Want to learn how to outfit groups in apparel without breaking the bank?
Planning any event comes with dozens (or hundreds) of decisions.
And one question that often arises is “how can we afford to dress everyone in custom apparel?”
Fortunately, there is a way.
And it all starts with buying wholesale blank apparel.
Whether you’re outfitting a company team building retreat, charity fun run, family reunion, or Girl Scout fundraiser… There is a strategy for dressing groups that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Below you’re going to discover:
- Why Buying Wholesale Blank Apparel is Key
- How Much Custom Group Apparel Really Costs
- Strategies to Save Money on Apparel Costs
- Mistakes that Destroy Apparel Budgets
Buying Wholesale Blank Apparel is Key
Paying retail prices for group apparel is literally throwing money away.
If you need to outfit 50 members of your group and you pay $25 a shirt, you just spent $1250.
But what if you could source those shirts wholesale instead?
Prices for wholesale blank apparel from reputable distributors like Shirtmax wholesale t-shirts are always going to be far lower per unit than retail prices without sacrificing quality.
The reason wholesale apparel is so much cheaper is that the suppliers are buying directly from manufacturers without the retail markup. That’s markup that gets passed directly to you.
Let’s do a quick comparison.
Retail price for a quality blank t-shirt will usually fall between $15-$20. But a wholesale distributor can often supply that exact same blank shirt for $3-$5.
That price difference x 100 people just bought you some serious budget relief.
It’s why anyone who plans events for groups knows to source blank apparel at wholesale prices first.
Cost of Custom Group Apparel
Okay, so what does it really cost to outfit a group with apparel?
Here’s the shocking truth:
Custom apparel companies are having a moment.
According to industry analysis, the global custom apparel market size was valued at $54.84 billion in 2023. Growing demand from sporting events, corporate gatherings, organizations, universities, and more helped drive the market to nearly $55 billion by 2024.
Profits for screen printers have never been higher.
That means there’s a lot of incentive for every screen printer to rip you off.
Let’s dig into what goes into properly outfitting a group:
- The base garment: t-shirt, hoodie, polo.
- Decoration: screen print, embroidery, heat transfer vinyl.
- Sizes needed for all group members.
- Shipping and logistics.
If you simply look at what it costs to decorate a garment you’re already way behind.
The blank apparel represents the single largest expense of your order.
Buy that wrong and you won’t even have money left for decoration.
By starting with wholesale blank apparel you free up more of your budget to spend on quality printing or embroidery. Meaning your groups look better and cost less overall.
Saving Money on Apparel Groups
We’ve already covered how stretched most event budgets are these days.
In fact, according to research , about 70% of meeting and event professionals say their organizations will spend more on meetings and events in 2025 than they did in 2024.
With costs increasing left and right, you can bet affordable apparel is not getting any cheaper.
So how do you work within your budget and still come out looking like a hero?
Bulk is Your Friend
Almost every apparel distributor has tiered pricing based on the quantity of your order. The more shirts you buy at one time, the less each shirt will cost you.
The Heavier the Garment, the More it Will Cost
Sure, 6 ounce cotton t-shirts feel amazing. But you won’t pay the same for a 4.5 ounce version. And if it’s a one time event or you’re gathering in the middle of summer you’re never going to notice.
Cotton Blends are Your Friend
100% cotton is great, but did you know that cotton/polyester blends are usually cheaper?
They also tend to shrink less, and your printed design will last longer on them.
And they’re more comfortable in hot weather because they wick moisture away.
Don’t Order Last Minute
If you have time, place your order 4-6 weeks out from your event. That way you can use standard shipping and don’t have to worry about expensive rush fees.
Increase Your Budget by Not Making These Mistakes
Lets review some really common mistakes that event planners make when ordering apparel for groups.
Ordering Without Accurate Sizes
When organizers fail to obtain correct sizes from their groups they end up paying for shirts no one can wear.
Then they have to reorder. And pay rush fees.
Paying Attention to the Decoration Process
Some decoration methods are cheaper than others. Screen printing is ideal for large orders with one or two colors. But if you need 5 colors and only 35 shirts. You’re going to get burned.
Ordering Too Little
Guaranteed there will be last minute additions to your group. Order an extra 5-10% more shirts than you think you need. The wholesale cost per unit goes down because you’re ordering more. But if you have to order those extra shirts separately it will end up costing you double.
Buying Clothing That’s Trendy but Ill-Fitting
Yeah that chubby logo patch fits great on all the 25-year old interns. But what about Uncle Rob who just drank 3 beers? Make sure you select wholesale blank apparel that will work for everyone who needs one.
Outfitting Every Type of Event
Not all events are the same.
And neither should your approach to apparel those events.
Corporate Events: Companies usually default to polo shirts or t-shirts. If you go with polos, make sure they are a button down style. Avoiding the generic club style polo. Since you have wholesale blank apparel in professional colors, let those company logos pop. Team builds, conferences, and networking events often mean your groups will wear these shirts more than once. So quality matters.
Charity Fundraisers: When your group is doing it for a good cause, basic cotton t-shirts work just fine. No one is expecting cocktail attire when they show up to volunteer at the local food bank.
Sports Groups: Don’t be afraid to spend a few more dollars per unit here. If someone is wearing your shirt and working up a sweat. They’ll immediately know the difference if your garment is made from cheap materials.
Family Gatherings: Comfort is king when you’ve got groups of every age showing up to your event. Make sure you order shirts in children’s sizes too. And don’t forget to stock up on XL and larger. Parents will want them too.
Weddings and Social Events: Matching shirts for the wedding party and guys attending the bachelor party has become more and more popular. If you know your guests are going to be posting photos of these shirts online, make sure they look nice.
Planning Your Decoration
Remember how we talked about decoration methods?
Well it’s time to geek out about those.
Screen Printing
Screen printing will always be the most affordable way to decorate garments. But that doesn’t mean it’s always the right choice.
If you have an order of 50+ with one to three colors you’ll probably get the best pricing. Because your set up costs will be spread out over more units.
That will help drive the cost down per shirt.
Embroidery
Embroidery is typically better for smaller orders.
And looks much nicer on polos.
If your shirts are something that will be worn many times over, the cost is usually worth it.
Heat Transfer
Heat transfer opens up unlimited possibilities for your group apparel.
Complex artwork or small, one time orders are where you’ll benefit most from using HTV.
Ready to Start Budgeting for Group Apparel Orders?
Here’s the thing about outfitting groups.
It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
As long as you focus first on sourcing quality wholesale blank apparel you’ll free yourself up to make all the right decisions down the line.
Buy at wholesale prices.
Select the correct garment weight and fabric based on your needs.
Get accurate size information.
Plan ahead and you’ll avoid costly rush orders.
And most importantly…
Don’t forget the garment itself is the biggest expense.
Smooth sailing!
