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How to start a BJJ gi brand: minimums, samples and steps
To start a BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) gi brand, pick your buyer, choose the fabric and the cut, plan your patches and labels, and approve one physical sample before bulk. With Sharknits, a first run starts at 12 sets per design, after one sample at $150 to $500 depending on the design, plus shipping.
- 12 steps
- From 12 sets per design
- One sample first
Twelve steps to your first gis
- Pick your buyer. Academies, competitors, or a style of your own.
- Choose the fabric. Our jackets are 450 GSM (grams per square meter) pearl weave. We confirm the pants fabric with your quote.
- Pick the colors. IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) events take white, royal blue or black. We make each order in your colors.
- Plan the cut. Since 2024, IBJJF sleeves end no more than 2 cm (centimeters) from the wrist, and pants no more than 2 cm above the ankle bone.
- Plan your marks. Embroidery, and patches only where the rule book allows. Add woven labels, and keep the collar plain.
- Plan sizes and shrinkage. Published guides put pearl weave shrinkage at about 3 to 5%. We confirm our sizes and shrinkage with your quote.
- Check one sample. Check the fit, the color, the collar, the stitching, and the shrinkage after one wash.
- Order bulk. From 12 sets per design, about 3 to 4 weeks after you approve the sample.
- Plan labels and packaging. The fiber content, "Made in Pakistan", your RN (Registered Identification Number) and the care label.
- Ship it. FOB (free on board) Karachi, or DDP (delivered duty paid) to your door.
- Add a no-gi line. Rash guards and grappling shorts, in the same design.
- Watch your words. Say what the gi is, and leave out claims you cannot back.
Pearl weave, and the weight
Published guides call pearl weave the most widely used BJJ gi fabric.
- Our jackets: 450 GSM pearl weave.
- The pants: we confirm the fabric with your quote.
- AJP (Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro) events: the jacket fabric weighs 380 to 650 GSM.
- Your sample: you feel the weight and the weave before bulk.
Colors and cut for competition
IBJJF rules set the colors and the cut of a competition gi.
- Colors: white, royal blue or black, with the top, pants and collar in one color.
- Fabric: cotton or cotton-like, woven for every age, kids too.
- Sleeves: since 2024, no more than 2 cm from the wrist.
- Pants: no more than 2 cm above the ankle bone.
- Inspection: inspectors check a 1.3 cm lapel, a 5 cm collar and a 7 cm sleeve opening.
Patches, embroidery and labels
Plan where your logo goes before the sample.
- Embroidery: your logo stitched into the gi.
- Patches: embroidered, woven or chenille patches, sewn on.
- Where patches go: IBJJF rules allow cotton patches, properly sewn, only in the areas the rule book shows.
- The collar: keep it plain.
Sewing on a patch
Patches are sewn onto the gi panels at the factory.
- At the machine: each patch is sewn down on every edge.
- Your sample: check every patch edge before bulk.
The labels a gi needs in the US
US rules ask for a few labels on every gi.
- Fiber content: the fibers, with their share by weight.
- Origin: the country, in English: Made in Pakistan.
- Maker: your company's name or your RN.
- Care: a permanent care label.
- Online: your product description says whether the gi is imported.
Words to avoid when you sell
Say what the gi is, and leave out claims you cannot back.
- Approval words: approved, certified, licensed or official, unless that exact gi holds that approval.
- Rule words: IBJJF legal or competition legal.
- Names: other brands' names and gi names, and the word Gracie.
Shipping and US duty
Work out the landed cost before you price your gis. These lines are as of November 2026.
- FOB Karachi: you take over the goods at the port in Karachi.
- DDP: we deliver to your door with US customs cleared and the duty paid.
- Duty: it depends on the item and its fabric, so your customs broker confirms each code.
- Plus Section 301: 10% on goods from Pakistan since July 24, 2026.
How long your first run takes
Plan about 12 weeks from the start to gis in hand.
- The design and one sample: about 3 weeks.
- Bulk: about 3 to 4 weeks after you approve the sample.
- Shipping by air: about 1 to 2 weeks.
- Big orders by sea: start about 4 months ahead.
Where these facts come from
All were read on November 3, 2026.
- BJJ gi rules. The IBJJF's uniform rules, in force since June 2024. IBJJF: Uniform
- Jacket weight. The AJP's uniform policies. AJP: Uniform Policies
- Labels. The guide of the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to the US textile labeling rules, last modified April 10, 2026. FTC: Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements
- Care labels. The care labeling rule, Part 423 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Code of Federal Regulations: Part 423
- Claims. The FTC's advertising guide for small business, last modified April 14, 2026. FTC: Advertising FAQs for small business
- Section 301. The US Trade Representative's notice of July 23, 2026. US Trade Representative: Section 301 notice, July 23, 2026
- Shrinkage and the most used weave. Gi makers' published guides.
Questions buyers ask
What is the minimum to start a BJJ gi brand with Sharknits?
12 sets per design. A set is one jacket and one pair of pants, and one design's 12 sets can mix sizes.
How much does a sample cost?
One physical sample costs $150 to $500, depending on the design, plus shipping.
Which fabric do you use?
Our jackets are 450 GSM (grams per square meter) pearl weave. We confirm the pants fabric with your quote.
Which colors can I sell for competition?
IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) events take white, royal blue or black, with the top, pants and collar in one color.
Can you add my labels and packaging?
Yes, your woven labels. We confirm the packaging with your quote.
How long does a first run take?
About 12 weeks from the start. The design and one sample take about 3 weeks, bulk 3 to 4 weeks and shipping by air 1 to 2 weeks.
Which words should I leave out?
Approval words, unless that exact gi holds that approval, rule words such as IBJJF legal, and other brands' names. Say what the gi is: the weave, the weight and the cut.
Your request is ready
Send it to us on WhatsApp, or copy it into an email to contact@sharknits.com.
Want to talk sooner? Book a 15-minute call on Google Meet.
Attach your files when you send it.
What happens next
- We reply with questions and a quote.
- We make one sample for you to check.
- You approve it, and we make your order.
contact@sharknits.com · +1 647 501 5424
Sharknits is a custom clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, with factories in Lahore and Sialkot and a US corporate office near Chicago.