Let’s be honest, branded t-shirts are a dime a dozen. You see them everywhere. And every brand, from a fortune 500 company to your local cafe have them. This means when you are ordering your own custom t-shirts you’ll want to stand out from the crowd.
There are a number of ways to make your brand t-shirt stand out. However the most important thing is choosing the right shirt for your audience. This means selecting the right fabrics, cuts, fits and creating a design that pops. Here are four steps that will help guide you to finding the perfect swag t-shirt for your needs.
Ordering Custom T-Shirt: Step 1 – Choose the right fabric
When creating a custom t-shirt, the first step is to select the material you want for your shirts. There are a ton of choices for fabric out there, so get to know the differences between them and select the type that’s right for your needs.
For instance, tri-blend t-shirts are a combination of polyester, ring-spun cotton, and rayon. They’re composed of a comfortable and durable fabric blend that lends itself to a flattering fit, no matter what the cut.
On the other hand, 100 percent cotton t-shirts are breathable, strong, and hypoallergenic. They’re also a good choice for the eco-conscious, as the production of 100 percent cotton apparel is more environmentally friendly than the production of synthetic fabrics.
In between tri-blend and 100 percent cotton tees lie polyester and cotton blends, or polyblends. These can be as balanced as 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester or as biased as 99 percent cotton and one percent polyester. Whatever the blend ratio, these shirts combine the comfort of cotton with the durability of polyester, making them easy to care for.
Ordering Custom T-Shirt: Step 2 – Get the proper cut, fit and color
Once you’ve chosen the material you’d like to work with, the next step is to select the right cut. Once again, you’ll find there are a lot of options to choose from out there, so familiarize yourself with the various fits available and pick the one that works best for your needs.
If you’re looking to outfit both men and women in custom t-shirts, you’ll want to select a unisex tee that will flatter all types of figures, or be cognizant of how many t-shirts you’ll need in both men’s and women’s fits.
Decide if you want a long-sleeve or short-sleeve cut. Long-sleeve t-shirts are great for winter team retreats and companies that work in cold climates. They’re pretty straightforward—just a tee with sleeves that come down to the wrists. Short-sleeve t-shirts typically end at the mid-bicep, though for those of you in hotter climates or doing summer team-building exercises, you can always go with a nice tank top or muscle tee for even more comfort.
Other fit factors to consider include whether you’d like the shirt to have a v-neck, come with a breast pocket, or come as a hoodie.
Read more here about choosing the right fits and cuts.
Ordering Custom T-Shirt: Step 3 – Design your t-shirt logo
This step may seem overly simplistic, but it’s important to match the right design for the right audience. The more personalized the t-shirt feels in fit, fabric, and design, the more appreciation the recipient will have for it, so don’t just slap your logo on it and call it done. Give it careful thought and consideration, and you’ll see a real return on your investment.
For inspiration, find some great t-shirt design ideas here.
There are lots of design decisions to consider. Start by thinking about what you’re hoping to achieve and what you want your shirt to say. Do you want it to be playful or serious? Edgy or conservative? Do you want illustration, text or both? Also, consider things like style, imagery, typography and color.
Creating an amazing t-shirt design isn’t easy, so it’s a good idea to enlist the assistance of a professional and hire a t-shirt designer to create a unique, custom design for you. If you need help finding a designer for your shirt, we recommend 99Designs, where their community of awesome designers can help you create an amazing t-shirt design.
Ordering Custom T-Shirt: Step 4: Upload your design and order your t-shirts
Once you’ve selected the right t-shirt in the right color, upload your designs for the front, as well as the for the back and sides, if applicable. Situate them on the shirt and select the quantity of shirts you’d like to order.
Screen printing is the most common (and cost-effective) form of decorating t-shirts, so that’s the method we’ll address here. When a t-shirt is screen printed, ink is pushed through a mesh stencil in layers, creating your custom design. Ink that’s screen printed dries thicker than ink that’s digitally applied, so your design will really pop, especially against dark fabrics.
You should have your artwork in high-resolution vector based images. We recommend having them in .EPS format. You can upload your artwork and create a mock-up directly on our product page for the t-shirt(s) you have chosen. Don’t worry though, this is just a mock-up, after ordering we will provide a professional proof that will provided for your approval before anything goes into production.
Now you are ready to order your awesome custom t-shirt
When it’s time for you to order new custom t-shirts for your organization, give it the attention it deserves. Put some serious thought into selecting the right fabric, fit, design, and size beforehand. Instead of ordering simply what you think looks good, think about the durability of the fabric, the fit of the cut, and the implements of the design. And don’t forget to order your sizes mindfully instead of in a random assortment.
Making these considerations goes a long way toward showing your team you care, instead of just handing them an impersonal and ill-designed white t-shirt at your next event. A great team t-shirt can make your team grow closer together and boost team spirit. Time to get creative and create something unique for your team!
