Garment Dyed vs Piece Dye

Q: Can you really make a t-shirt in Los Angeles for $6.50?

No. With fabric, labor, garment dye, and compliance overhead, a true Made in LA t-shirt costs $8–$10 at minimum before margins. $6.50 blanks often involve overseas components.

Q: What is SB62 and why does it matter?

SB62 is the Garment Worker Protection Act in California, which enforces minimum wage and fair labor standards. Many 'Made in LA' blanks don’t fully comply, while Essentials Made is committed to SB62 compliance.

Q: What makes Essentials Made different from blank suppliers?

Blank suppliers sell stock garments anyone can buy. Essentials Made creates custom essentials — hoodies, tees, and sweatpants — built from 100% cotton, garment dyed to your Pantone, and boutique-ready in six weeks.

Q: How much do custom t-shirts and hoodies retail for?

Custom t-shirts made in LA typically retail for $60–$90, while hoodies retail for $150–$200 in boutiques. These price points reflect quality, garment dye finishing, and true Made in LA craftsmanship.

Why the way you color your clothes changes everything.

Most factories still dye fabric before cutting it. It’s efficient — but it kills the magic. When you garment dye, you don’t just color clothes. You build character.

We make 100% cotton essentials, garment-dyed after sewing — in Los Angeles. Color settles into stitching, shadows the edges, and brings each piece to life. That’s not production. That’s craftsmanship. Learn about our LA & USA manufacturing →

Why Garment Dyeing Unlocks Premium 100% Cotton

Garment dyeing happens after the garment is complete — cut, sewn, and pre-washed — then fully immersed in a reactive dye bath that saturates every thread. The look is unmistakable: soft, dimensional, and lived-in from day one.

This process only sings on real cotton. Polyester doesn’t dye. That’s why our fleece, French terry, and jersey are 100% cotton, finished with enzyme and silicone washes for a smooth, clean hand.

Benefits of Garment Dyeing

Softness that feels worn-in — enzyme + silicone finishes remove harshness and reduce pilling.
Visible dimension — seams absorb color differently, adding natural contrast.
2,625+ Pantone TCX colors for precise brand matching.
Small-batch friendly — perfect for drops and color testing.
Instant premium vibe — that favorite-piece look on day one.

See how we recreate patterns and build garment-dyed samples: Pattern & Sample Making (Replica-First) →

Piece Dye vs Garment Dye — The Cost of Consistency

Piece dyeing colors fabric rolls before cutting and sewing. It’s the norm for large-scale programs where uniform color and cost efficiency matter most.

When Piece Dye Makes Sense

Uniform, flat color across thousands of units.
Efficient at scale for established inventory models.
Pantone-matched shades in bulk.

Small-Batch Brands: Why Garment Dye Is Your Move

Color & Finish

Garment-Dyed: Subtle tonal variation around seams adds depth and dimension — especially on heavyweight cotton.
Piece-Dyed: Flat, consistent color — great for basics and large matching sets.

Quantity

Garment Dyeing: Flexible for limited drops and color testing (MOQs: 300 per style; ~150 per style when 2–3 share fabric).
Piece Dyeing: Optimized for bulk runs with minimal design changes.

Aesthetic

Garment-dyed blanks deliver a premium, vintage look with natural character.
Piece-dyed garments read clean and uniform — ideal for mass programs.

Creators Don’t Copy Color — They Recreate It (Pantone TCX)

Switch palettes between drops without re-ordering fabric. With 2,625+ Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) TCX colors, your brand stays consistent without feeling repetitive.

Launch your private-label essentials — custom-dyed and LA-made →

Precision with Soul — How We Build in LA

All cotton, no polyester — polyester doesn’t take garment dye.
MOQs: 300 pieces per style; when 2–3 styles share fabric, ~150 per style.
Finish: Enzyme + silicone wash for softness and pilling control.
Timeline: ~2 weeks for patterns + garment-dyed PPS; then 4–5 weeks for production after PPS approval and fabric readiness.
LA ethics: SB62-compliant, local production.

Shrinkage & tolerances: heat from garment dyeing naturally leads to ~3–5% shrinkage; we grade patterns accordingly and work within typical apparel tolerances (about ±½″–¾″).

Explore our Cut & Sew Manufacturing in Los Angeles →

Final Comparison: Which Dye Method Fits Your Brand?

Feature	Garment Dye	Piece Dye
🧵 Softness	✅ Very soft, thanks to enzyme wash	⚠️ May feel firmer without post-wash
🎨 Color Matching	✅ 2,625+ Pantone TCX options	✅ Also Pantone-matched
✨ Tonal Detail	✅ Visible stitch depth and shading	❌ Flat, even color throughout
📦 MOQ Flexibility	✅ Ideal for small runs	⚠️ Best for large bulk orders
🛠️ Process Timing	✅ Dyed after sewing	✅ Dyed before cutting
👕 Aesthetic	✅ Premium, vintage, dimensional look	✅ Clean, consistent, traditional

FAQ — Garment Dye vs Piece Dye

Can polyester be garment dyed?

No. Polyester does not take garment dye. Our focus is 100% cotton (fleece, French terry, jersey) so color takes cleanly and consistently.

Will my garment shrink?

Garment dyeing involves heat and water, so expect about 3–5% shrinkage. We pattern with this in mind and work within standard tolerances (±½″–¾″).

What are your minimums?

300 pieces per style. If two–three styles share the same fabric, we can do roughly ~150 pieces per style.

How long does it take?

~2 weeks for patterns + a garment-dyed PPS. After PPS approval and fabric readiness, production takes about 4–5 weeks.

Do I need a tech pack?

No. Send a reference sample you already love; we’ll recreate the fit and construction, then provide a professional tech pack during development.

READY TO START YOUR COLOR STORY IN LA?

Tell us about your project — 100% cotton, LA-made, Pantone-matched, SB62-compliant.

Prefer email? hello@essentialsmade.com →