About Star Tees

Star Tees is a Johannesburg-based t-shirt specialist with a story rooted in passion and local pride. Founded in the mid-2000s, Star Tees began as a small venture with a big vision—to offer quality t-shirts that people love to wear. Over the last two decades, the company has grown from a humble shop into one of South Africa’s leading manufacturers and wholesalers of plain apparel. Throughout this journey, Star Tees has remained proudly South African-owned, committed to quality, and driven by the joy of helping customers bring their ideas to life on fabric.

Our Origins and Growth Of Star Tees

It all started in 2005 on a quiet street in Johannesburg. Armed with a single heat-press machine and an unwavering belief in quality at the right price, our founders set out to make Star Tees a different kind of t-shirt company. In those early days, we focused on plain cotton tees—sourcing the softest “A Grade” fabrics and perfecting our fits. Word spread about our feather-light 145 gsm shirts (perfect for summer comfort) and our ultra-durable 180 gsm shirts (built for long-lasting wear). By listening to customer needs, we expanded our range to include classic 165 gsm tees, offering the ideal balance of comfort and substance. As demand grew, Star Tees moved from a small Berea shopfront to a larger facility in Edenvale, scaling up production while keeping our hands on every stitch.

Today, Star Tees operates both a local factory and a sourcing network that spans continents. We proudly manufacture many of our garments right here in Gauteng, supporting local jobs and ensuring quick turnaround times. At the same time, we partner with trusted suppliers in India and China for speciality fabrics, which enables us to offer hundreds of options in style and colour. This blend of local craftsmanship and global sourcing is key to our growth—it means we never run out of stock for that last-minute event order, and we can maintain consistently low wholesale prices by buying fabric in bulk (often by the tonne!). From a two-person startup to a thriving team, our journey has been defined by steady growth, innovation, and an ever-deepening commitment to our customers.

Our Mission and Values

From day one, our mission at Star Tees has been clear: to make high-quality, comfortable t-shirts accessible to everyone, whether you’re a business, a team, or an individual with a creative idea. We believe a wonderful tee can inspire confidence, unite a group, or spread a message. That’s why every shirt we produce carries the values we stand for:

Quality

We never compromise on fabric or construction. Our manufacturing partners use only premium materials and adhere to international standards, with multiple quality checks on every batch. The result is a t-shirt that feels good and lasts long—something we proudly back with a satisfaction guarantee (love your tee or get your money back).

Affordability

Investing in quality shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive. By leveraging strong partnerships and bulk purchasing, we guarantee some of the lowest prices in the industry. From cost-effective promotional tees to luxe cotton staples, we cater to all budgets without sacrificing quality.

Customer Service

Your happiness is our priority. Whether an order is for 10 shirts or 10,000, our team gives it personal attention. We’ve spent years building trust through reliable, friendly service—and as a result, much of our business comes from repeat clients and referrals. We listen, we advise, and we make it right if anything falls short.

Innovation

Star Tees thrives on innovation. We continually expand our product line (adding items like hoodies, golf shirts, caps, and uniforms) to meet customer needs. We also stay on top of printing technology—from traditional screen printing to direct-to-film digital techniques—to offer you the best options for bringing designs to life. Our company’s culture embraces growth and learning, ensuring we evolve with the times while staying true to our roots.