§1What this business is
Knitted fabric in different colours is spread, cut to size, stitched on overlock, flatlock and lock-stitch machines, embellished, pressed and packed. The KVIC profile says designs must follow the latest fashion.
Capacity: Piece count not printed; cost of production ₹51.42 L and sales ₹54.00 L a year at full capacity.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with tailoring experience and a link to local retailers, schools, events or corporate orders.
Who it is not for
Someone hoping to compete on price alone with large knitwear clusters.
Advantages
- T-shirts sell all year to all ages
- Simple process and small machine set
- Can start from a rented shed
- Print and design add value
Drawbacks
- Thin margin (about 4% in the profile)
- Huge competition from Tiruppur and Ludhiana units
- Unsold designs lose value
- Fabric price swings
Skills you need
- Cutting and stitching knits
- Sizing and quality checks
- Design and printing tie-ups
- Selling to retailers and bulk buyers
Why difficulty 2/5: Easy to start, hard to earn a good margin.
§3Market
Who buys
- Garment retailers
- Wholesalers
- Bulk buyers — schools, events, companies
How it sells
- Local wholesale markets
- Direct supply to shops
- Bulk and printed orders
Good to know
- The profile notes rising demand for T-shirts with changing fashion and lifestyles.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Overlock machine (4-thread) with motor | 1 | — |
| Flatlock stitch machine (5-thread) with motor | 1 | — |
| Lock-stitch sewing machine with motor and stand | 1 | — |
| Cutting machine | 1 | — |
| Portable steam press | 1 | — |
| Scissors, measuring tools, cutting tables, stools | 1 lot | — |
| All equipment together | 1 lot | ₹5,00,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Gents T Shirts (PMEGP)
- Cotton/polyester knitted fabric₹40.00 L a year at full capacity
- Labels and packing material₹45,000 a year
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP fits (KVIC profile); MUDRA for working capital; CGTMSE for collateral-free credit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹5.00 L (overlock, flatlock and lock-stitch machines, cutting machine, steam press, cutting tables and tools) + working capital ₹4.40 L = ₹9.40 L. Work shed rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹4.40 L; raw material (knitted fabric) ₹40.00 L a year at full capacity.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council)
- HS codes are from the WCO HS 2022 list; confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Low margin wiped out by a fabric price rise
- Unsold stock
- Bulk buyers paying late
- Cheap competition
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working gents t-shirts unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Gents T-Shirts?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.