What to Send When Requesting a Custom-Apparel Quote

A useful custom-apparel quote starts with a complete project brief: garments, quantities, artwork, decoration locations, delivery requirements, and approval expectations. Give each shop the same information. Otherwise, two prices can look comparable while describing different products or levels of service.

What garment information should you include?

Provide the brand and style number if you have selected a product. Include garment color, fabric composition, sizes, and quantities by size. If you have not chosen a product, describe the intended use, fit requirements, and approximate budget.

Say whether the shop should supply the clothing or whether you want to bring your own. Ask about substitutions before assuming an alternative style will look and decorate the same.

What artwork information is needed?

Attach the original logo files where available. Specify the finished dimensions and each location, such as left chest, sleeve, or back. Include brand colors and tell the shop which wording or design elements cannot change.

Wilcom's artwork guidance distinguishes vector and bitmap sources for digitizing. A clear file helps the provider assess preparation needs, but the required embroidery or printing setup still depends on the application.

What should you say about quantity?

List the number of identical designs and any changes between garments. Personal names, numbers, departments, and different artwork versions should be itemized.

If quantity is undecided, request a small number of realistic options. A request for “your best price on shirts” gives the shop too little information to recommend a useful production method.

How should you describe the deadline?

Provide the date the finished items must be in your possession, not only the event date. State whether you need pickup, local delivery, or shipping, and identify the destination.

Ask what must happen before the production clock starts: payment, artwork approval, sample approval, or arrival of garments. Build time for your own responses into the schedule.

What commercial details should you confirm?

• Whether garment costs and decoration are both included.
• Artwork, digitizing, screen, or setup charges.
• Proof and sample arrangements.
• Taxes, freight, packaging, and rush charges.
• Payment timing and cancellation terms.
• Responsibility for errors, shortages, or supplied-garment damage.
• Whether files can be reused and what reorders require.

Brother's DTG guidance illustrates why print size, colors, and consumables can change production cost. The same broad request can therefore produce different prices when the design assumptions differ.

A brief you can adapt

“We need a quote for [quantity] [garment style and color], with sizes listed below. Please quote [decoration method or your recommendation], using the attached artwork at [dimensions] in [locations]. We need the finished order at [destination] by [date]. Please itemize setup, samples, delivery, and any exclusions.”

Attach the size list and artwork separately with clear filenames. Use the embroidery search or printing search to identify providers, then compare their responses using the same specification.