Let's be honest: the long sleeve polo should be one of the most profitable, cornerstone pieces in your menswear line. It's the ultimate "do-anything" garment. But here’s the problem: it is incredibly difficult to get right.

Too many brands get this wrong and end up with inventory that has limp collars, pilling fabric, and a sloppy fit.

This guide is going to break down the three (and only three) critical components you need to obsess over: the fabric, the collar, and the manufacturing partner. We'll show you what separates a premium garment from a cheap promotional item and ensure your long sleeve polo shirts for men actually build your brand's reputation for quality.

As a brand owner, you have to live in the details. A great polo needs to act as a "bridge" garment—it has to look just as sharp under a blazer as it does on its own.

This garment has evolved from sportswear to a cornerstone of the modern "business casual" and "quiet luxury" wardrobe, a trend highlighted by menswear authorities like GQ as a versatile essential.

This is what separates a premium polo from a cheap promotional item. When you're developing your product, your quality is defined by three specific components:

Look, this is the most critical decision you'll make in sourcing polo shirts. Your fabric choice dictates the garment's entire look, feel, cost, and market position. You're generally choosing between three main families.

Pique Knit (The Classic)

This is the original, traditional polo shirt fabric. The classic polo texture comes from a pique knit, and textile education sites explain how this weave provides both breathability and its signature waffle-like structure. Its texture is fantastic at hiding sweat and provides a more structured, robust feel.

Jersey Knit (The Modern T-Shirt)

This is the same fabric used for a high-end t-shirt. It's flat, smooth, and very soft, offering a more modern, relaxed drape. It's often favored by DTC brands for its "soft-wash" feel straight out of the box, though it can be less durable than pique if you opt for a low weight.

Performance Blends (The Athleisure)

These are your tech fabrics, usually polyester, nylon, or blends with spandex/elastane. They offer technical properties like moisture-wicking, UV protection, and high stretch. This choice moves your product firmly into the "athleisure" or "golf" category.

Here’s a simple breakdown for your tech pack:

Here's the bottom line for your brand: The best fabric for polo shirts is the one that matches your customer's expectation. But for a premium, all-around staple, a mid-to-heavyweight Pique (220-240 GSM) is almost always the right answer.

I'm not exaggerating.

The #1 customer complaint and reason for returns in this category is a collar that curls, warps, or "bacons" (folds and ripples) after washing. A cheap, flimsy collar instantly destroys the "premium" perception and makes the entire garment look sloppy.

A premium collar must be structured. It needs to have enough integrity to stand up on its own (if the user desires) and not collapse under a blazer. You get this quality from:

Pro-Tip: Always, always test your collar sample. Don't just look at it—wash it ten times. Does it curl, bacon, or look limp? A failing collar is the fastest way to get a bad review and kill your brand's premium reputation.

Sourcing wholesale long sleeve polos is easy; you can buy cheap blanks anywhere. Sourcing a true manufacturing partner is the hard part.

You don't want a factory that just blindly follows a tech pack. You need a production partner who understands your premium positioning and can offer solutions.

When you're vetting a partner, you need to ask them specific questions:

If they don't have good answers, they are not the right partner. A polo's quality is defined by its precise construction, from the fabric weight to the stitch of the collar. You need a manufacturing partner who understands these nuances. For brands looking to create premium menswear, you can explore the full-service production capabilities at Romie Group, who specialize in turning classic apparel concepts into high-quality, market-ready products.

I've seen brands fail with this product so many times. It usually comes down to one of these three mistakes.

1. Ignoring Fabric Weight (GSM)

This is a trap many brands fall into. They'll ask for a "pique polo" without specifying the Grams per Square Meter (GSM). The factory, to win the bid, will quote them using a thin 180 GSM fabric that feels cheap and flimsy. For a premium product, you should be looking at 220 GSM at a minimum.

2. Skipping Shrinkage & Wash Tests

You approve a beautiful pre-production sample. But the factory didn't account for fabric shrinkage. Your first production run ships, and after one wash, your "Medium" fits like a "Small" and the side seams are twisted. You must demand wash testing and specify that the garment must be pre-washed (sanforized) to control shrinkage.

3. Choosing a Factory Based on FOB Price Alone

The cheapest Free-on-Board (FOB) price is almost always a trap. It means the factory is cutting corners on the things you can't see: the interlining in the collar, the quality of the thread, and the buttons (using cheap urea buttons that will crack and break). For private label polo shirts where your brand name is on the line, consistency and quality are far more valuable than the lowest possible price.

Sourcing premium long sleeve polo shirts for men isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about a disciplined focus on execution.

It requires engineering quality into the garment through deliberate fabric selection, robust collar construction, and finding a manufacturing partner who treats those details as seriously as you do. Get these components right, and you will build a flagship product that earns customer loyalty for years.

1. What is a pique knit and why is it used for polos?

What is a pique knit is a common question. It's a weaving method that creates a textured, waffle-like pattern. This structure is more breathable, more durable, and hides moisture better than a flat jersey weave, making it the traditional and often superior choice for a classic polo.

2. What is a good "premium" fabric weight (GSM) for a polo shirt?

For a long sleeve polo, aim for a mid-to-heavyweight fabric. A premium feel starts at 220 GSM (Grams per Square Meter) and can go up to 260 GSM for a very robust, "rugby-style" garment. Anything below 200 GSM will likely feel too thin for a premium long sleeve product.

3. What's the difference between private label polo shirts and wholesale blanks?

Wholesale blanks are mass-produced, generic shirts meant for printing, often prioritizing low cost (e.g., for promotional events). Private label is what you are doing: designing and manufacturing a unique product from scratch (from the fabric to the fit) exclusively for your brand.

4. How do I prevent the collar from curling on my product?

That's the whole problem, isn't it? The solution is in the construction. You must specify a high-quality, fused interlining in your tech pack. For an even better result, specify a two-piece collar stand, which provides the best structure and shape retention.

5. What are the average MOQs (Minimum Order Quantities) for custom polo shirt manufacturing?

This varies by factory, but for a fully custom private label garment, expect MOQs to start around 300-500 pieces per color. Some specialized, high-end factories may have lower MOQs but at a higher per-unit cost.

6. Should I use 100% cotton or a blend for my long sleeve polo?

This depends on your customer. 100% cotton (especially Pima or Supima) offers the best breathability and premium "hand-feel." A Cotton/Elastane (spandex) blend (e.g., 95%/5%) is what most modern brands use. It adds just a bit of comfort, stretch, and shape retention without feeling "technical." Full polyester blends should be reserved only for a pure athleisure/golf market.