A shirt is an upper part garment which has a buttoned front and a collar, along with short or long sleeves. Men's shirts are often paired up with coats or jackets to look more presentable. The trend of wearing shirts under various types of coats dates back to the 17th century. The European people used to wear it (as underwear) under frock coats to protect it from sweat and dirt. Back in those times, shirts (especially white shirts) were closely linked with elite people, which afterwards became the most common in both men's and women's wardrobes in the 20th century. The shirt market expanded significantly because of the George Bryan "Beau" Brummell influence, who helped popularize shirts. Some of the most commonly used fabrics to make shirts are cotton, linen, silk, and polyester.
T-shirts, on the other hand, are also spelled as "tee shirt" and are a fabric style named after their shape. It is one of the types of shirts, which is made from breathable fabric that might have round, V, or U neck patterns. Its inexpensiveness and being easy to clear are what make it a beloved wardrobe staple. What is now a fashion trend was once worn only out of sheer necessity. The laborers in the 19th century used to cut their jumpsuits in half to feel cool in warmer weather, which is what marks the origin of t-shirts. However, it became a relatively common garment after F. Scott Fitzgerald used the term "t-shirt" in his novel, This Side of Paradise. It then made an appearance in media form via the movie A Streetcar Named Desire. The consumerism of T-shirts skyrocketed right after both of these print and media appearances. Nowadays, the advanced printing methods combined with a lot of cool t shirt design ideas, the popularity of different types of tees has gained a stable momentum. Some of those cool t shirts are graphic tees, crew neck tees, and others.
The fashion evolution has now changed the consumer preferences. T-shirts and shirts are now in high demand for both men and women, and they’re now incorporating more innovative T-shirt designs in their wardrobe, such as shirts with detachable collars, vinyl print t-shirts, sweat-absorbent t-shirts/shirts, and others.
T-shirts and shirts are essential staples in the global trade market, just as it is in a consumer's wardrobe. Factors like e-commerce expansion and the popular casual wear culture have a lot of impact on the global trade industry of t-shirts and shirts. In 2023, t-shirts had 10.06% share in the total apparel imports. And this increased trade is not only driven by the t shirts for men but also by a growing number of unique designs focused on t shirts for women entering the market. Let's now dive a little more into what key factors are driving the increased trade of t-shirts and shirts:
The buyers of casual shirts and t-shirts don’t just look for trendy designs, but they also make the material quality, comfort, and appropriate quality their priority. To succeed in this industry, you will need to meet all those requirements. Let’s quickly go through what shirts/t shirt buyers expect:
Shirt Types:
T-Shirt Types:
The global trade market of t-shirts and shirts is huge, and so should be your product range. Here is a list of products that most exporters include in their exporting business to reach the maximum number of wholesale t shirts buyers:
Some of the valuable data that would help you in building a strategic business plan for exporting shirts and t-shirts to other countries are as follows:
Global Market Size
Top Importing Countries for Shirts & T-Shirts (2024):
To find verified shirts & t-shirts importers, you should rely on multiple platforms. Here are a few ways that could help you significantly in finding an international as well as domestic t-shirt buyers directory:
1. What is the best place to sell T-shirts?
The best place to sell your t-shirts is through B2B platforms (for selling globally) and local clothing stores (for selling domestically). However, the idea of “best place” totally depends on what type of t-shirt you’re selling and what your target market is.
2. How many T-shirts are in 1 kg of fabric?
Roughly, 1 kg of fabric can make 4 to 6 t-shirts.
3. Is it profitable to sell shirts and t-shirts?
Absolutely! Selling shirts and t-shirts is a great idea, as you can expect a profit margin of 30-60%.
4. Are there specific labeling requirements for clothing exports?
Yes, the labeling of fabric content, country of origin, care instructions, and manufacturer identifications is a few of the labeling requirements when you export clothes.
5. Which countries are the top importers of t-shirts?
Turkey, followed by the US and Ecuador, are the top importers of t-shirts.
6. What are the most popular t-shirt sizes in India?
Medium (M) is the most popular size for t-shirts in India.
7. What are the main HSN codes for shirts and t-shirts?
The shirts and t-shirts HSN code is:
Shirts HSN code: 6109
T-shirt HSN code: 6205 (woven shirts), 620520 (shirts made of cotton), 620530 (man-made fibers), and 620590 (other textile materials).
8. What are the key factors to consider when exporting t-shirts?
While exporting t-shirts, you will have to take care of a lot of key factors. Some of those include understanding the market trends, making a strategic plan, sourcing good quality fabrics, and aligning with the current fashion trends.
9. What is the current state and future of the t-shirt market?
The current market size of t-shirts is at $55.003 billion, which is expected to reach $71.463 billion in 2033, growing at a CAGR rate of 3.3%.
10. What is the difference between a shirt and a T-shirt?
Shirts include a wide range of fabrics and styles, including polo shirts, dress shirts, and button-up shirts. On the other hand, t-shirts are a specific type of shirt which could be short-sleeved, casual, graphic, and others.
11. What is T-shirt material called?
Knitted fabric or jersey knit are the two materials used in t-shirts.
12. Which GSM is best for a T-shirt?
The best GSM for t-shirts depends on its intended use. The best GSM for some of the common types of shirts are: 160–180 GSM (Standard T-shirts), 180–220 GSM (Oversized T-shirts), and 130–160 GSM (Summer T-shirts).
13. What is the best raw material for T-shirts?
Cotton is usually considered the best raw material for T-shirts because it is breathable, comfortable, and durable.
14. How many types of printing are on a t-shirt?
DTG and dye sublimation printing are some of the most common types of printing found on a t-shirt.
15. How to find global buyers for shirts and t-shirts?
To find verified global buyers of shirts and t-shirts, you can sign up on B2B platforms (go4WorldBusiness), attend trade fairs (Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, MAGIC Las Vegas, and others), or even use social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook).
16. Where are t-shirts mainly exported from India?
South Africa, Malaysia, Panama, Mexico, and Nigeria are a few of the major export destinations of Indian t-shirts.
The India-EU Trade Agreement (FTA) is all set to project 0% tariffs on Indian textiles and apparel, bringing the T-shirts and cotton garments exports to another level. (Full story: Fibre2Fashion)
