Quick answer
Start private-label activewear with the performance tee, which sets the fabric and sizing, then add training shorts and the matching training set, the long sleeve for cooler months, the short-sleeve polo for teams and staff, performance pants and, last, the long-sleeve polo. At SenLin, core performance styles use 80–90% polyester or polyamide with elastane at 180 g/m² up to below 250 g/m² in S–5XL, polos run 250–350 g/m² in M–5XL, and standard styles start at 100 pieces with your logo.
The question behind this guide
Which activewear products should a new brand private label first?
Search suggestions included “activewear manufacturers for startups”, “gym wear manufacturers”, “custom polo shirts with company logo” and “custom teamwear”. Buyers ask where an activewear range should start.
Questions were chosen from Google search suggestions checked on 26 September 2026. SenLin’s minimums, sample periods, production periods, sizes and fabric ranges come from its owner-confirmed order terms; technical and regulatory points link to the source they rely on. This is buyer guidance, not legal, customs or testing advice for a specific order.
Key takeaways
- The tee sets the fabric, colour and size run for the range.
- Pieces that share its knit come before new constructions.
- Polos use a heavier fabric and a different size run.
- Pants and long-sleeve polos add the most fit decisions.
The ranking at a glance
The order is the one we would follow to build an activewear range for a new brand. It is an editorial ranking from our own development practice, not a sales chart.
| Rank | Product | Role in the range | Decide first | Risk to control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Performance tee | Anchor | Fabric, weight and size run | Wash stability |
| 2 | Training shorts | Companion | Waistband, pockets and liner | Stretch and recovery |
| 3 | Training set | Coordinated kit | Top and bottom pairing | Shade match; set count |
| 4 | Performance long sleeve | Season extension | Sleeve reach and cuffs | Seam comfort |
| 5 | Short-sleeve performance polo | Teams and staff | Collar and placket | Collar shape after washing |
| 6 | Performance pants | Movement-led | Rise, stride and pockets | Range of motion |
| 7 | Long-sleeve performance polo | Specialist | Collar, cuffs and reach | Cuff recovery |
1. Performance tee: the anchor
The tee sets the range’s fabric, colours and size run: SenLin’s performance knit is 80–90% polyester or polyamide with elastane, at 180 g/m² up to below 250 g/m², in S–5XL with a 1–2 cm tolerance and a logo on the front chest, back or both. Settle the neckline, sleeve shape and hem, and check fabric weight, dimensional change after washing and decoration durability.
2. Training shorts: the natural companion
Shorts reuse the colours of the tee but add their own decisions: the waistband, inseam, pocket openings, closures and any liner. Give the waist, hip, rise, thigh and inseam measurements, keep logos away from high-stretch zones, and check stretch and recovery, pocket workmanship and liner comfort.
3. Training set: sell the tee and shorts together
A coordinated top and shorts turns two products into a kit. The two may use different fabrics, so review colour, weight and handfeel together, write separate top and bottom specifications, and confirm whether the quotation counts complete sets or individual garments and how sizes are paired.
4. Performance long sleeve: the season extension
The long sleeve carries the tee’s fabric into cooler months. Decide raglan or set-in sleeves, cuff finish and any thumbhole, specify chest, body length, sleeve length and bicep, and check overhead reach, elbow bend and seam comfort on the sample.
5. Short-sleeve performance polo: teams and staff
A polo moves the range into teamwear and corporate wear, with a heavier fabric and its own size run: SenLin’s polos use nylon/polyamide and/or polyester at 250–350 g/m² in M–5XL, with a logo on the front chest or back. Define the collar, placket, sleeve opening and side vents, and check collar shape after washing and button security.
6. Performance pants: the most fit decisions
Training pants are built around stride, pockets and a tapered silhouette. Specify the waistband, drawcord, pocket depth, zips, gusset and hem, give relaxed and stretched waist, hip, rise, thigh, knee, inseam and hem measurements, and test sitting, lunging and stride on the sample.
7. Long-sleeve performance polo: a specialist finish
The long-sleeve polo combines the collar and placket of the polo with sleeve reach and rib cuffs, so it carries the most construction details in the range. Approve shoulder, chest, sleeve length and cuff opening, and check cuff recovery and collar stability after washing.
What SenLin needs to quote the range
Send the products you want from this list, the fabric direction, colours, quantity by colour and size, logo method and placement, labels and packaging, destination and target date. Standard styles start at 100 pieces with your logo and mixed sizes; custom development starts at 300–500+ pieces. Standard samples take 3–4 days and custom samples 3–7 days; production takes 15 working days for standard styles and 20–25 working days for custom orders once the order, material, artwork and sample are confirmed, with transit on top.
Continue your buyer research
Connect this decision to the relevant product, factory process and frequently asked questions before requesting a quotation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for private-label activewear at SenLin?
Standard performance styles start at 100 pieces with your logo on the front chest, back or both and mixed sizes S–5XL; custom development with your own fabric, pattern or fit starts at 300–500+ pieces.
What fabric does SenLin use for activewear?
Core performance styles use 80–90% polyester or polyamide (nylon) with elastane at 180 g/m² up to below 250 g/m²; polos use nylon/polyamide and/or polyester at 250–350 g/m².
Can a training set mix different fabrics?
Yes. The top and shorts may use different knits or wovens. Review colour, weight and handfeel together, and approve each garment against its own specification.
Sources and evidence notes
- SenLin product specificationSenLin: performance tee specification
- SenLin product specificationSenLin: short-sleeve performance polo specification
- SenLin order termsSenLin: working with us (MOQ, samples and production times)
