Independent Trading Company is a California-based maker and wholesale supplier of blank apparel, mainly hoodies, sweatshirts and jackets, founded in 1987. Printers, promotional shops and clothing brands buy its garments to decorate and resell. Canadians usually order through authorized wholesale resellers rather than direct.
Sounds straightforward, right? There’s more behind that hoodie tag than most people notice, so let’s walk through it together.
What is an independent trading company in the apparel trade?
Here’s where the name trips people up. It sounds like a generic import firm, yet in the decorated apparel world it points to one specific brand, often shortened to ITC.
The business started in 1987 with roots in action sports, and it still carries that casual, skate-shop feel. Its head office sits in San Clemente, California, while a second office in Ningbo, China, supports sourcing and production.
I like to think of ITC as a supplier, not a store. You won’t find a flashy shop selling to walk-in customers. Its customer is the decorator, the merch brand, or the person organizing spirit wear for a school in Saskatoon.
Where does ITC make its garments?
The company says it has manufactured apparel in Asia for about 30 years, working with long-term partner factories, and it produces millions of stock blank garments each year. It works with those factories instead of hopping between suppliers.
Why should you care? Volume. Steady, large-scale importing tends to mean more predictable freight and customs handling, which usually shows up as steadier availability. It isn’t a promise, just a pattern worth knowing about.
How has the company changed over time?
Brands rarely stay still for almost four decades, and this one hasn’t. Three moments stand out.
1987: the start
The company began as a fleece specialist serving the action sports crowd. Hoodies and sweatshirts were the whole story back then, and they remain the reputation.
2017: wholesale goes online
Ordering used to mean catalogues and phone calls. In 2017 the company announced online wholesale ordering, which made life easier for small print shops that couldn’t justify a sales rep visit.
Recent years: new categories
The company has added its first tee and performance pieces. For a fleece-first brand, that’s a real shift in direction, and I’m curious how far it will go.
What does the brand actually sell?
The catalogue covers fleece sweatshirts, hoodies, pants, shorts, windbreakers, jackets, flannels and T-shirts. Here’s how I’d sort it.
Fleece and hoodies
This is the heartland. Midweight and heavyweight pullovers, zip hoodies and crewnecks make up the core, and they’re what most printers mean when they say “Independent.” Mineral-wash and pigment-dyed finishes give the worn-in, vintage look that retail brands chase.
T-shirts
Tees came later. The Premium Pigment Dye T-Shirt, style PRM180PT, was the company’s first t-shirt, which tells you how fleece-focused the brand has been for decades.
Outerwear and performance
Windbreakers, quarter-zips and the Perform Zip Hoody show ITC stretching toward athletic and corporate buyers. Curious whether that’s a smart move? Time will tell, but the range keeps growing.
Why do printers and clothing brands choose it?
Three reasons come up again and again:
- Consistent sizing across reorders
- Fabrics that take screen printing, embroidery and DTF transfers well
- A catalogue wide enough that one supplier covers most of a collection
Is it the cheapest option? No. I’d call it mid-range to premium, so your margins need room for that. Do the maths before you commit.
I’d also push back on a common idea, that every blank hoodie is basically the same. Fabric weight, cuff stretch and shrinkage differ a lot, and your customer notices after the second wash, not at checkout.
How do you buy from Independent Trading Company in Canada?
Most Canadian buyers go through wholesale resellers that ship within Canada or across the border. Some resellers advertise no restrictions on order size, which suits small runs, and some list prices in Canadian dollars. Here’s a simple way to approach it.
Step 1: Compare landed cost
The price on screen isn’t the price at your door. Add shipping, GST or HST depending on your province, and any duties. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) explains how duties and taxes apply to imported goods, so give it a read before a big order. Garments made in China generally don’t qualify for CUSMA preferential treatment, so check the origin on each style.
Step 2: Order one sample
Buy a single garment, wash it twice, then print on it. That costs about the price of lunch and can spare you a 200-piece mistake.
Step 3: Confirm timing and returns
Ask how long delivery takes to your city. A shop in Calgary and one in Halifax won’t see parcels arrive at the same speed. Check the return policy too, because blanks that have been decorated are rarely returnable.
How does Independent Trading Company compare with budget blanks?
Picture two hoodies on a table. Same colour, same size, one noticeably cheaper. Which would you print on?
The cheaper one wins on price per piece. The other tends to win on feel, fit consistency and how it holds up after repeated washing. If you sell to customers who’ll wear the garment weekly, the difference shows up in reviews and repeat orders. If you’re printing a one-off for a weekend fundraiser in Winnipeg, a budget blank may be perfectly fine.
Here’s my honest take: match the garment to the job. Promotional giveaways rarely need a premium heavyweight. A retail drop with your brand name on the label usually does. And whichever you pick, test it before committing, because spec sheets only tell part of the story. Would you rather save two Canadian dollars a piece, or avoid a pile of returns?
What should you remember before ordering?
Keep it simple. Independent Trading Company is a wholesale blank supplier, not a retail clothing label, and it suits decorators and brands who care about consistent fabric and fit. Your costs depend on the reseller, your province and the style you pick. Start small, wash-test everything, and read the CBSA guidance if you’re importing directly. Do that and you’ll avoid the mistakes I see people make most often.
Frequently asked questions
Is Independent Trading Company a good brand for custom hoodies?
For most decorators, yes. Buyers value its consistent fit and wide range, though it costs more than entry-level blanks. Request a sample and judge the fabric yourself.
Where is Independent Trading Company located?
Its headquarters is in San Clemente, California, with a sourcing and manufacturing office in Ningbo, China. Canadian buyers deal with resellers, not the head office.
Does Independent Trading Company sell to individuals?
The brand is built for wholesale, so direct purchases are aimed at businesses. Individuals can often buy single pieces from resellers that skip minimum orders.
Can you print on these hoodies at home?
Yes, with the right method. Heat transfers and DTF work well for small batches, while screen printing makes more sense once you pass a few dozen pieces.
