Starting a custom clothing brand used to be a huge hassle. You had to deal with minimum orders, buy expensive equipment, and manage boxes of unsold inventory. Today, print-on-demand (POD) dropshipping has changed the game.
So, what is it? With POD dropshipping, you partner with a supplier who handles everything—storing blank apparel, printing your designs, and shipping orders directly to your customers under your brand. You never have to touch the inventory.
This guide will cover the best POD suppliers that can help you launch your own custom clothing line with minimal risk and upfront cost.
Why Dropship Custom Clothing?
If you're still on the fence, here are the key benefits of using the print-on-demand dropshipping model for your apparel brand.
- Low Investment: You don't buy inventory upfront. You only pay for a product after a customer buys it from you, making it the perfect low-risk way to start a clothing brand.
- No Inventory Hassles: Your supplier handles all the storage, printing, packing, and shipping. No more leftover stock or trips to the post office.
- Easy to Start: Most POD companies integrate with Shopify and other ecommerce platforms directly, making it simple to upload designs and manage orders automatically.
- Build Your Brand: Many suppliers offer custom labels, tags, and packaging, so every order that goes out looks like it came directly from your brand, not a third party.
- Tap Into a Huge Market: The demand for custom apparel is massive and growing. You can design and sell everything from t-shirts and hoodies to dresses and activewear.
Best-Selling Custom Clothing Products
With print-on-demand, you can put your designs on a huge variety of apparel. Some of the most popular items to sell include:
- T-Shirts
- Hoodies & Sweatshirts
- Dresses
- Tank Tops
- Leggings & Joggers
- Activewear (Sports Bras, etc.)
- Swimwear
How Print-on-Demand Dropshipping Works
The process is straightforward and generally the same across all POD platforms.
- Set Up Your Store: Build your online store using a platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix.
- SChoose a Supplier: Pick a POD company from the list below and connect it to your store.
- Create Your Products: Use the supplier’s tools to upload your designs onto their blank products (like t-shirts or hoodies).
- List Products for Sale: Add the customized apparel to your online store.
- A Customer Places an Order: The order is automatically sent to your POD supplier.
- The Supplier Takes Over: You pay the supplier the base cost of the product. They then print, pack, and ship the order directly to your customer.
Top 10 Print-on-Demand Apparel Suppliers
We’ve reviewed dozens of POD companies to find the best partners for dropshipping custom clothing. Here are the top 10, with a quick comparison to get you started.
| Brand | Price | Avg. Production Time | Branding Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPROLO | Free | 3-15 days | Yes |
| Gooten | Free | 1-6 days | No |
| CustomCat | Free (Paid Plan Avail.) | 2-3 days | Yes |
| SPOD | Free | 2 days | Yes |
| Rush Order Tees | Free | 5-6 days | Yes |
| Art of Where | Free | 1-2 days | Yes |
| Teelaunch | Free | 3-6 days | Yes |
| Printful | Free | 2-7 days | Yes |
| Canadian Custom Apparel | Free | 5 days | Yes |
| Teespring | Free | 7-15 days | Yes |
1. EPROLO
EPROLO is an all-in-one dropshipping platform that offers print-on-demand service—Inkedjoy—that allows sellers to design and sell their clothing. The platform is great for POD sellers who want strong branding options without any subscription fees.
- Best For: All-in-one branding, beginners.
- Key Features: Free to use, custom labels and packaging, direct integration with Shopify and WooCommerce.
- Shipping: Offers free 3–5 day shipping from US and Australian warehouses.
2. Gooten
Gooten offers a wide variety of products and printing methods, making it a flexible choice for diverse clothing lines.
- Best For: Large product selection, varied printing options.
- Key Features: Free to use, multiple printing methods including DTG, embroidery, and cut & sew.
- Shipping: Production and shipping usually take 1–6 business days.
3. CustomCat
With a massive catalog of customizable clothing, CustomCat is a great option if you're looking for variety.
- Best For: Huge product selection.
- Key Features: Free plan available, paid plan for lower product prices. Offers embroidery and DTG printing.
- Shipping: Ships from the US in 2–3 days. US delivery takes 1–7 business days; international takes 4–15 days.
4. SPOD
SPOD is known for its incredibly fast production times, making it a top choice for sellers who want to get orders to customers quickly.
- Best For: Fast production.
- Key Features: Free to use, easy-to-use design tool, US-based production.
- Shipping: Orders are typically produced within 48 hours and arrive in 3–8 business days.
5. Rush Order Tees
Rush Order Tees provides a wide range of products and printing techniques without any setup fees.
- Best For: Multiple printing options.
- Key Features: Free to use, offers screen printing, embroidery, and digital printing.
- Shipping: Production takes 5–6 days, with worldwide delivery in 9–10 business days.
6. Art of Where
Based in Canada, Art of Where is an excellent choice for creating high-quality, ethically-made apparel with strong branding options.
- Best For: High-quality products and branding.
- Key Features: Free to use, offers custom labels and artist branding, specializes in cut & sew.
- Shipping: Very fast production (24–48 hours). Shipping is 2–6 days in the US & Canada, but longer internationally.
7. Teelaunch
Teelaunch partners with print facilities across the globe, which can lead to faster shipping times for international customers.
- Best For: Global printing network.
- Key Features: Free to use, offers unique products beyond apparel (like running shoes and jewelry).
- Shipping: Production takes 3–6 business days. Shipping can be very fast (under 2 days) from local warehouses.
8. Printful
Printful is one of the most popular and reliable names in the POD industry, known for its quality and wide range of services.
- Best For: Overall quality and reliability.
- Key Features: Free to use, high-quality printing (DTG, embroidery), extensive branding options.
- Shipping: Production takes 2–7 business days, with shipping times varying by destination.
9. Canadian Custom Apparel
As its name suggests, this is a Canada-based supplier with a wide range of fashion items and printing methods.
- Best For: Canadian sellers, variety of print methods.
- Key Features: Free to use, offers everything from screen printing to embroidery, custom branding available.
- Shipping: Production takes about 5 business days. International shipping can take around 3 weeks.
10. Teespring (now Spring)
Teespring is a well-known platform that makes it easy to design and sell custom products with no upfront cost.
- Best For: Simplicity and ease of use.
- Key Features: Free to use, offers screen printing and DTG.
- Shipping: Production and shipping times can be longer, often ranging from 7 to 15 business days depending on the location.
Common Questions About Custom Clothing Dropshipping
Is dropshipping custom clothing profitable?
Yes, it can be very profitable. While standard dropshipping margins are around 20%, POD businesses can see profit margins of 40% or more since you're selling unique designs.
Is it legal to sell clothing under my own brand?
Absolutely. It's completely legal to partner with a POD company to create and sell custom products under your own brand name.
Can I dropship other custom products besides clothing?
Yes! Most of these suppliers also offer custom hats, phone cases, mugs, tote bags, posters, and more.
