At SanMar — Business is Personal

We believe a t-shirt is more than a shirt—it is a canvas for good. Whether we are supporting our communities and customers or reducing our environmental impact, creating positive change is at the heart of everything we do. 

We believe blank apparel is just the beginning of countless inspiring stories. Screenprinters, embroiderers, athletic dealers, promotional companies and more count on us for top-quality apparel that becomes a blank canvas for decoration. Our t-shirts, polos and outerwear create a unifying spirit that lingers long after they’re worn. Together, we unite people and build up teams, groups and communities.

Family Business, Family Values

The t-shirt is an iconic symbol of American style, and so it was the product our founder, Marty Lott chose when starting out. He launched SanMar in 1971 distributing t-shirts from his parents’ basement in Seattle. Marty continues to run the company in partnership with sons Jeremy and Jordan, who learned the business beginning at very young ages. Today SanMar employs more than 4,000 people nationwide and offers 21 retail, mill and private label brands, and counting!

What’s in a Name? Everything

At SanMar, treating people like family is spun right into our DNA — like cotton into t-shirts. Marty borrowed the name SanMar from a business his father originally named after him and his sister, Sandra. Today the Lott family continues to steer SanMar’s industry leadership with simple, timeless principles. We count our employees and those who work for our suppliers as family, too. It’s why we value global human rights, ecological stewardship and community engagement. Our call to Be Nice reaches across the hall and around the globe.

SanMar at-a-glance

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