Looking to Find the Best Printing Company? 12 Things to Look For in a UK Clothing Printer

There are hundreds of t-shirt printing companies to choose from in the UK, and most of them repeat the same things on their websites. The differences only show once you place an order: how quickly you get a straight answer, whether the proof is right, and whether the orders arrive when promised. That matters whether you are launching a clothing brand, kitting out a team in branded workwear or ordering printed t-shirts for an event. Quality and efficiency matter.

We are a UK clothing printer ourselves, so we have a good idea of what good looks like from the inside. Use the checklist below to compare custom clothing printers before you commit, and please do hold us to the same standard.

In this guide

• 1. First class customer service
• 2. Clear communication and a dedicated Account Manager
• 3. Genuine customer reviews
• 4. Experience in the printing industry
• 5. Every printing technique under one roof
• 6. Honest advice on garments and budget
• 7. Artwork support
• 8. A strong garment catalogue
• 9. A free visual proof before printing
• 10. Sensible minimum orders
• 11. Reliable turnaround and delivery
• 12. Finishing, relabelling and business accounts
• Questions to ask a printing company before you order
• What our customers say
• Choosing a Printing Company FAQs

1. First Class Customer Service

This should come as standard, but if you have ever experienced bad customer service, and let's be honest, who hasn't, you will know it cannot be taken for granted.

The way you are treated shapes your opinion of a printing company almost instantly, from the first phone call (was it answered politely?) to the first email (how quickly did they reply, and did you get the answers you needed?). You only get one chance to make a good first impression. At 1WorldPrint your dedicated Account Manager comes back to you within 15 minutes with pricing.

2. Clear Communication and a Dedicated Account Manager

There is a difference between someone replying quickly and someone replying efficiently. The best t-shirt printing companies give you a quick and efficient reply. There is nothing worse than an email that answers half of your questions, or asks for information you have already provided, and on a tight deadline every extra round of emails costs you a day.

In garment printing there are so many variables, and the best Account Managers often have the most experience. Things to look for in an Account Manager:

• They have a real interest in your project.
• They ask questions that help them understand the project, so everything flows efficiently.
• They let you take the lead, but also offer ideas from their experience in the industry.
• They manage expectations and tell you when something simply is not possible. "No" is a hard word to hear, but it can save a lot of time and pain in the long run, and there are often alternatives.
• They pay attention to detail, which is vital in the printing industry.
• They are forward thinking, already planning your next project and working hand in hand with you.

Within the first couple of conversations you will know whether the person you are dealing with is on your wavelength and has the attention to detail you expect. A real interest in your project is hard to fake, so it usually becomes obvious quickly.

3. Genuine Customer Reviews

Many people tend to check review platforms such as Trustpilot or Google Reviews to see whether other customers had a good experience. Reviews often give honest feedback on how customers were treated and the quality of the printed garments they received.

Review platforms are very useful, but be wary: testimonials can be taken out of context or even faked, and a vague review is often a red flag. A review that just says "great service" does not go into the detail needed to earn your trust. Look for reviews that describe the order, the communication and the finished product, like the one below.

4. Experience in the Printing Industry

The more experience a printing company has, the more problems it has already solved, which means the right decisions get made with a minimum of fuss. Ask to see examples of jobs similar to yours, ask which garments they print most often, and check for industry memberships and brand partnerships that are easy to verify. Talking to someone who knows the work puts your mind at ease and makes it much easier to trust them with your order.

At 1WorldPrint every client gets a dedicated Account Manager with years of experience in the printing industry. We are an official AS Colour printer and members of the BPMA, the trade body for the UK promotional merchandise industry.

5. Every Printing Technique Under One Roof

No single printing method is right for every job, so the best clothing printers offer every main technique and recommend the right one for your garment and design:

• Screen printing for bold designs and larger orders, with an exact Pantone colour match.
• Direct to garment (DTG) printing for detailed, full colour designs on cotton garments.
• Direct to film (DTF) for full colour transfers on a wide range of fabrics.
• Embroidery for a premium, long lasting finish on polos, sweatshirts, caps and workwear.
• Specialist finishes such as jumbo screen printing, puff printing, metallic printing and all over printing.

Why get your garments printed at one company and finished at another? At 1WorldPrint everything is printed and finished in one print house for brands in London and across the UK, with one contact and one invoice. Our printing techniques page compares every option.

6. Honest Advice on Garments and Budget

One of the first questions you will often hear at 1WorldPrint is: "What is your budget?" Don't worry, this is not to squeeze every last penny out of you, but to make sure you get the most from your money. Why choose a lower quality t-shirt when your budget allows for a better garment? You tend to get what you pay for, and so do your customers, so a better garment lets you charge a little more. Nobody likes to buy cheap and end up buying twice.

A good printer will also explain what drives the price, so you can decide where to spend. With screen printing, the number of colours and print positions sets the number of screens, and the cost per garment falls as quantities rise. With direct to garment and direct to film there are no screens, so small runs and full colour designs cost less to set up. Our guide to keeping t-shirt printing costs low goes through the options in detail.

7. Artwork Support

An artwork department is vital for a printing company. In an ideal world all artwork arrives in the right format for the printing technique being used, but each technique has its own guidelines, so that is not always the case, especially for customers ordering for the first time.

A printer that offers artwork redraws or small edits can be worth its weight in gold. 1WorldPrint offers both artwork redraws and artwork edits, and for detailed multi colour screen prints we handle the colour separations for you. The Look Up! hoodie below is a 10 colour screen print on an AS Colour 5161 Relax Hood, and we created the colour separations, splitting the artwork into the ten screens that build up the gradients, the aurora and the astronaut detail. Our guide to colour in screen printing answers the questions brands ask most.

8. A Strong Garment Catalogue

T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, polos and tote bags are just some of the options you should have easy access to. The bigger the catalogue, the better your chance of finding the perfect blank garment, and 1WorldPrint has one of the most extensive clothing catalogues in the UK. Browse our clothing catalogue, or see the brands we print most, including AS Colour, Independent Trading Co and Earth Positive (formerly Continental Clothing), in our guide to clothing brands worth personalising.

Once the blank garment has been chosen, a good printer will advise you on the best printing technique for the fabric and the artwork.

9. A Free Visual Proof Before Printing

Any printing company you use should send you a visual proof before the full order goes to print. It makes sure every detail is right before pressing go, and should show the garment codes, colour and sizes, print sizes and positions, and the print colours used.

This is your last chance to make changes, so check the visual very carefully and don't be afraid to ask for changes. At 1WorldPrint the visual proof is free and sent within 30 minutes of your order being confirmed, and nothing goes into production until you are happy.

10. Sensible Minimum Orders

Check the minimum order before you get too far. Some printers only take large runs, which is no good if you are testing a new design. At 1WorldPrint screen printing starts at 20 units per design, and direct to garment, direct to film and embroidery start at 8 units, so you can start small and scale up. Ask, too, whether the minimum is per design or per order, and whether you can mix sizes and garment colours within it.

11. Reliable Turnaround and Delivery

The best printing companies offer a choice of delivery options and stick to their deadlines. Ask when the clock starts: most printers count from artwork approval, not from your first enquiry. At 1WorldPrint standard turnaround is six to seven business days from artwork approval, and when a date is tight our express service can have an order ready in 48 hours. Orders are sent with tracked delivery using reliable UK couriers, with shipping into Europe and worldwide when you need it.

12. Finishing, Relabelling and Business Accounts

If you are building a clothing brand, look for a printer that can finish your garments too. We offer t-shirt relabelling with printed or woven neck labels, and garment finishing such as hem tags, swing tags, folding, bagging and barcode stickers. For regular orders, 30/60 day credit terms are available, and you can register as a client to get started.

Questions to Ask a Printing Company Before You Order

• Which printing technique do you recommend for my garment and design, and why?
• What is your minimum order?
• How long will printing and delivery take, and is there an express option?
• Will I get a visual proof before anything is printed?
• Can you help with my artwork if it is not print ready?
• Can you match my brand colours?
• Do you offer relabelling, folding and bagging?
• Will I have one point of contact for my order?

Be wary of a printer that cannot answer these clearly, quotes without asking about your garment or print colours, or will not show you a proof before printing. Those are the gaps that usually lead to a reprint.

Get a quoteor call 0208 064 1315

What Our Customers Say

A few of the reviews customers have left for us on Trustpilot.

Choosing a Printing Company FAQs

How do I choose the best t-shirt printing company?

Look for fast, clear communication with a dedicated Account Manager, genuine reviews, industry experience, every main printing technique under one roof, help with artwork, a free visual proof before printing, sensible minimum orders and reliable delivery.

What should I ask a clothing printing company before ordering?

Ask which printing technique suits your garment and design, what the minimum order is, how long printing and delivery take, whether you get a visual proof, whether they can help with artwork, and whether they offer extras such as relabelling, folding and bagging.

What is a visual proof?

A visual proof is a mock up of your order showing the garment code, colour and sizes, the print size and position and the print colours. It is your last chance to make changes before printing. At 1WorldPrint the proof is free and sent within 30 minutes of order confirmation.

What is the minimum order for custom t-shirt printing?

At 1WorldPrint screen printing starts at 20 units per design, and direct to garment, direct to film and embroidery start at 8 units.

How long does clothing printing take?

Our standard turnaround is six to seven business days from artwork approval, and our express service can turn an order around in 48 hours.

Which printing method is best for t-shirts?

Screen printing is best for bold designs and larger orders, with an exact Pantone match. Direct to garment and direct to film suit full colour designs and smaller runs, and embroidery gives a premium finish on polos, sweatshirts, caps and workwear.

Can a printing company help with my artwork?

A good printer should. 1WorldPrint offers artwork redraws and artwork edits, so your design is set up correctly for the printing technique being used.

Do you offer business accounts?

Yes. 30/60 day credit terms are available, with a dedicated Account Manager on every order.

Come and see what 1WorldPrint can do for you. Get a quote using the button below, email hello@1worldprint.co.uk or call us on 0208 064 1315.