How to Build Your First Capsule Collection with T-Shirts and Hoodies on a Budget

How to Build Your First Capsule Collection with T-Shirts and Hoodies (Without Overstretching Your Budget)

Launching your first clothing brand is exciting – but also risky.

You have a limited budget, a lot of ideas, and a simple question that can make or break your launch:

How many styles should I start with – and in what quantities – so I don’t get stuck with dead stock?

For most startup brands, the smartest answer is surprisingly simple:

Start with a tight capsule: 2–3 T-shirts + 1–2 hoodies.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to build your first capsule collection around T-shirts and hoodies in a way that:

• Protects your cash flow

• Keeps your SKU count under control

• Still gives your brand a clear visual identity

All based on the reality of low MOQ production (e.g. 50 pcs for stock styles, 100 pcs per color for custom).

1. Why T-Shirts + Hoodies Are the Best First Capsul

Before we go into numbers and SKUs, let’s get the logic clear.

T-shirts and hoodies are ideal for your first collection because they are:

• Universally understood – no need to educate customers on how to wear them

• Unisex-friendly – easy to sell to both men and women with minimal changes

• Logo-friendly – perfect for building brand visibility on chest, back, and sleeves

• Season-flexible – hoodies cover colder seasons, tees cover warmer ones

• Price-flexible – you can position them as streetwear, athleisure, or premium basics

Most importantly:
They allow you to test your brand with a small, focused product line instead of spreading your budget across 10+ unproven styles.

2. Step One: Define Your Capsule Positioning and Budget

Before picking colors or fits, you need two things on paper:

1. Target customer & price point

   • Streetwear / urban

   • Minimal / everyday basics

   • Active / gym / athleisure

   • Region (US, UK, EU, Middle East, etc.)

2. Realistic launch budget

   • Typical first production budgets we see: USD 2,000–5,000

   • This has to cover: samples + first bulk order + basic branding & packaging + logistics

Once you know who you’re selling to and how much you can actually spend, you can reverse-engineer:

• How many styles you can afford

• What kind of fabrics and decorations are realistic

• Which MOQ structure makes sense

3. Step Two: Pick 3–4 Core Styles, Not 10

Instead of launching “a big collection”, treat your first drop as a capsule:

A tight, curated selection that clearly communicates what your brand stands for.

A. T-Shirt Styles (2–3 styles)

You can build a strong story with just 2–3 T-shirt fits, for example:

• Style T1 – Oversized Graphic Tee

  • Heavyweight cotton (e.g. 220–260 GSM)

  • Dropped shoulder, relaxed body

  • Large front or back print

• Style T2 – Boxy Minimal Tee

  • Mid–heavyweight (e.g. 200–220 GSM)

  • Shorter, boxier silhouette

  • Small chest logo embroidery or print

• (Optional) Style T3 – Women’s Fitted Tee / Crop Tee

  • For brands with a strong female audience

  • Slightly thinner or more elastic fabric

B. Hoodie Styles (1–2 styles)

For hoodies, you usually don’t need more than 1–2 strong shapes:

• Style H1 – Classic Pullover Hoodie

  • 330–380 GSM fleece

  • Kangaroo pocket, ribbed cuffs, cozy fit

  • Chest logo + optional back artwork

• Style H2 – Zip Hoodie (Optional)

  • Slightly lighter or similar GSM

  • Good for layering and active use

Rule of thumb:
If your budget is tighter, start with 2 T-shirts + 1 hoodie.
If you have more flexibility, go for 2–3 tees + 1–2 hoodies.

4. Step Three: Build a Smart SKU Structure (Colors & Sizes)

Where most new brands lose control is not the number of styles – it’s the SKU explosion from colors and sizes.

Let’s keep it controlled.

A. Color Strategy

For the first drop, choose:

• 1–2 core base colors (e.g. black, white, heather grey, sand, or bone)

• Maximum 1 accent color (e.g. one statement color like cobalt, forest green, or deep brown)

Example:

• T1 Oversized Tee: Black + Off-White

• T2 Boxy Tee: Heather Grey

• H1 Hoodie: Black + Sand

That’s already a clear palette without going crazy.

B. Size Strategy

Unless your niche is extremely specific, a safe starting grid is:

• Unisex: S, M, L, XL (sometimes adding XS or XXL if your market needs it)

• Women’s specific: XS, S, M, L

For your first production run, you don’t need equal quantities of every size. You can use a simple split like:

• T-shirts (per color):

  • S – 15%

  • M – 30%

  • L – 30%

  • XL – 25%

• Hoodies (per color):

  • S – 15%

  • M – 35%

  • L – 30%

  • XL – 20%

Your manufacturer can help you fine-tune this based on your target market.

5. Step Four: Align with Low MOQ Reality (50–100 pcs per Color)

Now, let’s connect this to real production.

Many factories will ask for 300–500 pcs per style.
But with a low MOQ manufacturer, you can often work around:

• Stock-based styles: from 50 pcs total per color

• Custom styles: around 100 pcs per color per style as a realistic starting point

A very workable structure for your first drop could look like this:

• T1 Oversized Tee

  • 2 colors (Black, Off-White)

  • 50–100 pcs per color

• T2 Boxy Tee

  • 1 color (Heather Grey)

  • 50–100 pcs

• H1 Hoodie

  • 2 colors (Black, Sand)

  • 50–100 pcs per color

You don’t have to do them all at once; you can also:

• Launch T1 + H1 first

• Then add T2 as a second drop based on early feedback

6. Step Five: Choose Fabrics That Match Your Price Point

Your fabric choice must match:

• Your target retail price

• Your brand story (premium / street / basic)

• Your climate and region

T-Shirts

Typical choices:

• 180–200 GSM – standard midweight, good for basics

• 200–220 GSM – slightly heavier, more “premium” feel

• 230–260 GSM – true heavyweight streetwear territory

Fabrics:

• 100% combed cotton

• Cotton + elastane (for fitted or women’s styles)

Hoodies

Typical GSM:

• 280–320 GSM – transitional seasons / indoor wear

• 330–380 GSM – streetwear / colder climates / premium

• 400+ GSM – ultra-heavy, niche but very strong branding

Inside finish:

• Fleece / brushed – cozy and warm

• French terry (loopback) – sporty and breathable

When you brief your factory, mention:

• Your target retail price range (e.g. “We want to sell tees around $30–40, hoodies around $60–80.”)

• Key markets (e.g. UK vs UAE vs Canada)

• Desired “feel”: soft, structured, thick, etc.

A good supplier will then suggest suitable GSM and compositions that still work at your budget and MOQ.

7. Step Six: Keep Your Branding Tight and Focused

With a small capsule, your branding must be clear and consistent.

Instead of trying 10 different artworks and placements, define:

• One primary logo application (chest embroidery / chest print)

• One hero artwork (back graphic / front graphic)

• Optional: small sleeve or hood detail

For example:

• T1: Large back print + small chest logo

• T2: Small chest logo only

• H1: Chest logo + subtle sleeve text

Decoration methods you can consider:

• Screen print

• DTF print (good for small batches & multi-color)

• Puff print for raised streetwear effect

• Flat or 3D embroidery

The more positions and techniques you use, the more complex and expensive your production becomes. For your first drop, aim for:

• 1–2 techniques max

• 1–3 print/embroidery positions per garment

8. Step Seven: Do the Basic Math (So You Don’t Blow the Budget)

Every brand’s exact numbers will differ, but here’s a simplified way to think about budgeting.

Let’s say you have USD 3,000–4,000 for your first bulk + samples.

You might allocate roughly:

• Samples:

  • 3–5 styles × 1–2 rounds of sampling

  • Total maybe USD 300–600 depending on complexity

• Bulk production:

  • 3 styles (2 tees + 1 hoodie)

  • 50–100 pcs per style/color

  • Average cost e.g. USD X–Y / tee, USD Y–Z / hoodie

• Branding & packaging:

  • Neck labels, basic woven labels, hangtags

  • Simple branded polybags or zip bags

• Shipping & duties:

  • Air / courier for first drop (time-to-market > minimal savings)

Your manufacturer can help you build a specific quotation once you share:

• Final number of styles

• Colors per style

• Approximate quantity per style

9. Step Eight: Use a Simple Timeline from Sample to Launch

As a startup, you don’t need a complex Gantt chart – just a realistic timeline.

A typical small-batch timeline might look like:

• Week 1–2 – Briefing & confirmation of styles, fabrics, and branding

• Week 3–4 – Sample development (1st round)

• Week 5 – Sample review, minor adjustments

• Week 6–9 – Bulk production (depending on complexity)

• Week 10–11 – Shipping & inbound checks

• Week 12 – Photoshoot & launch

If you have a target event (season start, holiday, Ramadan, etc.), work backward at least 3 months.

10. Conclusion: Think Capsule, Not Chaos

Your first collection is not about offering everything.
It’s about proving that:

• Your brand has a clear identity

• Your audience is ready to buy

• You can operate a simple, repeatable production process

With the right low MOQ partner, a focused capsule like:

• 2 T-shirt styles + 1 hoodie style

• Carefully selected colors

• Controlled sizes and quantities

…is more than enough to launch professionally without overstretching your budget.

If you already have:

• A logo

• A rough budget

• Some reference photos or brands you like

You’re ready to turn that into a real, manufacturable capsule.