Garment
Custom T-Shirt Manufacturing in Cape Town
Cape Town is the strongest T-shirt production hub in South Africa, with knit CMT factories in Salt River, Epping and Maitland able to handle runs from 50 units upwards. Estimate your costs before you approach a factory.
What goes into a T-shirt price
CMT sewing
R28–R55 per unit for a set-in sleeve tee with ribbed neck.
Fabric
R45–R90 per unit, depending on GSM, cotton quality and colour.
Cutting
R4–R9 per unit including marker planning and laying.
Screen printing
R15–R45 per placement, with screen setup per colour.
Embroidery
R12–R38 per placement, plus a once-off digitising fee.
Labels & packaging
R4–R14 per unit for woven labels, tags and polybags.
T-shirt production questions
How much does it cost to manufacture a T-shirt in Cape Town?
CMT sewing for a basic tee typically runs R28–R55 per unit, fabric R45–R90 per unit and cutting R4–R9 per unit. With a printed logo and packaging, a 100-unit run usually lands between roughly R110 and R220 per shirt, plus a once-off pattern fee.
What is the minimum order for custom T-shirts?
Small-batch Cape Town CMT factories usually start at 50 units per style and colour. Larger knit manufacturers often require 150 units or more.
Which fabric is best for T-shirts in South Africa?
160–180 GSM combed cotton single jersey is the local standard for retail-quality tees. 145–150 GSM is used for promotional shirts, while 190–210 GSM suits premium streetwear.