Knitwear and cut-and-sew knits, made in India
From everyday tees to fleece hoodies and woollen sweaters, knits are matched to the hub that makes them best. Here is how it works and what to put in your brief.
What we make in knits
Knits cover two kinds of product. Cut-and-sew knits are made from knitted fabric that is cut and stitched like any garment. Fully fashioned or flat-knit sweaters are knitted to shape from yarn. Sourcingo works with partner units for both, for men, women and kids:
- T-shirts and tank tops, crew, V-neck, oversized, boxy, ribbed
- Polos, in pique or jersey, with knitted or self-fabric collars
- Hoodies and sweatshirts, pullover and zip-through
- Joggers, track pants and knit shorts
- Loungewear and nightwear, sets, robes and sleep tees
- Activewear and leggings, in cotton-spandex and performance blends
- Kidswear, rompers, kids' joggers and everyday sets
- Innerwear
- Bodycon dresses and knit skirts
- Woollen sweaters and cardigans
Tirupur and Ludhiana: which hub for what
Knits come mainly from two of Sourcingo's seven hubs.
Tirupur in Tamil Nadu is India's best-known centre for cotton knits. Knitting, dyeing, printing and stitching units sit close together. It suits tees, polos, joggers, loungewear and kidswear, especially in cotton and cotton blends.
Ludhiana in Punjab is known for woollen knitwear, sweaters, hoodies and winterwear. If your range is built around acrylic or wool sweaters, cardigans, heavier fleece or cold-weather layers, Ludhiana is usually the better match.
Some knit styles fit other hubs: Kolkata for innerwear and value-priced volume, Delhi NCR for export womenswear and kidswear with embellishment. We match each style to the partner unit that fits it, from a network of 80+ verified factories.
Fabric terms buyers should know
Knit fabric names are used loosely between suppliers. These are the ones you will see most, and what they mean:
| Term | What it is | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Single jersey | Plain knit, smooth face, loops on the back, light and stretchy | T-shirts, tanks, sleep tees |
| Interlock | Double-knit, smooth on both sides, more stable than jersey | Kidswear, premium tees, polos |
| Pique | Textured knit with a small honeycomb or waffle surface | Polos |
| Rib | Vertical ribs that stretch and recover well, often 1x1 or 2x2 | Cuffs, collars, fitted tops, tank tops |
| French terry | Smooth face, unbrushed loops on the back | Lightweight sweatshirts, joggers, loungewear |
| Fleece | Like terry, but the back is brushed into a soft pile | Hoodies, sweatshirts, winter joggers |
| Lycra or spandex blends | Elastane added for stretch and recovery | Leggings, activewear, bodycon styles |
GSM means grams per square metre: the weight of the fabric. Higher GSM feels heavier and more opaque. As a rough guide, light tees sit around 140 to 160 GSM, mid-weight and heavyweight tees go up toward 180 to 240, and fleece hoodies often run from 280 upward. Weight alone does not tell you quality. Yarn count, compactness and finish matter as much.
What to specify for knits
Knits move, shrink and twist more than wovens. A clear spec saves rounds of sampling. Put these in your brief or tech pack:
- Fabric: knit type, fibre content (for example 100% combed cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend), GSM and yarn count if you know it.
- Colour: a pantone reference or a physical swatch. Say whether the fabric is piece-dyed, garment-dyed or melange.
- Finish: bio-wash or enzyme wash for softness, brushing, peaching, silicone softener, or a garment wash for a lived-in look.
- Shrinkage and twist: state acceptable shrinkage after washing, and ask about compacting. Spirality, where side seams twist after washing, is a common knit fault worth naming.
- Trims: rib collars and cuffs, drawcords, eyelets, zips, elastic, neck tape.
- Print or embellishment: screen print, puff, DTF, embroidery, with placement and size.
- Fit and measurements: a size chart with tolerances, size range, and whether sizing is Indian, international or both.
- Labels and packaging: main label, care label, hang tag, polybag and folding.
If you do not have tech packs, our in-house designer can turn sketches, mood boards and reference photos into flat sketches and tech packs.
Minimums, sampling and timelines
Minimums start from 25 pieces per style. In knits, the fabric decides most of the rest. Using an available fabric and colour keeps the minimum low. A custom colour, a specific GSM in a special blend, or yarn-dyed stripes may need a dye or knit lot that pushes the minimum up. We confirm the exact figure after seeing your specs.
Every style is sampled, and you sign off on fit, fabric and finish before bulk. Production runs 45 days from sample approval to dispatch. Sampling comes first, and its length depends on the style and how fast approvals come back.
Woollen sweaters and winterwear are seasonal. If you are planning a winter launch, start sampling early, as Ludhiana units get busy ahead of the cold season.
Quality, certifications and tracking
Our team monitors production on the factory floor and checks finished goods against the approved sample before packing. For knits, that includes measurements after wash, shrinkage, twist, print quality and stitching on stretch seams.
Certifications are held by partner factories, including GOTS for organic cotton and OEKO-TEX among others. Factory-wise copies are shared on request before an order. After your first order is confirmed, your team gets a client portal login with stage-by-stage status, sample approvals and delivery dates.
Questions
What GSM should I choose for a T-shirt?
It depends on the look you want. Around 140 to 160 GSM gives a light, everyday tee. Heavier weights toward 200 GSM and above give a structured, premium or oversized feel. Ask for swatches in two or three weights before deciding.
What is the difference between French terry and fleece?
Both have loops on the back. In French terry the loops stay as they are. In fleece they are brushed into a soft pile, which makes it warmer and heavier.
Can I get organic cotton knits?
Yes, through partner factories that hold GOTS certification. Ask for factory-wise certificate copies before you order.
Do you make woollen sweaters as well as cotton knits?
Yes. Woollen and acrylic sweaters, cardigans and winterwear are usually matched to partner units in Ludhiana.
Can I order a small run of printed tees?
Minimums start from 25 pieces per style. Using an available fabric colour helps keep it low. Custom dyed colours usually need more.
Updated:
Get a costing in 48 hours.
Send us your brief. Once it is complete, you get a cost per style, the minimum it depends on and a production timeline within 48 hours.