Decide who you are selling to, choose one or two sleeveless styles that suit them, and put your money into labels and fit rather than a wide range. Starting a tank top brand with white label means the garment already exists; your job is to choose it well and make it recognisably yours.
Tank tops and crop tops are a good first product for a new label. They are simple garments, they photograph clearly, and they sit beside T-shirts, joggers and leggings in almost any casual or gym range. Below is the order we suggest working in.
Step 1: Pick the buyer before the garment
A tank top for a gym crowd and a crop top for a fashion buyer are different products, even if both are sleeveless. Write one sentence about who will buy your first piece and where they will wear it. For example:
- “Men who train and want a relaxed top with a small logo.”
- “Women who want a fitted ribbed vest to layer under shirts and jackets.”
- “Online shoppers looking for a cotton crop top to wear with high-waist jeans.”
That sentence decides the style, the fabric and the branding more than anything else.
Step 2: Choose one or two styles
Our white label tank tops range has four styles. A quick guide:
| Style | Feel | Who usually buys it |
|---|---|---|
| Tank top | Light, narrow straps, scooped neck | Gym, summer and beachwear ranges |
| Muscle tee | Wide shoulder, open armholes, straight body | Gym brands, menswear, streetwear |
| Crop top | Sits at or above the waist | Fashion and womenswear |
| Ribbed vest | Fitted rib knit, clean edges | Basics, layering, multipacks |
Two styles is plenty to start. The minimum is 100 pieces per style, with sizes mixed, so two styles means 200 pieces in total. If you want more about choosing between them, our post on tank top, muscle tee, crop top and ribbed vest styles goes into detail.
Step 3: Fabric and colour
Each style comes in one or more of three fabrics:
- Cotton jersey: soft, light, takes print well; relaxed tank tops, muscle tees and crops.
- Rib knit: vertical ribs that stretch across the body and recover; ribbed vests and fitted crops.
- Cotton-elastane: cotton with added stretch for a smooth, close fit.
For colour, start with what will sell steadily. Black, white and one brand colour cover most first orders. The colour split is confirmed in your quotation, as it depends on the fabric.
Step 4: Make it yours with branding
On a plain sleeveless top, branding is what turns a basic into your product. Plan these pieces:
- Neck label. On close-fitting styles we suggest a printed inside-neck label, so there is no tag to feel. A woven tag suits muscle tees.
- Wash-care label. A small label in the side seam.
- Logo or graphic. Screen print or heat transfer for chest and back graphics; a small embroidered logo for a cleaner look.
- Hang tag. Your brand story or a simple logo card.
- Packing. Polybag, size sticker and barcode if you sell online; bulk cartons if you will re-pack.
Keep the first logo simple. A small chest or hem logo is easier to get right than a large print, and it works across colours.
Step 5: Sample, then order
Send us the style, fabric, colours, quantity per size and branding. We send a quotation per style with sample terms, lead time and shipping details. Then we make a sample with your branding where possible.
On the sample, check the armholes, straps, binding, crop length, colour and labels. Wash it once. If anything needs changing, list each change clearly. Once you approve the sample, you pay the advance and bulk production follows the approved sample. Every order passes our quality check before it is packed, and the balance is due before dispatch.
Step 6: Plan the launch and the reorder
While production runs, prepare your photos, size chart and listings. Write the size chart from the measurements of the approved sample. If you sell on a marketplace, confirm its current labelling and packing requirements and send them to us before packing. We take enquiries from buyers worldwide; shipping method, terms and documents are confirmed in the quotation.
After launch, watch which sizes and colours sell first. A white label reorder repeats the approved style, fabric and colours, so you can adjust the size ratio or add a colour without starting again.
A short starter checklist:
- One sentence describing your buyer
- One or two styles
- Fabric and two or three colours per style
- Neck label, wash-care label, logo and hang tag artwork
- Packing method and barcode needs
- Destination country and any launch date
Send us what you have from that list, with a reference photo of the look you want, and we will prepare your quotation.