Looking for a Clothes2Order Alternative? A Fair Comparison Guide for Custom Clothing

Clothes2Order is a well-known UK business for custom printed and embroidered clothing, and plenty of customers are happy with it. If you have landed on this page, you are weighing up where to place an order for T-shirts, hoodies or workwear and want to know what else is out there. This guide does not run down any competitor. It sets out the decisions that actually change the outcome of a custom clothing order, so you can compare any supplier fairly, and it explains where a smaller UK printer like FabricForge fits. We have not quoted their terms, which change, so check any supplier's current details yourself. Our own orders go by DPD, Royal Mail, Parcelforce or our relay parcel service.

What kind of supplier is right for your order

Custom clothing suppliers fall into rough types. Large catalogue businesses offer a wide range of garments, brands and decoration methods, usually with online ordering. Specialist embroiderers focus on stitched logos for uniforms. Small print studios focus on digital printing with a personal service. Marketplace sellers offer one-off personalised gifts. None of these is better in general, and the right one depends on what you need to be made.

Eight things to compare

1. The decoration method

Find out how the design is applied. Embroidery stitches thread and suits polos and jackets. Screen printing suits large runs of simple designs. DTF prints full colour with fine detail and works on cotton and dark garments with no minimum. Each method has strengths, and our page on DTF, screen printing and DTG lays them out.

2. Minimum quantities

Many suppliers set minimums because their processes have set-up costs. If you need five shirts, or one, check this first. We have no minimum order.

3. Garment range and sizing

Ask which brands and cuts are offered and what sizes are available. We stock adult S to 5XL, oversized S to 3XL and children's 3 to 16, in 14 colours. If you need a very specific brand, ask before you commit to a supplier.

4. Proofs and approval

You should see the design on the garment before it is printed. We provide a mockup and up to five rounds of changes, and nothing is printed until you approve it.

5. Personal service

Check how you reach a person and how fast they answer. We reply on WhatsApp usually within two minutes between 9am and 9pm, by phone and by email.

6. Turnaround

Ask for the production time and the delivery method separately. We offer next-day UK delivery after mockup approval, depending on timing. See how long custom printing takes for what drives the time.

7. Names, numbers and variations

If you want a different name on each garment, or several designs in one order, ask how it is handled. We take a plain list and lay it out in the mockup.

8. Aftercare and issues

Read the supplier's own policy on errors and returns, and keep a record of what you approved. Custom items are made to order, so approval is an important step.

Where a smaller UK printer tends to suit

• Small orders and single items. No minimum and no fuss about quantity.
• Mixed sizes and individual names. Handled as normal work rather than exceptions.
• Quick, direct answers. You can ask a question and get a person's reply.
• Dark garments and detailed art. DTF is strong here.

Where a larger supplier may suit you better

It is only fair to say when someone else may be the better choice. If you need embroidery on polo shirts or jackets, a specialist embroiderer is the right route, and we do not offer it. If you need a very large run of identical garments, a screen print business may offer a more efficient process. If you want a huge catalogue of brands and products, a large supplier gives you more choice in one place. Our guide to embroidery versus print for workwear explains when each makes sense.

How to compare quotes properly

Decide the garment, colour, sizes, quantity, print positions and delivery date before asking for any quote, then give every supplier the same specification. A quote for a different garment or a smaller print is not comparable. We do not publish prices, because they depend on the garment, the print and the quantity, but we reply with a clear quote once we know the details. For background, read our guide to what affects T-shirt printing costs.

Using a comparison to reduce risk

Before committing to a large order with any supplier, consider a small test: order a single garment with your design, check the print quality, the fabric and the delivery, and then place the full order. We encourage this and it is easy with no minimum, so you can try us on a single shirt before ordering a full team set.

How to order from us

1. Message us with the garment, quantity, design idea and the date you need it.
2. Send your artwork as a PNG or PDF; we resize and position it but do not design from scratch.
3. We confirm the details and take payment before preparing the mockup.
4. Check the mockup; up to five rounds of changes are included.
5. When you approve, we print and dispatch.

Questions to ask before placing a first order anywhere

A short list of questions saves a lot of regret. Who will actually print the garment, and where? Will I see a proof of my exact design on the exact garment colour? What happens if the colour looks different from the screen? How long does the proof stage take, and does the delivery date start from payment, from approval or from dispatch? Is the garment brand and cut fixed, or can I choose? Can the order be split across several delivery addresses? The answers tell you quickly whether a supplier works the way you need, and a good supplier answers them without hesitation.

A note on groups, teams and clubs

Clubs and teams often have the most complicated orders: different sizes, names on the back, a sponsor logo and a deadline before a fixture. If that describes you, choose a supplier on how they handle the list, not just the garment. We take names and sizes as plain text and lay everything out in one mockup, so errors are visible before printing. Our pages on sports team kit printing and team T-shirt printing explain how a club order runs from first message to delivery.

Why a personal reply matters

Custom clothing is not a catalogue purchase. Small details such as the colour of the garment, the position of the print and the spelling of a name decide whether the result is right, and those details are quicker to settle in conversation than through a form. When you are comparing suppliers, notice how they reply to your first question. Speed, clarity and willingness to say no when something will not work are good signs of how the rest of the order will go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you connected to Clothes2Order?

No. FabricForge is an independent UK printer. This page is only a guide to what to compare.

Do you do embroidery?

No. We print with DTF. For embroidery, use a specialist embroiderer.

Is there a minimum order?

No. Single items are fine.

Can I try one garment first?

Yes. A single test garment is a good way to check quality before a larger order.

Can you match an earlier design?

If you send the artwork and details, we can reproduce it, subject to the garment.

See also Vistaprint alternative, company T-shirts with logo and get a quote.