GUIDE – USA
How to choose an ethical apparel and merchandise supplier.
Plenty of suppliers say “sustainable”. These questions help you check what sits behind the claim.
Quick answer
Ask which certifications each garment carries and whether certificates are available, which brands the garments come from, how and where decoration is done, whether you get a mockup before production, how minimums work, and whether the supplier will help you make accurate claims. A good ethical supplier answers each of these clearly and in writing.
1. Which certifications does each garment carry?
Look for named, checkable standards, such as GOTS or OCS for organic content, GRS for recycled content, Fair Wear membership for working conditions, and OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 for harmful-substance testing. “Eco” or “green” on its own is not a certification. Ask for the certificate for the styles you are considering. See certifications explained.
2. Which brands do the garments come from?
A supplier should tell you the brand and style of every garment, so you can check the brand’s own sustainability information and certifications.
3. How is decoration done?
Ask which methods are offered, such as screen printing, embroidery, DTG and DTF, and how the supplier chooses between them. If your program needs certified inks, ask whether they are available. See choosing a decoration method.
4. Will you see a mockup before production?
You should see your artwork on the garment, with placement and sizes, and approve it before anything is produced.
5. How do minimums and reorders work?
Ask how the minimum applies per design, whether you can mix sizes and colors, and how simple reorders are once artwork is set up. See minimum order quantities.
6. Will they help you make accurate claims?
If you plan to describe your merch as organic, recycled or ethical, your supplier should help you match the claim to the certification, and tell you when a claim goes further than the evidence. See making honest sustainability claims.
How OCC Apparel answers these
- We have supplied ethical custom apparel since 2004
- We name the brand, style and certification of every garment in your quote, and certificates are available on request
- We print with water-based and plastisol inks, and embroider, and recommend the method that suits your job
- Every decorated order gets a free digital mockup to approve
- U.S. orders are decorated in Georgia with our U.S. production partners
Questions
What makes an apparel supplier ethical?
Look for garments with recognized certifications for materials and working conditions, transparency about brands and factories, and a supplier that only makes claims its products can back up.
Is a certified garment enough to call my merch sustainable?
A certification supports specific claims, such as “certified organic cotton”. It is safer to describe exactly what the certification covers than to use broad words like “sustainable”.
Can I ask for certificates before I order?
Yes. A good supplier will share certificates for the styles that carry them. We provide them on request.
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OCC APPAREL – USA
Work with us – get a free quote.
Please complete the form and give as much detail as you can. Attach one artwork file to give us an idea of your design; once we’re in touch we’ll send instructions for the rest.
We print and ship nationwide, quotes are free and no-obligation, and every order gets a professional mockup before production.