Most new sportswear brands stall on the same three decisions: what to make first, how many to order, and what the sample needs to prove. Get those three right and the rest of the launch falls into place, because every later choice hangs off them. This checklist runs through the launch in the order Sublivio works through it with new brands, from the first range plan to the freight quote.
The checklist
01
Decide the range before the artwork
Start with the garments, not the logo. A brand that tries to launch ten styles at once usually ends up with ten half-finished ones. Pick one or two garments your buyers already want, soccer kits or basketball kits for a teamwear brand, for example, and build the first run around them. The range also sets the decoration method. Full sublimation suits an all-over design on a jersey, while a small chest logo on a training top is often better embroidered. The quote covers the garments and the decoration together, so deciding the range first keeps the numbers simple.
02
Prepare artwork the factory can use
Send a clean vector logo, the exact colours, and a checked list of names and numbers. That sounds basic, yet artwork is where most first orders lose a week, usually because a logo arrives as a small JPG or a colour is described as dark blue instead of a code. If the logo only exists as an image file, sort that out before the quote, not after. Our guide to preparing artwork walks through the files, the placement and the colour matching in full.
03
Approve a sample before the run
The sample is the one step you should never skip to save time. Order it, check the fit, the colours, the decoration and the labels against what you approved, and only then release the full run. The sample itself is free, shipping is paid by the customer, and availability is confirmed after review. That sample then becomes the reference the production run is measured against, so the pieces that arrive match the one you signed off.
04
Plan the quantity around the minimum
Minimum order depends on the garment and decoration method. Smaller first runs are supported, and similar programmes typically start around 24 units, confirmed in the quotation. That number is worth planning around rather than guessing at. A first run of 24 lets a brand test a design with real buyers without carrying stock it cannot move, and it leaves room to reorder the sizes that sell. If the range grows later, the repeat order uses the same approved sample, so the second run matches the first.
05
Decide labels and packaging with the quote
A neck label, a hang tag, a plain polybag and clear carton marks cover a first run. They give buyers a finished-looking product without adding pieces the brand does not need yet. Decide them with the quotation so the sample carries them, and add printed polybags or extra inserts once the range is selling. Our guide to labels and packaging explains what each piece does and when to decide it.
06
Sort freight and timing before you need them
Shipping is worldwide and tracked, and freight is quoted once the destination and carton count are confirmed. Send the delivery address with the quote request, not after it, so the freight figure arrives with the price instead of chasing it. The standard lead time is 14 days, and larger orders depend on the requirement and are confirmed in the quotation. Build the sample round into that timing. A brand that orders the sample early never has to choose between a rushed approval and a missed launch date.
Quick Facts
- Sublivio makes custom sportswear to order for teams, brands and distributors. Everything is quoted, nothing is sold as retail stock. - First orders can stay modest. The minimum depends on the garment and decoration method, and similar programmes typically start around 24 units, confirmed in the quotation. - The standard lead time is 14 days. Bigger orders depend on the requirement and are confirmed in the quotation. - Try the product first. The sample is free, you pay the shipping, and availability is confirmed after review. Production is checked against the sample you approve. - Delivery is worldwide and tracked. Freight is quoted once the destination and carton count are confirmed.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to start a sportswear brand?
There is no single starting price, because the garment, the decoration method, personalisation and the quantity set the quote. Our guide to custom uniform costs explains the six decisions behind a quotation.
Do I need a large first order?
No. Minimum order depends on the garment and decoration method, and smaller first runs are supported. Similar programmes typically start around 24 units, confirmed in the quotation.
Can I see the garments before the full run?
Yes. Order a free sample and check the fit, colours, decoration and labels before production starts.
What does Sublivio need from me to quote?
The garments, the artwork, the quantities, the labels you want and the delivery destination. Send all five with the request and the quote comes back complete.
Does Sublivio work with new brands, or only established ones?
New brands are a normal part of the work. The private-label programme covers the labels, tags and packaging a new brand needs.
Ready to start the checklist? Request a quote and send the range, the artwork and the quantities you have in mind. If you would rather hold the product first, order a free sample and check it against this list before the programme runs.
