A T-shirt production brief is the shared instruction connecting garment construction, artwork, size quantities and delivery requirements. It is more than a mood board or a request for a price. Its purpose is to reduce interpretation so the buyer and producer are approving the same product.
Describe the garment first
State the intended use, wearer group, selected style, requested material information and size chart. Include any agreed measurements and sample references. If the garment has not been selected, mark those decisions as open rather than inventing values. A production brief can develop through quotation and sampling, but the released version should clearly identify what is approved.
Attach controlled artwork
Provide the graphic files, dimensions, locations and any variable-data roster. Use filenames that distinguish front, back, sleeve and design versions. Include a visual overview, while keeping the original files available for production. Remove superseded options from the final package or label them clearly so a rejected concept cannot be mistaken for an alternative instruction.
Connect quantities with packing
Include a size-by-version matrix and a matching total. Describe spare stock, labels, folding and distribution grouping if relevant. For multiple destinations, show their separate requirements. Do not assume that a single overall count tells production how to allocate graphics or cartons.
Record milestones and approval ownership
State the required arrival date and destination, then request a schedule covering the remaining approval and production steps. Identify the final decision-maker. The approved brief should have a version number and date; changes after release should show what changed and whether price or timing is affected. This turns the brief into a usable reference when questions arise later.
Practical checklist
- Define garment, material and chart references.
- Attach final artwork and variable data.
- Reconcile quantities and packing instructions.
- Name the approver and release version.
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Related encyclopedia article: Custom T-Shirt Sample Approval: From Mockup to Finished Garment.
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