How to Order Custom Apparel for Your Business
in Toronto

By Canadian Custom Apparel | Concord, Vaughan, Ontario | canadiancustomapparel.com

Whether you're outfitting a team of five or a workforce of five hundred, ordering custom apparel for your Toronto-area business doesn't have to be complicated. What decoration method do you need? How many do you have to order? How long will it take? What file do you need to send?

This guide walks you through the entire process from start to finish. We've decorated over 1,000,000 garments for businesses, teams, schools, and organizations across the Greater
Toronto Area — and these are the questions we answer every single day.

Step 1 — Know what you need before you reach out

The more information you have ready before contacting a custom apparel supplier, the faster the process will be. Before you reach out, try to nail down the following:

What products do you need?

T-shirts, hoodies, polo shirts, jackets, hats? The product type affects both the decoration method and the pricing. If you're not sure, that's fine — we'll help you choose.

How many pieces do you need?

Quantity is the single biggest factor in custom apparel pricing. A rough estimate is fine at the quoting stage. Note that screen printing has a minimum order of 24 pieces — for smaller quantities, DTF printing is the better option.

What's your artwork situation?

Do you have a vector file (AI, EPS, PDF)? Brand colours in Pantone codes? The better your artwork, the better your final product. If you only have a low-resolution JPEG, a good supplier will flag this before production.

What's your deadline?

Standard turnaround for most custom apparel orders in Toronto is 7–10 business days from art approval. Rush production may be available — communicate your deadline upfront.

Pro tip: The clock on your turnaround doesn't start when you place the order — it starts when you approve your artwork proof. Getting your files ready and approving quickly is the fastest way to speed up your order.

Step 2 — Choose the right decoration method

There are three main decoration methods: screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-film (DTF)
printing.

Screen printing

Screen printing is ideal for bulk orders of 24 or more pieces. CCA prints up to 12 colours with no setup fees, making it the most cost-effective choice for larger runs. Bulk screen printed t-shirts start as low as $7/piece for large orders.

Embroidery

Embroidery stitches your logo directly into the fabric using thread — the premium choice for corporate uniforms, polo shirts, hats, and workwear. No minimum order at CCA. A one-time digitizing fee applies to convert your artwork to a stitch file, which is then reused on all future orders.

DTF (direct-to-film) printing

DTF has no minimum order and no setup fees — perfect for orders under 24 pieces or designs
with complex full-colour artwork. Single-piece DTF orders start at $20 for a t-shirt, $35 for a
crewneck, and $40 for a hoodie.

Simple rule: under 24 pieces = DTF. 24+ pieces with up to 12 colours = screen printing.
Corporate uniforms and workwear = embroidery.

Step 3 — Get your artwork ready

The best file formats

Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF with text outlined) are the gold standard — they scale to any size without losing quality. High-resolution PNG files at 300 DPI also work well for DTF. Avoid low-resolution JPEGs and logos copied from websites.

Colour matching

Provide Pantone (PMS) colour codes if your brand colours are important. Monitors display colours differently — Pantone codes eliminate the guesswork and are confirmed in your proof before production.

What if you don't have a design file?

CCA's in-house art team can help create or clean up your artwork. Design services are billed at an hourly rate and quoted before work begins.

Step 4 — Understand pricing and minimums

Screen printing

No setup fees. Minimum 24 pieces. Pricing based on number of ink colours (up to 12) and quantity. Starts as low as $7/piece for large bulk orders.

Embroidery

One-time digitizing fee. No minimum order. Pricing based on stitch count. Embroidered polo shirts typically range $30–$65 per piece.

DTF

No setup fees. No minimum order. Single pieces from $20 (t-shirt), $35 (crewneck), $40 for(hoodie). Volume discounts at higher quantities.

Volume discounts

The more you order, the lower your cost per piece across all methods. If you're close to a pricing threshold, it almost always makes sense to add a few extra pieces.

Step 5 — Review your proof carefully

Before any order goes into production at CCA, you'll receive a digital proof showing placement,
sizing, and colours. Check:
• Design placement and sizing
• Colour codes match your brand
• All text is spelled correctly
• Correct version of your logo
Once you approve the proof, production begins. Changes after approval are difficult to
accommodate — review carefully before clicking approve.

Step 6 — Shipping, pickup, and delivery

CCA offers Canada-wide shipping and local pickup at 82 Corstate Ave, Concord, ON L4K 4X2. Free shipping on all Canadian orders over $400. We ship primarily with UPS and Canada Post. Local pickup is available Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm — wait for your completion notification before coming in.

Why Toronto businesses choose Canadian Custom Apparel

• In-house screen printing, embroidery, and DTF under one roof in Concord, Vaughan
• Screen printing from 24 pieces with no setup fees and up to 12 colours
• No minimums on embroidery and DTF — single pieces welcome

• Fast turnaround — 3–7 business days for small orders, 7–10 for larger runs
• Free shipping on orders over $400 Canada-wide
• Over 1,000,000 garments decorated with 98% customer satisfaction
• 4.7 stars on Google from 271+ verified reviews
• Corporate webstores for teams, schools, and ongoing merch programs

Frequently asked questions

How much does custom apparel cost in Toronto?

Screen printed t-shirts start as low as $7/piece for large bulk orders (minimum 24 pieces, no setup fees, up to 12 colours). Single-piece DTF orders start at $20 for a t-shirt, $35 for a crewneck, and $40 for a hoodie. Embroidered polo shirts range $30–$65 depending on garment and stitch count.

What is the minimum order for custom apparel in Toronto?

At CCA, embroidery and DTF have no minimum order — single pieces welcome. Screen printing has a minimum of 24 pieces.

How long does custom apparel take in Toronto?

Standard turnaround is 3–7 business days for small orders and 7–10 business days for larger orders, from art approval. Jersey orders take 5–6 weeks. Rush production available — call (905) 518-0660.

Does CCA charge setup fees?

No setup fees for screen printing or DTF. Embroidery has a one-time digitizing fee to convert your artwork to a stitch file, which is reused on all future orders of the same design.

Where can I order custom apparel in Vaughan or Toronto?

Canadian Custom Apparel is at 82 Corstate Ave, Concord, ON L4K 4X2 — in Vaughan, just north of Toronto. We serve the entire GTA. Order online at canadiancustomapparel.com, call (905) 518-0660, or visit Mon–Fri 10am–6pm.

Get a custom quote at canadiancustomapparel.com or call (905) 518-0660.

Canadian Custom Apparel — 82 Corstate Ave, Concord, ON L4K 4X2 — Open Mon–Fri
10am–6pm — Free shipping on orders over $400 across Canada.

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