Why We Don’t Print on Supplied Stock: Ensuring Quality and Consistency
The quality of your branded apparel depends on more than the design you choose. The fabric, construction and finish of the garment all play a major role in how well a print turns out and how long it lasts.
That’s why when customers ask if we can print on garments they bring in, our answer is always the same: we supply the stock for every order. This approach ensures that we can deliver consistent quality and protect the investment you are making in your branding.
While printing on supplied stock might seem like a cost-saving option or a way to use clothing you already own, it comes with risks that can affect the final result, the durability of your print and your satisfaction with the order. Understanding these risks is the first step in seeing why professional printers have this policy in place.
In the sections below, we’ll explain how our stock control protects print quality, reduces waste, ensures compatibility and gives you the confidence that every garment will meet our standards.
Protecting Print Quality And Consistency
The first and most important reason we avoid printing on supplied stock is quality control. Every material responds differently to heat, ink and pressure during production. Some fabrics absorb ink beautifully, producing sharp, long-lasting designs, while others resist the process or react unpredictably. Even garments that look similar can vary in fibre content, weave or finish, which affects how the print sets and how it holds up after washing.
When we use stock from trusted suppliers, we know exactly how each garment will react to our screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing or embroidery processes. That means:
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Consistent colour vibrancy from the first garment to the last
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Predictable sizing and shrinkage rates after washing
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Reliable adhesion of inks for long-lasting results.
Unknown fabrics, especially blends or garments with chemical treatments, can lead to faded colours, uneven prints or cracking over time. Using controlled stock from trusted suppliers allows us to work with materials we know inside and out. Every order meets the same high standard, no matter the quantity and you can feel confident that your branding will look sharp, professional and consistent across your entire batch.
Minimising Risk And Eliminating Waste
Printing on supplied stock may seem straightforward, but the reality is far more complicated. Customer-supplied garments are often one of a kind or difficult to replace, which makes any production issue a serious problem. If something goes wrong during the print process, we cannot guarantee a replacement because we do not have access to identical items.
Even with the most experienced team, mistakes can happen. A print might misalign, a colour could shift or the garment itself may react badly to the heat or pressure of production. When we work with our own carefully selected stock, we can quickly replace any affected items and keep your order on schedule. This level of control is a key reason why printers don’t use customer clothing for commercial printing.
Our in-house inventory is chosen for its proven compatibility with our screen printing policies. This means every item meets the same quality standards, eliminates unnecessary waste and ensures you receive a consistent, professional result across your entire batch. Choosing our stock protects both your budget and your brand’s reputation.
Trusted Apparel Brands We Supply
We partner with leading apparel manufacturers that produce garments perfectly suited for screen printing, DTG and embroidery. These brands are selected for their fabric consistency, durability and compatibility with our equipment, ensuring every order meets our quality standards.
Here are some of the brands we regularly source:
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AS Colour: AS Colour is known for its premium-quality blanks with stylish, modern cuts that appeal to a wide audience. The fabrics are consistent in weight, colour and sizing, making them ideal for both screen printing and DTG. They hold prints well, resist shrinkage and maintain their fit after multiple washes.
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American Apparel: American Apparel offers fashion-forward basics with a smooth, high-quality print surface. The brand is a favourite for lifestyle and retail merchandise because of its flattering fits and excellent colour range, making it perfect for designs that need to stand out.
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Aussie Pacific: Aussie Pacific specialises in corporate and activewear, producing polos, sportswear and uniforms that are durable and comfortable. Their moisture-wicking fabrics are especially suited for branding on garments that will be worn in active environments.
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Biz Collection: Biz Collection is widely used for uniforms, hospitality and corporate wear. Their garments are designed for daily use and frequent washing, ensuring prints remain sharp even in demanding environments.
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Gildan: Gildan is a global leader in blank apparel, offering reliable, cost-effective garments for large-scale orders. Their consistent sizing, colour accuracy and durable cotton blends make them a dependable choice for many screen printing Perth projects.
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JB’s Wear: JB’s Wear produces hard-wearing workwear, casual wear and hi-vis garments that are built to last. Their strong fabric construction holds up well under repeated washing and tough working conditions, ensuring your branding stays visible for longer.
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Ramo: Ramo creates contemporary fashion basics that are popular for promotional wear. Their styles combine comfort and modern cuts, making them a versatile option for retail merchandise and giveaways.
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Earth Positive: Earth Positive offers 100% organic, ethically produced garments that are ideal for eco-conscious printing projects. Their fabrics work seamlessly with water-based inks, resulting in prints that are both high quality and environmentally responsible.
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Stanley/Stella: Stanley/Stella is a premium sustainable apparel brand designed with DTG printing in mind. Their garments feature soft, smooth fabrics and fashion-forward styles that give prints a polished, professional finish.
Print Compatibility Is Critical
Our printing equipment is calibrated for specific brands and fabric types that we know will deliver reliable results. When it comes to printing custom shirt supplied stock, issues can arise if the garment’s material or treatment does not work well with our inks. Sometimes, the fabric content listed on the label isn’t entirely accurate, while it may state 100% cotton, even a small amount of synthetic fibre can drastically affect the print quality.
Different inks are formulated for different fabrics, so mismatched materials can lead to problems such as colour migration, stretching, or shrinking. Using our approved stock ensures every order meets the same high standard from the first shirt to the last.
Some of the most common issues that can happen when we print on your own clothing include:
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Ink adhesion challenges: Some synthetic or treated fabrics resist ink, causing designs to fade or flake prematurely.
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Stretch and distortion: Fabrics with a high stretch factor can warp during printing, altering the design’s shape or alignment.
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Dye migration issues: Certain garments, especially those with rich base colours, can cause dyes to bleed into the print.
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Shrinkage after curing: Heat-sensitive fabrics may contract during the curing process, affecting the overall fit and print placement.
Our Quality Control And Guarantee Policy
At The Fabric Printer, we take pride in standing behind every product we supply. Our in-house quality checks ensure that each garment meets our printing standards before it leaves our workshop. This level of control is what allows us to guarantee your order. Printing on supplied stock removes that control, which means we cannot offer the same protection or replacement policy.
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Full accountability: If something goes wrong with an item we supply, we can replace it quickly at no extra cost.
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No guarantees on supplied stock: Printing on customer-supplied garments breaks this chain of responsibility, which means we cannot offer the same protection.
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Consistent results: Using our trusted suppliers ensures your entire order looks and feels exactly the way it should.
Custom Needs? We Can Help Source It
If you have a specific garment in mind, we are happy to source it for you through our extended supplier network. Whether it’s a unique style, a sustainable option or a specialised fabric, we can usually find a print-ready match that meets your requirements.
Working this way allows us to maintain full quality control while still giving you flexibility and choice. You get the exact look you want, paired with the peace of mind that your garments are compatible with our printing methods.
So, if you’re looking for high-quality apparel printing you can trust, let The Fabric Printer supply and print your garments for consistent, reliable results.