Sourcing Knitwear and T-Shirts From Bangladesh: A Buyer's Guide

If you sell tees, polos, hoodies, or knit basics, Bangladesh is one of the first places you should look. Knitwear is the country's core strength. The factories that make your favorite everyday cotton tee are often the same ones that supply the world's biggest high street brands.

This guide walks you through what actually matters when you source knit tops from Bangladesh: the fabrics and their weights, realistic minimum order quantities, and the details you need to nail in your spec before a factory can quote you accurately. Get these right and you avoid the two most common first-order surprises, price creep and quality drift.

We are a sourcing house in Dhaka. We connect you with vetted knit factories, run the samples and quality checks, and handle export and shipping. So this is written from inside the process, not from a brochure.

Why Bangladesh is strong on knits

Bangladesh is the world's second largest apparel exporter after China, with garment exports of about 38.5 billion US dollars in 2024, according to World Trade Organization data reported by The Daily Star. A large share of that is knitwear: tees, polos, sweatshirts, leggings, and underwear.

The reason is depth. Bangladesh has a mature knit ecosystem, from circular knitting and dyeing to cutting, sewing, and finishing, often under one roof in vertically integrated mills. That vertical setup matters for you: fewer handoffs means better price control on cotton basics and shorter lead times on repeat orders.

For simple, high volume cotton programs, this is close to ideal. For very technical or tiny runs, you make different tradeoffs, which we cover below.

Know your knit fabrics

Most knit tops come from a small family of fabric constructions. Speccing the right one is the single biggest driver of how your garment looks, feels, and prices.

• Single jersey: the classic tee fabric. Lightweight, smooth face, one direction of stretch. The default for basic and fashion tees.
• Pique: a textured knit, the standard for polo shirts. More structured than jersey.
• Interlock: a smoother, heavier, double knit. Both sides look like the face of jersey. Good for premium tees and babywear.
• Fleece and French terry: looped or brushed knits for sweatshirts and hoodies. French terry is lighter, brushed fleece is warmer.
• Rib: used for cuffs, collars, and fitted tops.

You also choose the yarn. Combed cotton is smoother and stronger than carded. Ring-spun yarn gives a softer, more even surface than open-end (rotor) yarn, and is worth specifying for premium tees. Blends with elastane add stretch, and blends with polyester or viscose change drape and cost.

GSM: the number that defines your tee

GSM means grams per square meter. It is the weight of the fabric and the fastest shorthand for quality feel. A higher GSM is heavier and usually feels more substantial.

As a rough guide for cotton single jersey:

These are practical ranges, not fixed rules. Always confirm the exact GSM you want in your tech pack and check it on the sample, because a 20 GSM difference changes both hand feel and cost. Heavier fabric uses more yarn, so it costs more per piece.

Realistic minimum order quantities

Minimum order quantity, or MOQ, is the smallest run a factory will accept. On knits it is usually set by fabric, not by sewing. A dye lot has a minimum, so the real constraint is how much fabric of one color the mill must knit and dye.

A few honest expectations:

• Large established knit factories often want a few thousand pieces per style, sometimes split across sizes and a couple of colors within the same fabric and dye lot.
• Per color, per fabric, the minimum can be steep because of the dye batch.
• Smaller and mid-size factories take lower quantities, but you trade some price and sometimes some compliance certification for that flexibility.

If you are a startup or testing a design, do not assume you are locked out. Read our guide to understanding MOQs in Bangladesh for ways to consolidate colors, use stock fabric, and start smaller. A sourcing partner can also group your order with compatible fabric runs to reach a mill's minimum.

What to put in your spec before you ask for a quote

A factory cannot quote accurately from "a black t-shirt." The more you define, the tighter and more honest the price. At minimum, give them:

• Fabric: construction (for example single jersey), yarn (combed, ring-spun), GSM, and any blend.
• Color: a reference (Pantone TCX for textiles is ideal) and how many colors.
• Fit and measurements: a size chart with points of measure, or a garment they can copy.
• Trims: thread, labels, neck tape, care and content labels, hangtags, and any print or embroidery.
• Print or embellishment: method (screen, DTG, embroidery), placement, and number of colors.
• Packing: poly bags, folding, cartons, and barcode or label requirements.
• Quality and compliance: the AQL level you expect and any tests or certifications you need.

This package is often called a tech pack. If yours is incomplete, expect the first sample to miss and the quote to move later. Our post on quality control and inspection explains how a clear spec becomes the checklist your goods are actually measured against.

Common mistakes to avoid on knit orders

• Approving a sample in the wrong fabric. Confirm the sample is made in your final GSM and yarn, not a close substitute.
• Ignoring shrinkage and spirality. Knits shrink and can twist after washing. Ask for wash-tested measurements, not just cut measurements.
• Underspecifying color. "Navy" is not a color. A dye reference prevents disputes at bulk.
• Forgetting the small trims. Neck tape, care labels, and thread all affect cost and lead time. Lock them early.
• Skipping a pre-production sample. Always approve a sealed sample in bulk fabric before the line runs.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good GSM for a quality t-shirt?

For a standard everyday cotton tee, 160 to 190 GSM single jersey is the common sweet spot. Premium and streetwear tees often use 200 GSM and above. The right weight depends on the look and feel you want, so confirm it on the sample.

What is the minimum order to make t-shirts in Bangladesh?

It varies by factory and is usually driven by the fabric dye lot rather than sewing. Large factories often want a few thousand pieces per style, while smaller factories accept less. Consolidating colors and using stock fabric lowers the entry point.

Can I get low MOQ tees as a startup?

Yes, but with tradeoffs. Smaller factories and stock-fabric programs let you start lower, sometimes trading price or certain certifications for flexibility. A sourcing agent can also combine your order with compatible fabric runs.

What is the difference between combed and carded cotton?

Combed cotton has short fibers removed, leaving a smoother, stronger, softer yarn. Carded cotton skips that step and is cheaper but slightly rougher. Combed, ring-spun cotton is the usual choice for premium tees.

How we can help

Sourcing knitwear well comes down to matching your design to the right factory and controlling the details from fabric to finish. We do exactly that: vet knit factories in Bangladesh, run your samples in the correct GSM and yarn, inspect against your spec, and manage export and freight so you deal with one partner. If you are planning a tee or knit program, tell us what you need and we will map out fabrics, quantities, and a realistic timeline. You may also want to compare notes with our guides on sweaters and woven tops and activewear and sportswear.