Why T-Shirts and Polos Remain the Foundation of the Decorated Apparel Industry

  Ralawise - Alex Iacurti  •  Tue July 08, 2025 

In the beginning – before technical fabrics, before fashion-forward fleeces, before premium outerwear ranges – there was the humble t-shirt; and the unheralded polo. Two garments so fundamental to the apparel industry that it’s easy to forget just how important they still are.

Tees and polos remain the foundation of decorated apparel because they work across every sector, support all common decoration methods and offer the most reliable balance of cost, quality and scalability.

The numbers speak for themselves. Statista reports that the UK t-shirt market alone is projected to generate £1.93 billion in 2025, with annual growth of 3%. Credence Research believes that the custom t-shirt printing market is set to hit over £400 million by 2032; and that’s before you even factor in the polo – the go-to corporate, hospitality and workwear favourite.

If you’re starting out in decorated apparel, wanting to strengthen your current offering or just looking for an easy win, there’s simply no better area to focus on than tees and polos.

Why Tees and Polos Are the Best Garments for Printing and Embroidery

There are plenty of great reasons why every decorator, from bedroom start-ups to large-scale uniform providers, loves working with tees and polos. They’re accessible. They’re affordable. They’re infinitely adaptable.

In decorated apparel, tees and polos are considered the most decoration-tolerant garments, meaning they work reliably with all popular printing and embroidery techniques.

A smartly selected tee takes embroidery, screen print, DTF and DTG with equal ease. A quality polo effortlessly bridges the casual and professional. And, unlike more complex garments, tees and polos are super-forgiving – margins are manageable, stock moves steadily and reliably, and mistakes won’t sink the boat.

This isn’t about settling for simple. It’s about building on rock-solid foundations.

New to the industry? Feeling a little overwhelmed? A little lost? Fear not. With so many great options available, we’ve put together a special “Complete guide to decorated apparel” edition with all the expert t-shirt and polo guidance you could ever need.

This guide is for decorators, small businesses and uniform suppliers looking to build a profitable apparel range using tees and polos.

“Basics that the best decorators never outgrow. Commercial certainties that they return to time after time, refining their offering and using them as the core stock around which their business can grow.”

How Tees and Polos Create Profitable Opportunities Across Multiple Sectors

What makes tees and polos so successful is their wide commercial reach and adaptability. They provide a reliable way to generate profit across nearly every sector.

• Hospitality – hotels, restaurants and bars depend on front-of-house teams looking polished. Polos deliver a smart-casual appearance that works throughout long shifts, from breakfast to evening service. Polos are favoured in hospitality because they combine style, comfort and durability for continuous wear.
• Workwear – from construction sites to warehouses, branded tees and polos strengthen team identity while keeping employees comfortable and presentable. They’re durable, easy to replace and simple to decorate. Unlike fashion-focused tees, workwear garments are designed for high durability and frequent use.
• Corporate – office staff, sales teams and trade show representatives need a professional yet approachable look. Polos provide a step above casual attire without feeling formal, offering comfort and perfect logo placement. In corporate environments, polos support professional branding by balancing fit, comfort and visible logo display.
• Sports and fitness – clubs, gyms and personal trainers rely on performance polos and moisture-wicking tees that look sharp and perform under pressure. Fitness teams choose these garments because they manage sweat effectively while keeping shape during heavy activity.
• Leisure and fashion – streetwear brands, independent labels and lifestyle retailers need products that feel retail-ready. Oversized tees, washed finishes and premium weights help to create highly desirable garments. Fashion-focused consumers prefer these options because they combine style with high-quality, wearable products.
• Merch and promotions – band tees, event giveaways and product launch apparel turn customers into walking billboards. Every wearer becomes a brand ambassador in the real world, making tees one of the most effective promotional tools for increasing visibility and reinforcing brand recognition.
• Retail and small marketplace decorators – independent creators and small brands benefit from tees as a low-risk entry point. They allow fast production, flexible design and easy inventory management. Small-batch decorators rely on tees as ‘core stock’, meaning dependable, quick-selling items ideal for testing new designs.

That’s seven sectors from two core products, with no shortage of other profitable markets to explore.

By understanding how fabric weight, fit and decoration method influence the final result, you can confidently present solutions to clients you may not have previously considered.

Building a Core Apparel Range with Tees and Polos

Think of tees and polos as your core stock – the essential products that keep orders flowing while you work to develop more specialist lines. They’re the gateway to hoodies; a stepping stone to outerwear; a smart foot in the door when it comes to introducing workwear. Just talk to us for up-to-date advice – honestly, what our sales team don’t know about tees and polos really isn’t worth knowing!

Once you understand what makes a great tee – the weight, the weave and the way it holds ink or thread – you’ll quickly be able to spot quality across the board. You’ll know why a 180gsm ringspun cotton prints differently to a 145gsm polycotton. You’ll recognise why side seams matter for print alignment. You’ll spot the details that separate a rugged, reliable friend from a customer complaint waiting to happen.

And here’s what’s really interesting about tees – the same product can take on completely different identities, depending on fit, fabric and styling. A relaxed oversized tee for streetwear merch. A fitted performance tee for a gym. A classic crew neck for workwear. The same basic foundations, but with infinite applications.

So if you’re wondering where to start – or where to return to when things get complicated – the answer’s the same: go back to the beginning. Start with a tee. Start with a polo. Build from there.

Choosing the Right Tee or Polo Supplier for Your Decoration Business

Choosing the right supplier ensures consistency and quality, as well as access to expert advice across all decorated apparel markets.

At Ralawise, we’ve spent decades sourcing, specifying and supplying tees and polos. We know the market inside out. The fabrics that suit particular decoration methods. The best fits for the best markets. The brands that deliver, day in, day out. The ones to watch. It’s knowledge built from experience – take it.

Whether you’re placing your first order or your five-hundredth, our team can help you choose with confidence. All the support you need to make sure you put exactly the right product in the right hands. You win; we win; your clients win.

And when you’re ready to expand? Hoodies? Sweats? Outerwear? We’ll be here for that, too. In the meantime, if you’re thinking of starting your own decoration business, check out this gold mine of practical guidance to help make that first step as pain-free and profitable as possible.

👉 Explore tees and polos at Ralawise