A practical glossary to help you understand the language used by merch suppliers, printers, embroiderers and manufacturers.
Merch production comes with a lot of specific terms, and different suppliers may sometimes use slightly different wording.
You don’t need to memorise everything. Use this page as a reference when discussing products, artwork or production with a supplier.
Blank
The undecorated base product before your design is added, for example a plain T-shirt, cap or tote bag.
Garment
A clothing item such as a T-shirt, hoodie or sweatshirt.
Fabric composition
The fibres used to make the product, for example cotton, polyester or a blend.
Fabric weight / GSM
The weight of the fabric per square metre. It can help describe how light or heavy a textile feels, but it does not define quality on its own.
Fit
The overall shape and cut of a garment, for example regular, oversized, cropped or fitted.
Colorway
A specific color version of the same product or design.
SKU
A unique product variation, often based on size, color or style.