with high-resolution transparent PNG artwork also accepted subject to review. A screenshot can explain a reference, but it may have lost detail and should not be presented as the original production file. Changing a filename or file extension does not restore missing artwork information.
Assign one clear filename to each position, such as “brand-front-v03” and “brand-back-v03”. Put the revision in the brief so the team can match the files to the mockup. Keep reference photographs in a separate group and explain what each one demonstrates. If you are sending alternatives, state which version is the current proposal.
Review the actual spelling and logo proportions before handover. Tell the team which details must be retained and where you are open to simplification. If the artwork needs help, ask for that work to be included in the discussion rather than assuming the submitted file is already ready for production.
Ask for a quote that describes the complete finished order
A useful quote should let you connect the total to the specification. Confirm the garment and colour, size quantities, decoration positions and proposed design for each. Ask for preparation or setup, VAT and delivery to be clear. If you are comparing options, compare the same quantity and scope so a smaller-looking figure does not hide a different garment or a missing print position.
State your budget as well as the result you are aiming for. If the first specification exceeds it, ask which decisions could be changed and what those changes would do to the product. You may prefer a different blank, fewer garment colours or a simpler decoration plan. Make the choice deliberately and update the brief before approving the revised quote.
Ask about repeat-order arrangements for the same approved design. Record what is confirmed about preparation or screen charges, and what would need reviewing if you change the artwork, dimensions, blank or placements. Do not assume a later order will have the same scope or cost.
Include packing and fulfilment in the conversation
Decide how the finished garments need to reach you and how you will use them next. A box of garments for your own packing process and individually presented retail stock involve different requirements. If you need folding, bagging, size identification or a particular packing split, describe it and ask whether it is included or quoted separately.
For an event or pop-up, explain whether stock needs separating by size or destination. For an online launch, allow for your own receiving checks, photography and product listing work after the goods arrive. A production order does not automatically include all of the work needed to make a shop ready.
Keep the confirmed delivery address and required arrival date with the order records. Discuss special delivery or collection requirements before making assumptions about the final handover. If someone else will receive the goods, make sure the practical arrangement is clear.
Plan backwards from the day the garments must arrive
Give the date the finished order must be with you, plus the event or launch date if that is different. This leaves room to understand what happens after delivery. Be clear about whether you have a fixed deadline or a preferred date with some flexibility.
The screen printing service page currently lists a standard turnaround of 7–12 working days from artwork approval. Use that as a starting point for the conversation, then confirm availability, preparation, production and delivery against your actual specification. It is not a promise that an enquiry sent today will arrive within that range.
Artwork review and revisions happen before the approved job can proceed. Tell the team if the design is unfinished or waiting for someone else's approval. For an urgent job, provide the full brief early and ask what is achievable before committing to a launch date. A last-minute garment or artwork change may require the plan to be checked again.
A fictional clothing-drop brief you can adapt
The example below shows the level of detail to send. It describes an imagined project, with proposed dimensions and quantities for review. It is not a customer job, price offer or approved production specification.
Purpose: A first online T-shirt release for our brand, with a clear front identity and a larger back graphic.
Garment: Black T-shirt; exact manufacturer and code to be confirmed. We want a relaxed fit and would like two suitable blanks compared.
Quantity: 40 garments, with S 5, M 12, L 14, XL 7 and 2XL 2, subject to available sizes.
Front: Left-chest logo; proposed 80 mm width, height proportional to the supplied artwork.
Back: Centred upper-back graphic; proposed 260 mm width, height proportional to the supplied artwork.
Colour: Light print against the black garment; supplied reference to be reviewed.
Files: Separate original front and back artwork, revision v03, plus placement mockups.
Packing: Confirm folding and size identification options and any additional cost.
Timing: Required arrival date to be agreed before launch commitments.
Quote: Show the complete garment and print scope, preparation, VAT and delivery.
Replace every proposed choice with your own requirements. If the blank or artwork changes after quoting, send a revised brief and ask for the affected details to be confirmed.
Check the proof against the whole specification
Open the proof beside the brief and compare the garment, colour, artwork version, dimensions and each placement. Read every word, including small supporting text. Check that the front and back use the intended files and that no background or unwanted element has appeared. A recognisable logo alone is not enough to approve the complete job.
Use the stated dimensions when checking size. A digital preview helps communicate layout and colour choices, but it is not a physical sample of fabric feel or print texture. Where a specific finish is critical, discuss what further confirmation is appropriate before approval.
Send one clear set of corrections and identify the proof revision. When it meets the brief, keep the final artwork, proof and written approval together. If several people are involved in the launch, agree who makes the final decision so contradictory feedback does not send the order back through unnecessary changes.
Keep supporting merchandise tied to the same launch plan
If the drop includes accessories, give each product its own specification and timing. A printed T-shirt order does not define how a beanie is embroidered or how a sticker is cut. Explore budget embroidered cuffed beanies for a headwear option, and the sticker collection for an extra that can accompany the garments.
For a simple branded insert, review the die cut sticker product options and decide the finished dimensions, outline and quantity separately. The live gloss vinyl and holographic sticker guide explains the finish decision. Confirm the timing for the full set before promising that every item will be ready together.
Send a brief that is ready for the next decision
- State the purpose, wearer and intended garment fit.
- Identify the blank, colour and size split, or the options you need help choosing.
- List every print position with its file, proposed dimensions and placement reference.
- Include original artwork, revision names, colour references and important design details.
- Ask for a clear complete quote and confirm packing and repeat-order questions.
- Give the required arrival date and explain any approval work still outstanding.
Visit our screen printing service page to review the current service information, then send Project Print your clothing-drop brief. Include the artwork, garment choices, quantities, placements and deadline together. A clear first specification gives us the information needed to discuss the right next step with you.
