I don’t know about you, but puff ink prints bring to mind the era-defining bold neon designs of the 80s and 90s. And then there are all the iconic moments that are inked into my memory in Day-Glo colors.

You know, 80s athletic fashion, early Madonna, Jane Fonda’s record smashing workout videos, Valley Girl, and that one John Travolta aerobics scene in the film Perfect. Phew!

Like other vintage trends, puff ink printing is making a strong comeback as one of the boldest screen printing techniques, and we’re here for it. At fancysweetstx, we’re stoked to change up the designs on our customized t-shirts and sweatshirts with puff ink.

About Plastisol Ink: Widely used in garment printing because it’s easy to clean, doesn’t dry on the screen, and can appear opaque on dark garments.

The technique involves adding a puff base or puff additive to regular plastisol ink that, when heat-treated, swells to create a raised, textured effect that is soft and rubbery to the touch.

We love that our puff ink printed designs elevate even the most pared down creative designs into unique apparel.

As we walk you through the pros and cons of screen printing with puff ink, we’ll discuss:

• What makes it an incredibly versatile special effect ink
• Why you have to factor in color loss when printing with puff ink
• How it compares against other screen printing inks
• Tips for getting the most out of your puff printed garments

The Pros of Using Puff Ink for Screen Printing

In a world that offers endless personalized products, puff ink is a fantastic way to make a statement and stand out.

Did You Know: 80 percent of consumers are more likely to buy from a company that provides a tailored experience.

Let's take a deeper look into some pros of screen printing with puff ink:

1 - Gives Designs a 3D, Textured Appearance

One of the biggest advantages of using puff ink is that it can add depth and dimension to your designs, which enhances their visibility and impact.

How do you make a simple single color design visually stand out? 

The raised texture of the ink creates a tactile quality that really makes designs pop, especially when it comes to tone-on-tone creations like our Ohio Pink Pigment Dyed Sweatshirt.

It looks and somewhat feels like an embroidery or a clothing patch, without the additional labor.

That it gives dimension to outlines or tone-on-tone prints is probably our fave aspect of puff printing and the one we apply most in our puff printing designs.

"Buy this!

I have many items from fancysweetstx but this is my favorite! Perfect material and color! Buy it. You won’t regret it."
— Anonymous, Verified Buyer, United States

2 - Works Well With a Range of Effects and Inks

Puff ink printing is like that friendly kid on the playground who jives with all the others. 

It combines well with standard screen printing inks to achieve a multidimensional look to your design. These standard inks can be traditional Pantone colors, consist of fading halftones, or be made of specialty inks like metallic inks.

To do this, puff ink is printed right next to the standard inks. You just let us know which portion of the design you want to be puff ink and we'll be sure there is enough space and substance to the print.

The combination of two types of ink creates a memorable look to your clothing that your customers will love.

3 - More Versatile Than High-Density Printing

Puff ink printing and high-density printing are the only screen printing special effects that create a visibly raised design. It’s therefore important to understand how they compare.

Compared to high-density printing, puff ink printing is:

• More versatile as it works well on cotton, polyester and fabric blends whereas high-density ink requires sturdy cotton and cotton-based fabrics to withstand its multiple heat curing stages
• Less labor intensive as it requires one or a maximum of two coats, while high-density printing may require additional applications to achieve the same height 
• Cheaper because it uses fewer layers of ink and is less labor intensive than high-density ink
• More flexible color-wise since it can create multicolored designs and halftones; high-density printing is ideal for limited solid colors per garment

So, if you’re looking for a high impact, custom design option that’s affordable and versatile, puff ink printing is the way to go.

4 - Creates Outstanding Multicolor Designs

Puff ink really does it all because not only is it great for monochromatic designs like our 16153 Genova Puff Crew Sweatshirt, it’s also fantastic for elevating a multicolor design.

Puff ink can make one color pop out from the rest, helping to direct the eye to the most important element of your design.

Cons to Consider When Screen Printing With Puff Ink

Like all t-shirt printing techniques, screen printing with puff ink has its challenges, especially because it’s a specialty ink that requires special considerations regarding mesh count and design detail.

Here are four cons to keep in mind when screen printing with puff ink:

1 - Poses Challenges for Exact Color Matching 

For better branding, you might need to match your custom print to the exact Pantone colors on your brand’s logo or artwork. Here you’ll run into one of the major limitations of puff ink printing.

Puff printed colors appear more washed out or muted than the original plastisol ink. 

Remember, to achieve a puff print, the printing ink or pigment have to be mixed with a puff additive. When the ink expands, the color has a tendency to lighten up a shade or two.

This isn’t ideal for brand logos. 

There’s a way around this that requires screen printing expertise and lots of sample tests. 

So when you reach out to us for a puff print design, be sure to let us know how precise we need to be with color matching on your puff design.

2 - Blurs Out Fine Detailed Work and Image Prints

Fine detailed prints and detailed geometric designs easily get lost in the puff.

Puff ink prints swell in all directions, upwards and outwards. If the lines of your design are fine as well as too close together, they’ll get swallowed up as the ink cures and expands.

For example, puff printing works beautifully for our Vintage 16153 Genova Fireworks Shirt, despite the fine lines of the fireworks. The lines aren’t close together, plus the charm of the design comes from the overlapping edges of the fireworks.

Bold lines and large design elements show up better with puff ink, which exaggerates their boldness. That’s why at fancysweetstx we lean heavily on block text in our puff ink designs.

The sweet spot is a line weight of one point (0.35 mm) or greater. For design detailing, halftone dots should be no finer than 20 lpi (lines per inch).

A compromise that your printer may offer is to reduce the height that the puff grows to, but calibrating this relies heavily on their expertise.

3 - Not Ideal for Photo Based Prints

Say you wanted custom souvenir shirts printed with a photo of the Mona Lisa or, better yet, North Dakota’s giant birds on the Enchanted Highway, puff printing would not work.

For photo realistic prints to look crisp, they need to be printed using a high mesh count screen. Conversely, for you to deposit enough ink on the fabric for puff ink printing, you need a lower mesh count screen. 

Mesh count refers to the number of threads that cross each other per square inch of the screen.

Puff ink printing isn’t ideal for photo based designs since the low mesh count used wouldn’t allow for details.

As we mentioned previously, tiny details that are close together get blurred out by puff ink.

4 - High Initial Set Up Cost

Puff printing often costs more than regular printing and may be even more expensive for small custom orders.

Puff ink printing falls under specialty screen printing services. It requires an extra ingredient, the foaming agent, coupled with the expertise to understand how to manipulate the ink vs. puff agent ratio to suit each design. 

For this reason, printers will often attach an add-on cost to puff printing services and it’s worth confirming before you go ahead.

Understanding these potential challenges can help you make an informed decision about when and how to use puff ink for your clothing customization. With proper technique and knowledge, printers can achieve striking statement pieces. 

Which Ink Is Right for You? 

We’ve looked at the many pros and few cons of puff ink, but how does it measure up against other types of screen printing ink? 

In the table below, we compare puff ink to other types of screen printing ink to help you determine which is the best fit.

fancysweetstx’s Expert Tips on Puff Ink

At fancysweetstx, we strive to be the best in the custom screen printing industry. And that includes ensuring our customers get the most out of their puff ink printed garments.

This attention to detail allows us to create both bold, chunky designs like our Pburg Script Puff Sweatshirt and light, quirky designs like our Vintage 16153 Genova Fireworks Shirt.

"So Comfy!

It is so comfortable and the color is great!"
— Anonymous, Verified Buyer, United States

But you have to do your part too to ensure your puff print works for you.

Proper laundry care is crucial to keep that puff print looking crisp:

• Wash inside out with cold water.
• Avoid tumble drying and hang dry instead.
• Don’t iron the print.

Is Puff Ink Right for Your Screen Printing Needs?

Screen printing with puff ink is a fantastic way to add texture and dimension to designs, making them stand out. It gives custom printed clothing a bold, yet nostalgic, retro vibe that makes each item memorable.

Using puff ink comes with its own set of challenges, including color loss and difficulty achieving detail. That said, the challenges are far outweighed by the versatility and visual impact of puff prints, especially in the hands of screen printing experts, such as fancysweetstx.

For nearly two decades, we’ve been creating fun Midwestern clothing and accessories, and with each item, we strike a perfect balance between high-quality printing, hometown pride, and fun. After all, our whole mindset is if it looks like fun, then it probably is.

Check out our brand of fun in our collection of Midwestern, vintage puff print merch. 

Related: Read about how we screen print on vintage shirts

Tonal designs are here to stay, and an excellent way to make them stand out is by giving them a three-dimensional (3D) effect through puff screen printing.

This process involves using puff ink, a screen printing ink that expands and rises when exposed to heat, causing the print to “puff up” on the garment and create a stellar 3D effect that adds texture and depth to any design.

Fun Fact: Puff ink was first introduced in the 1970s and was primarily used in the production of graphic t-shirts.

Since its introduction, puff ink printing has become a popular choice for clothing decorators, who are looking to add an “oomph” factor and character to their designs, so you can stand out from the crowd.

• Puff creates bold and unique designs: In an industry where competing to stand out is harder than ever, puff is excellent for making statement pieces and for taking a simple tonal design to the next level.
• Minimum effort but maximum impact: You’ll be surprised at how much wow factor puff adds to even basic block texts across the chest of a sweatshirt or t-shirt. Save the stress of having to create an intricate design for your brand with our puff personalized designs.
• Puff provides endless possibilities: Puff ink is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of tonal designs, from logos to graphics and numbers. Whether it’s expressing love and pride for places, or you want to promote your business, you can easily achieve this by adding puff to your customized clothing and accessories.

With years of experience in puff screen printing and embroidery, fancysweetstx’s team of skilled designers and printers is dedicated to creating unique and high-quality tonal designs that capture your vision. 

Below are our top tips and tricks for using puff ink in tonal designs to create stunning, eye-catching customized clothing and accessories.

1 - For Optimum Puff, Choose the Right Fabrics

When it comes to puff ink printing, one of the most important factors to consider is the fabric you're printing on. 

Think of it this way: a painter won't just begin painting on any surface. They'll first select the canvas that best suits their paints to ensure that the two work properly together.

Similarly, you want to choose the best quality fabric and garment for your tonal design, as this will significantly impact the final result of your puff ink printed apparel. 

The best fabrics for puff ink printing are those that will absorb more ink to ensure that your tonal design stands out without much effort.

Cotton tends to absorb ink more readily than their synthetic counterparts like polyester and rayon, which are typically less porous. Blended fabrics, a combination of cotton, polyester, and rayon, are also effective for pink printing.

For instance, our Midwest Puff Crew Sweatshirt, is made of 80% cotton/20% polyester blend fabric, while the 16153 Genova, Ohio The Glass City Crew Sweatshirt is a super soft sweatshirt made of a tri-blend fabric consisting of polyester, cotton, and rayon.

"I have many items from fancysweetstx but this is my favorite! Perfect material and color! Buy it. You won’t regret it."
— Anonymous, Verified Buyer, United States

2 - Master Tonal Design Creation With Puff Ink

When creating tonal designs for apparel with puff ink, it's essential to keep in mind the unique properties of this creative printing technique.

Puff ink is categorized under specialty inks, a group of specific print finishes that can be used to add character to garments, make them stand out from the norm, or even add functional value to them, such as reflective inks added to high-visibility clothing.

The process of creating a puff ink printed garment involves the same setups and processes as standard screen printing, only that this technique involves mixing a puff additive with the ink and allows special 3D effects to be applied to your design. 

Puff ink works best when used for large design elements such as heavy lines, bold texts, and visible shapes. The thicker the lines, the better your design will stand out.

Below are other additional tips to follow if you want to create stunning, textured tonal designs that will make your custom apparel stand out: 

• Plan your design: Before creating your artwork, consider the final look you want to achieve. Puff ink is best suited for bold, simple designs that rely on texture to make an impact. 
• Simplify your design: Puff ink tends to obscure finer details and can make texts harder to read, so it's best to keep your design simple and bold. Limit the use of fine lines and small text and opt for larger, bolder shapes and texts.

When it comes to fabric colors, we understand that the right color combinations will make your tonal design stand out. 

One of the most important things to keep in mind with puff ink is that puff ink lightens up when it is cured. 

This means that if you are trying to achieve a specific color match, we will print a darker ink color to match the color you would like to achieve. Keep in mind, that because of this color shift, it is very difficult to perfectly match colors with puff ink and some allowance it acceptable. 

At the end of the day, the most important part of a puff print is that it stands out on the garment and catches attention.

3 - The Impact of Different Garments on Puff Ink

One unexpected factor to consider when choosing puff ink for your design is the significance of the garment that you're printing on. 

This comes into play with the "hand feel" of the design on the garment and the final 3-dimensional look of the puff print. It is more common for us to use puff ink on sweatshirts than t-shirts for both of these reasons.

As it relates to "hand feel", puff ink is heavier on a garments. It grabs the material differently than standard ink and can even create a pucker effect on lightweight fabrics such as t-shirts. This is less prevalent on sweatshirts because the heavier material withstands the extra weight of the puff print.

Additionally, the amount a print puffs is related to the thickness of the material you are printing on. A thicker garment generally results in a puffier print. This isn't to say that you can't get great puff results on a t-shirt - it just takes a little extra work.

So keep these factors in mind when deciding on your final choices for puff print.

Care For Your Puff Tonal Designs With fancysweetstx's Expertise

When it comes to custom puff apparel, fancysweetstx is a one-stop-shop for all your printing and embroidery needs. 

Our experienced designers and printers have a wealth of tips and tricks to help you care for your puff ink tonal designs so they’ll give you a great service.

Here are a few insights that will help keep your puff designs in perfect condition:

• Wash your puff printed garment inside out to preserve the ink and avoid other clothes from damaging the print.
• Hand wash the garments with cold water or machine wash them at the lowest temperature possible to protect both the fabric and the print from shrinking, fading, and wrinkling.
• Wash your puff-ink pigment dyed clothes with only like-colored garments. Loose pigments that remain on the clothes’ surface after dyeing may stain light or white colored clothes if washed together.
• Do not steam or tumble dry the garments, as this kind of heat may alter their puff effect. Instead, air dry the clothes or dry them in the machine on a cool setting.
• Avoid ironing over the puff print or embroidery as this could damage the print. If ironing is necessary, set the iron to the lowest heat and iron your cloth inside out.

Purchase Quality Puff Tonal Designs From fancysweetstx

At fancysweetstx, we're passionate about helping our clients bring their visions to life. 

Our portfolio of custom designs showcases the breadth of our expertise in using puff ink to create unique and visually appealing designs. 

From custom hats and bags to t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more, we can create puff tonal designs that are sure to turn heads and make a lasting impression.

And if you want to embrace puff embroidery or puff ink into your next order, reach out to us to get started. We’ll help you bring your brand’s vision to life.

"Used for company t-shirts. Excellent price, quality, design team, and quick shipping. First time customers, but we'll be back. Thank you, fancysweetstx."
— Christina P., Verified Buyer, United States.

Consider white doves. They’re ordinary birds but have become synonymous with hope and peace. Owls are a symbol of wisdom, while oak trees represent strength and endurance.

Similarly, the American flag is a globally recognized symbol that inspires songs, artwork, writing, and…you guessed it—fashion.

Within the realm of fashion, the Stars and Stripes’ powerful presence can be observed on all kinds of clothing and apparel. There’s an abundance of American flag shirts, hats, bandanas, swimwear, bags, and much more.

But beyond celebrating the flag’s iconic design through fashion, what message are people conveying when they wear American flag clothing?

• Demonstrating their patriotism
• Celebrating freedom and justice
• Honoring our rich cultural heritage
• Expressing pride in our nation’s achievements

We’ll delve into these symbolisms to help you understand how you too can wear your American flag shirts as a means of expression. But first, let’s first dig out some history.

From Evolution of the American Flag to Emergence of the Flag Shirt

Over 200 years have passed since the birth of the American flag, yet the true inventor remains a mystery. However, what’s clear is that it wasn’t designed in one swoop, it evolved in design and symbolism over the years to become the flag we know today.

But why was the American flag designed in the first place? Prior to America’s independence from England, each colony flew its own distinct flag. However, after the declaration of independence on June 14 1777, a new flag was proposed to represent the 13 Union States.

As the years rolled by, our flag’s design continued to evolve. The number of stars was periodically altered to accommodate the inclusion of new states into the Union, totalling the 13 stars gracing our flag today.

Though the flag has been changed 26 times, most of the alterations only involved adding more stars. The most notable differences in design are observed in the earlier flags.

Here are the earliest designs of our flag.

Flag Design	Name of Flag
	Grand Union Flag (first American flag after independence)
	Betsy Ross Flag
	13-star Cowpens Flag
	The original Star Spangled Banner Flag (displayed in the National Museum of American History)

How American Flag Shirts Burst Into the Scene

About a century after the adoption of the American flag, citizens gained the privilege to display it on products and clothing. Prior to this era, it was restricted to the military and government buildings.

The American Civil War, and the first and second world wars also played a role in popularizing American flag clothing. Soldiers wore it on their uniforms to symbolize patriotism while women wore American flag ribbons to show support to the men.

The hippies, as rebellious as they were, also helped promote American flag clothing. In their effort to mock conformists, they wore clothes adorned with the flag’s pattern, unknowingly spreading the trend.

American flag clothing became well established during the 20th century, and the adoption of screen printing technology made it easier to produce them at large scale.

Nowadays, American flag shirts—arguably the most popular flag attire—are readily available, allowing anyone to wear them as a means of expression.

Whether you rock yours to support America at the Olympics, or you reserve it for National Flag Day, everyone has their unique reason for wearing theirs.

Let’s delve into the symbolism of the American flag shirt and see what it means to different individuals.

1 - Demonstrating Patriotism Towards America

Ever looked at the American flag flying high and felt a sense of deep reverence? That’s how some people feel. If the sight of Old Glory warms your heart, the flame of patriotism burns within you.

It’s what makes people feel love, commitment, and attachment to America, motivating them to vote during elections or attend town hall meetings with their American flag shirts on.

But patriotism isn’t just limited to official duties, it’s found in everyday life, and the American flag shirt hanging in your closet is a symbol of patriotism towards America.

How about wearing that shirt the next time you’re volunteering for community services, perhaps while assisting with disaster relief? You'll feel a stronger sense of commitment towards other people.

It will be a reminder of your dedication to selflessly serving other people, a value that makes America a great nation.

2 - Celebrating Freedom and Justice

Freedom is one of the most precious things in life. It allows us to speak and act without the fear of oppression, a stark contrast to the days before our country gained independence.

But pause for a moment and ponder: What is freedom without justice? Justice is the foundation of a free nation. It ensures that the rights and opportunities freedom brings are executed fairly to everyone.

“To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” ― Nelson Mandela

These words resonate with our nation because throughout our history, we endured injustice. We were taxed unfairly, denied the right to own property, and traveling freely seemed like a mirage. But through determination, we finally plucked the sweet fruit of freedom.

Now we can wear the American flag shirt to express our joy, grateful that we can work, travel, worship and express ourselves without constraint.

Look around you. The next person you see wearing an American flag shirt as they go about their business, they may just be silently celebrating their freedom.

3 - Honoring Our National Heritage

Our national heritage is like a long tapestry filled with images of its history, culture, and traditions. The images tell stories of America’s triumphs and tribulations through the ages.

“As Americans, we’re the inheritors of a uniquely rich and vibrant history, a magnificent tapestry of diverse cultures, beliefs, experiences, and intellectual movements, bound together by the warp and weft of American ideals of progress and opportunity.” — Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), NEH Chair

You’ll often spot people wearing their American flag t-shirts while visiting museums or attending cultural festivities. It’s their way of expressing the deep connection to our rich culture.

Another way we celebrate our rich culture is by wearing American flag shirts during special occasions such as:

• Flag Day: As we mark the day the American flag was officially adopted as a symbol of freedom and unity.
• Memorial Day: While remembering those who died as they gave selfless military service to America.
• Independence Day: Fourth of July shirts are commonly worn as we commemorate the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.

We can’t forget mentioning the excitement of wearing our American flag shirts to watch baseball games. It’s one of the oldest games in America, and a cultural icon that has permeated music, art, film, and literature.

What better attire to wear to a game that promotes togetherness than a shirt customized with the American flag?

Interesting fact: There’s an official way to print the American flag on shirts. It’s a sign of respect for members of the military. Read more about it on How to Print the USA Flag on T-Shirts [With Examples]

4 - Expressing Pride in Our Nation’s Achievements

The year is 2020, location—Tokyo, event—Summer Olympic games. America bags 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals, a total of 113.

As our national anthem echoes through the stadium, the athletes stand tall, hands over their hearts with a look of intense national pride at what they’ve accomplished.

You see, such achievements fill us with national pride, motivating many to wear American flag shirts. They do it as a symbol of solidarity to our teams during the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and other sporting events.

Our national pride doesn’t end with sports achievements. It extends to the numerous nobel prizes, international film awards, and space exploration achievements we’ve achieved, which remind us of the vast talent in our country.

It’s not possible to mention all the awards our country boasts of, but the table below mentions some of them.

Whether you’re in the stands cheering our teams during the Olympics, or watching the Humanitarian and Peace Awards on television, wearing your American flag shirt serves as a reminder of our national achievements.

Looking to Express Yourself With American Flag Shirts? Customize Your Own at fancysweetstx

The journey from inception of the American flag to the emergence of flag clothing is filled with both trials and accomplishments. That's why our flag holds a special place in the hearts of many.

As such, most Americans turn to their flag shirts to express themselves, whether to celebrate the good in our country, or to express dissatisfaction with certain issues.

With a few American flag shirt designs, you can express patriotism, celebrate our heritage, or show pride in our nation’s accomplishments.

fancysweetstx can help you design your own American flag shirt.. We’re the custom screen printing and embroidery experts, offering a range of comfy tees, sweatshirts, jackets, hats, and more.

We can even print your custom shirts on American made shirts.

Whether you’re seeking them for personal use or in bulk for business, we’re big enough to handle your order, yet small enough to make it perfect.

Like all great ideas, puff screen printing is reigniting interest in the screen printing world for all the right reasons. It’s a technique that opens up screen printing to exciting textures, dimension, and creativity.

Without further preamble, we’ll take you on a virtual trip to explore: 

• What puff screen printing is and how a puff print is created
• What we love about puff screen printing
• When puff screen printing doesn’t work
• How to keep your puff printed apparel looking fresh

What Is Puff Screen Printing?

Puff screen printing is a twist on traditional screen printing that involves adding a special heat-sensitive puffing agent to the ink. 

It's that simple really. We take our normal ink, drop some puff additive into, use a low mesh screen, and print it just like we do for other shirts and sweatshirts.

Unlike traditional screen printing, which produces a flat ink layer, puff screen printing adds an extra vertical dimension to your design. It turns a 2D image into a design with depth and texture.

As specialty creative printing techniques go, puff screen printing has a particularly vintage aesthetic tied to its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s. Just like other trends from those two decades, puff prints are back in style.

Puff screen printing infuses your designs with a sense of nostalgia and playfulness that will make them, literally, stand out from the crowd.

Additionally, puff screen printing is versatile and works well on t-shirts and sweatshirts alike.

At fancysweetstx, this fantastic retro feel is right up our alley and serves as our inspiration to enhance memorabilia designs, for example, our nostalgic, tone-on-tone, puff print Pburg Script Puff Sweatshirt.

"It is so comfortable and the color is great!" 
— Anonymous, Verified Buyer, United States

How Does Puff Screen Printing Work?

As mentioned previously, we know that the 3D effect of puff screen printing comes from the combination of standard plastisol ink with a puff additive. But, there’s more that goes into the magic of puff screen printing.

Here's how this fascinating process works:

• Design Time: For our puff printed merchandise, we love to go simple yet bold with the designs, since tiny details and cramped designs can easily get swallowed up by the puff.
  
  
• Special Sauce: To our regular screen printing ink, we add a special ingredient—the puff additive. With anywhere from a 10%-20% ratio of puff additive to ink.
   
• Screen Action: Just like in traditional screen printing, we burn your design onto screens. For puff printing, we use lower mesh count screens of 60-110 mesh count, which allows more ink to be applied to the garment to enhance the puff.
  
  
• The Magic Moment: Here comes the exciting part. The printed material takes a trip to the dryer. As it gets heated to a stable temperature, the puffing agent in the ink springs into action. It expands, creating that delightful bubble-like 3D effect.
  
  
• Timing is Everything: The timing and temperature during the heating process are crucial for achieving the perfect puff. Curing the print for too long or at a higher temperature than recommended may burn the print and cause it to collapse.

Overall, the process for puff screen printing is relatively simple, but it requires experience and specialized screen printing materials to do it well. At fancysweetstx, we’re definitely getting it right, offering our unique spin on hometown representation through our fun puff print collection.

Related: Watch how we screen print on t-shirts

Why We Love Puff Screen Printing

We love a retro moment, as you can probably tell from our decidedly Midwestern merch that takes you back to the good old days. This retro feel is probably our favorite feature of puff prints, but it’s not the only one.

We also love that puff screen printing:

• Creates standout designs: The designs quite literally stand out from the fabric on which they are printed.
  
  This makes them more eye-catching and impactful, especially for tone-on-tone designs or if you play up certain parts of the design with a puff effect while leaving the rest flat.
  
  
• Enhances the hand-feel of the design: Puff screen printing adds a tactile element to designs, making them more interesting to touch and feel.
  
  If it feels like fun, it will undoubtedly ramp up your enjoyment of the clothing. And we want our customers to feel good about their fancysweetstx pieces.
  
  
• Produces versatile 3D effects: Puff screen printing works well with a wide selection of other inks and effects. 
   
• Is durable with proper care: Unlike some specialty decoration techniques, puff screen printing provides the durability that you're accustomed to with screen printing that can withstand multiple washes and wear.

Limitations of Puff Screen Printing

While puff screen printing adds a fun, retro look and a unique texture to printed merchandise that traditional screen printing can’t achieve, it’s not always the best option for every project.

Here’s why:

• Limited design possibilities: Puff screen printing works best with simple and bold designs. Complex designs with fine detail don’t usually translate well into the technique. The thin lines will fill in as the ink puffs and expands when printed.
  
  
• Cost: The process of puff screen printing requires special inks and sometimes requires additional screens which can make it slightly more expensive than traditional screen printing. 
  
  
• Color limitations: Colors often lighten up a shade or two when using puff ink because of the expansion and also because the puff additive dilutes the pigment to some extent.
  
  There are techniques to get around this limitation, but it’s still not ideal for prints that require exact color matching, such as brand logos.

Great News: Despite these limitations, puff screen printing brings a playful texture to designs, adding that extra oomph to make them stand out.

Exploring Puff Screen Printing With fancysweetstx Experts

Puff screen printing adds that extra depth to printed designs, taking retro vibes to a whole new level.

With the revival of puff print, we're excited about offering this trend to our customers.

At fancysweetstx, we've been in the screen printing game for nearly two decades, and let us tell you, puff screen printing brings an incredible amount of fun to this centuries-old craft. 

People Also Ask

What’s the difference between high-density printing and puff printing?

The raised effect in high-density printing results from stacking layer upon layer of high viscosity ink onto the fabric to create a dense print with crisp edges. However, puff print designs expand on all sides when the heat-sensitive puff agent, added to printing ink, cures under heat.

High-density printing is a costly, time-consuming and labor-intensive process that can only work for single-color designs. Although puff printing is more expensive than traditional screen printing, it’s still much cheaper, faster, and more versatile than high-density printing.

How do I prevent my puff print design from cracking or fading?

Puff screen printing is a specialty technique that creates comparatively long-lasting printing effects. That said, the care you give the garment will determine how long the print lasts.

Always remember to:

• Wash your puff printed clothes, inside out, with cold water and on a gentle wash setting.
• Use the minimum amount of detergent and softener to avoid print discoloration.
• Dry your t-shirt and puff printed clothing inside out and away from direct sunlight.

Why is my puff print bubbling or cracking?

There are several reasons why a puff print may appear cracked or bubbly, including:

• Uneven application of the puff ink to the fabric causes patchy expansion during the curing process, leading to bubbling or cracking.
• Curing temperatures that are too high can cause the puff ink to bubble or expand excessively, leading to a distorted or uneven texture. 
• Under-curing of the puff ink can also produce a cracked puff print and usually results from too low temperatures, inadequate time in the dryer, poor airflow while curing, and moisture in the garment.
• Excessive ink modification using too much of the pigment or thinners can alter the curing temperature of the puff ink and lead to incomplete curing and cracking.

The common thread running through all these puff printing errors is the poor technique in controlling the printing and curing processes. Skillfully crafted puff printed merchandise won’t crack or pucker even after multiple washes.

If you've been keeping an eye on the streetwear scene, you've probably noticed something exciting happening: puff ink prints are making a major comeback.

These prints are causing a buzz with their distinctive raised look, adding a whole new dimension to streetwear fashion.

Puff screen printed apparel is not your ordinary streetwear. These items are printed with a special 'puff ink'. This ink enhances traditional ink by adding a heat-reactive foaming agent. 

When heat is applied during the curing process, this ink expands and puffs up, giving your designs a three-dimensional (3D) effect.

The end result is a texture that adds depth and character to your streetwear and gives the prints that distinctive "puffy" appearance. 

As this trend gains momentum, more and more streetwear brands are jumping on the puff ink bandwagon, and it's no wonder why.

And if it's catching on in fashionable circles, it's only a matter of time before it makes sense to incorporate it with your company merch.

In today’s article, we'll explore four compelling reasons why puff screen print has become a force to be reckoned with in the streetwear scene. 

From its ability to create standout designs that make a statement to its tactile nature, you’ll learn:

• The appeal of bold and eye-catching designs made possible with puff screen print.
• The power of puff screen print in showcasing branding and logos.
• The comfort, durability, versatility, and customization options offered by puff screen print in fashion.

So join us on this journey as we uncover the secrets behind the rise of puff screen print in streetwear fashion.

1 - It Produces Unique Textured Effects

One of the hottest trends in fashion right now is puff screen print’s unique ability to create textured effects.

Puff screen print takes visual impact to a whole new level. It works its magic by using the puff ink, which creates a raised, embossed look after swelling from heat exposure.

These raised areas of the design catch the light in the most captivating way, creating a display of depth and complexity.

It's like adding a whole new dimension to your wardrobe, giving your outfits that coveted tactile quality that begs to be touched and admired.

Besides, streetwear isn't just about looking good; it's about feeling good too. 

With puff screen print, you get the best of both worlds. When you run your fingers over a puff print design, you'll feel the texture. It's an interactive experience that sets your clothing apart from the rest.

• Want a subtle, understated texture? Apply a light touch of puff ink.
• Craving something bolder and more attention-grabbing? Layer on that ink and watch your design come alive with a striking 3D effect.

2 - You Can Achieve Bold and Eye-Catching Designs

Puff screen print offers a world of possibilities when it comes to creating bold and eye-catching designs in the apparel industry. 

Contrast is a powerful tool in design, and puff screen print maximizes its impact. 

The raised areas of the print create a natural contrast against the rest of the garment, making the design pop. This contrast enhances visibility and draws immediate attention to the graphic.

Whether it's a bold logo against a solid background or details highlighted against a contrasting color, puff screen print elevates any design.

Insider Tip: While puff screen printing creates incredible visual effects, it's also important to consider the garment's fabric type and color to truly maximize the impact of your design. Some colors and materials can enhance the puff effect more than others.

And as a designer in the clothing industry, our experience with screen printing gives us at fancysweetstx the expertise to guide you through your custom design project.

For example, it's important to note that because puff ink expands after it is printed, you cannot have thin lines or fine detail and expect puff ink to work.

Additionally, puff ink generally lightens up a shade or two from it's original color. So if you're going for black text, it's going to print a dark gray. Keep this in mind if you need to match specific brand colors.  

3 - It Ensures Maximum Comfort and Durability

When it comes to streetwear, comfort and durability are essential factors that can make or break your garment.

Streetwear is famous for thick, heavy garments. Whether they are t-shirts or sweatshirts, boxy styles are the look in streetwear. 

This heavy fabric is ideally suited to designs that are screen printed with puff ink. 

While a light, thin shirt may pucker with puff ink, a heavyweight tee or sweatshirt is going to hold it's shape. 

With its three-dimensional texture, puff screen print maintains its quality even after repeated wear and washes, making it a reliable choice for those seeking both style and durability.

Generally, 100 percent cotton fabric makes an excellent choice for puff screen printing. It's a natural, breathable fabric that allows the ink to adhere effectively, producing the most vibrant colors and withstanding the added quality of puff ink.

When it comes to selecting fabrics for our puff screen printed apparel and accessories at fancysweetstx, we always have your comfort and satisfaction in mind. 

That's why we prioritize premium materials that feel soft against the skin and provide a comfortable fit. 

This means you can wear your favorite puff screen printed garments and accessories for years, without worrying about them losing shape or fading.

Related Reading: 7 Must Know Facts About Screen-Printed Shirts

4 - Enjoy Endless Versatility and Customization

Puff screen printing allows for endless possibilities when it comes to creating unique and personalized designs.

That is the beauty of screen printing. We can help you take your design, with very few limitations, and put it on the garment of your choice. 

Keep in mind, as mentioned above, that puff screen print is most effective when used with simple designs. 

The ink used for puff screen printing contains a puff additive, which is a chemical that expands when exposed to heat, causing the ink to rise and create a raised effect on the fabric.

In complex designs with fine details, the expansion of the ink may fill in fine lines, leading to less precise results and potential blurring of the design.

This is why puff screen print works best for simple designs or logos with:

• Rounded block letters
• Numbers
• Basic geometric shapes
• Minimalistic graphics
• Simple text logos

When it comes to customization, puff screen print takes things to a whole new level. 

It goes beyond simply choosing a design; it grants you the power to create unique effects and add personalized touches that make your prints stand out from the rest.

Some of the unique effects include: 

• Layered designs: With puff screen print, you have the ability to layer the ink, creating multi-dimensional effects. Each layer adds depth and visual interest, transforming your prints into true works of art.
• Color variations: Puff screen print gives you the freedom to experiment with a wide range of color combinations to create bold contrasts, smooth gradients, tone-on-tone effects, or even subtle shading effects.
• Custom patterns: With puff screen print, you can experiment with unique custom patterns and textures that give your prints a distinct and personalized look. From intricate geometric designs to organic motifs, the possibilities are endless.

Now, let's take a moment to compare puff screen printing with traditional printing methods. Understanding these differences can provide a clearer perspective on why puff screen printing is the choice for many fashion-forward individuals and brands.

Puff screen print is not just for brands. It's also a medium for individual expression.

Whether you're a streetwear enthusiast, an artist, or simply a Midwesterner who wants to showcase your creativity, puff screen print gives you the freedom to personalize your garments and make a statement.

At fancysweetstx, we offer a wide range of customizable options for puff screen printing. From choosing the garment type, colors, and design elements to selecting the placement of the puff print, you have the freedom to bring your creative vision to life.

Our experienced team of designers and technicians will ensure that your customization needs are met with precision and attention to detail.

Additional Read: Screen Printing vs Embroidery: An Honest Buyer’s Opinion

Embrace the Trend and Elevate Your Style With fancysweetstx's Puff Screen Printed Apparel

In the ever-evolving world of custom branded merch, staying ahead of the curve is crucial.

Puff screen print has emerged as a powerful trend that can elevate your brand.

With its unique ability to add depth, texture, and a tactile quality to designs, it has become the go-to choice for those who want to stand out from the crowd.

At fancysweetstx, we understand the power of puff screen print and its ability to transform your fashion choices.

With our expertise in this screen printing, we’ve witnessed firsthand the impact it can have on brands and individuals who want to make a statement.

Our commitment to quality and attention to detail ensures that each piece of puff screen printed apparel is crafted to perfection.

We collaborate closely with you to bring your vision to life, providing a personalized experience that results in a garment that truly represents your unique style and personality.

So why blend in when you can stand out? Embrace the power of puff screen print and express your individuality with fancysweetstx's puff screen printed apparel and accessories today.

Take a virtual tour of fancysweetstx’s store and production facility in the video below.

Screen printing, also referred to as silk screening, is the preferred method of creating and transferring custom designs onto almost any canvas—in this instance, t-shirts.

In fact, screen-printed t-shirts are so popular we're willing to wager that if you looked through your wardrobe right now, you'd likely find at least one. 

But have you ever wondered how the screen-printed tee got so popular? Or how the technique behind its creation inspired one of the most influential artists of the 20th century?

Today we answer these questions, and more, while exploring six intriguing facts about screen-printed shirts, including:

• Their connection to a classic Hollywood film
• How their creation is both an art and a science
• How each screen-printed shirt is uniquely singular 

1 - The First-Ever Promotional T-Shirt Was Screen Printed

The Wizard of Oz was groundbreaking in many ways, and almost a century later, it still endures as a fan favorite because of its catchy songs and lovable characters. 

But did you know that The Wizard of Oz was responsible for the first-ever promotional t-shirt? Better yet, these t-shirts were made using … you guessed it! Screen printing!

The t-shirts were custom designed for the cinema classic and featured a simple design with the name of the movie and the iconic text font. It was given away to fans at the film's premiere in 1939, officially kickstarting the era of promotional t-shirts.

See Also: 7 Must-Know Facts About Screen-Printed Shirts

2 - Screen Printing Adds Texture to Your T-Shirts

Screen printing produces bright, vibrant designs on t-shirts, but did you know it also adds texture to the fabric?

This is because screen printing uses a ink. There are different types of inks - plastisol, waterbased, silicone, and others. We primarily use plastisol - a plastic-based ink that solidifies when cured at around 330℉. 

With most screen printing applications, the ink is absorbed into the fabric of your shirt or lays on top and leaves a layer on the surface. When cured, the ink can bend and move with the fabric, creating more texture and feeling in the printed area. 

Certain things can be done to limit the feel of the ink on the shirt or give it a soft vintage touch, but for the most part, the shirt changes once the ink is applied.   

With over ten years of experience, a staff dedicated to quality, and cutting-edge screen printing technology, your custom printing needs are in safe hands with fancysweetstx.

"We used [fancysweetstx] for company t-shirts … Excellent price, quality, design team, and quick shipping. We are first-time customers, but we'll be back!"
- Christina P. | ★★★★★

3 - Screen Printing Shirts Is an Art and a Science

As a form of art, screen printing involves applying custom designs and artwork to shirts using screens. The artwork can depict any number of things, including logos, images, or even hand-drawn illustrations. 

Screen printing enables us to create precise, clearly defined designs that can be easily replicated and mass-produced. Indeed, these consistent results are what drew renowned artist Andy Warhol to screen printing. 

Additionally, to create successful screen-printed t-shirts, you need a keen eye for detail paired with the skill and creativity to recreate intricate designs on various materials. 

As a science, screen printing involves analyzing how different inks, fabrics, chemicals, and techniques will interact to create a high-quality print. You see, a variable such as how an ink absorbs into a specific fabric will significantly impact the resulting print. 

As such, screen printers have to make many decisions and find the perfect balance between art and science to create the stunning designs you see on screen-printed t-shirts. 

See Also: Top 4 Ways We Screen Print a Vintage Shirt (With Examples)

4 - Screen Printed T-Shirts Don’t Wash Out

Well, at least they shouldn't. Professional screen printing done by an accredited company with the right washable, heat-treated ink yields a print that does not wash out. 

This is one of the quickest ways to determine the quality of a screen-printed t-shirt. 

While there are different methods of screen printing, they’re all based on a similar underlying technique. 

When every element of the process is executed correctly, including ensuring the right drying temperature and ink, the result is a design that will remain on a shirt for a lifetime.

5 - No Two Screen-Printed T-Shirts Are Exactly Alike

Every screen-printed t-shirt is as unique as you and me. This all goes back to that little fact about screen printing being just as much a science as it is an art. 

The 'art' part of the process is not automated, and it’s this human element that introduces minor variations in screen-printed t-shirts. This is why we consider each of our t-shirts uniquely singular. 

Note: While slight variations in the garments are expected, fancysweetstx has a strict quality control process to ensure that only the best products are delivered to our customers. 

“I came to fancysweetstx with a request to replicate a shirt from the 70s. They did an amazing job with the design, and the shirts are super comfy and good quality.”
- Allene S. | ★★★★★

6 - Your Shirt’s Fabric Determines the Quality of Your Screen-Printed Design

While it's true that it's possible to screen print on almost every material, not all fabrics print the same. For instance, not all fabrics are best for plastisol ink - the most commonly used ink in screen printing and what we use in our shop. 

To better understand this, let's examine how screen printing works with the three most common t-shirt fabrics.

• 100% Cotton: Cotton t-shirts yield the best results for screen printing. This is because cotton is naturally absorbent and allows screen printing ink to adhere readily to its fibers. Also, as a substrate for screen printing, cotton produces cleaner, better-defined images.

• Poly-Cotton Blends: Poly-cotton blend t-shirts are among the softest shirts on the market, which makes them one of the most popular. However, poly-cotton blends can be challenging to screen print using standard inks. 

  The polyester in the fabric sometimes causes the ink to migrate or bleed during the curing process. To mitigate this, at fancysweetstx, we closely monitor dryer temperatures and use low cure and low bleed inks to achieve the best results when necessary. 

• 100% Polyester: Synthetic polyester fibers are more susceptible to dye migration which can cause changes in color in the screen-printed designs.

  For instance, a white image screen printed on a red polyester t-shirt may turn pink when overexposed to heat as the shirt's dye particles move and interact with the screen print ink. 

  To prevent this, polyester shirts require low bleed inks and careful monitoring of the cure temperatures.

Don't forget that at the end of the day, quality is subjective. The person you give your shirts to determines the ultimate quality of the shirt.

One person may prefer a soft shirt, another may like a thick shirt, and another may want a super thick, opaque application of ink.

While you can't please everyone all of the time, always create your shirt with your customer in mind! 

Looking For Screen-Printed T-Shirts? We Can Help

Screen printing is what we do; it's what we’re known for. We spend most of our time designing and screen printing stunning Ohio and Midwest t-shirts. 

But that's not all. Over the years, we've honed our skills and mastered the art of custom screen printing. Here are a few examples of custom screen-printed t-shirts we've created.

If you, your business, or organization need custom screen-printed t-shirts, we'd be happy to help. Get in touch with us today to get your order started. 

Learn More About Our Screen Printing Process

For more information about how we achieve such brilliant results with our screen-printed t-shirts, check out some of our behind-the-scenes blog posts linked below:

• How to Burn a Screen for Screen Printing T-Shirts [With Video]
• Embroidery and Screen Printing: Your Company’s Guide to Merchandising
• Screen Printing vs Embroidery: An Honest Buyer’s Opinion

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• Add a humorous graphic related to nursing.
• Modify a well-known logo to give it a nursing twist.

It’s easy and fun to design a shirt for your dear nurse friends. The following ideas will help you create a shirt that shows your love for your favorite caregivers.

Want to jump straight to our easy and witty shirt ideas? Click here.

Why Shirts Make Great Gifts for Nurses

Are you still unsure about gifting a shirt? Let us tell you why nurse-themed shirts are so amazing:

• We wear shirts all the time! Family reunions, nights at the bar with friends, and when we’re at home watching a movie.
• We also use shirts to show who we are and what matters to us. We’ll often choose a design because it has a phrase or a picture of something we care about on it.

Now imagine giving your caregiver friend a shirt with something meaningful, funny, and specific to their profession that you thought of yourself. We bet you they'll never take it off.

As we mentioned, you can easily create a fun shirt that shows your love for your cherished nurse friends. Let’s go over some of those easy and witty ideas for creating unique nurse shirts.

1 - A Shirt With a Nurse Joke or a Funny Phrase

Shirts with nurse jokes will be a hit because humor is a great way to encourage our loved ones. Sometimes, all we need is a laugh to change our perspective on things and keep going forward.

Also, fun is a fantastic conversation starter. Picture your caregiver friend at a party, wearing the witty nurse shirt you gave them, and someone starting a conversation because of it.

As serious as they may seem while on duty, caregivers are funny folks. Here are some examples of funny nursing phrases:

• "Nursing is not a career; it's a post-apocalyptic survival skill"
• "I'm a nurse because "miracle worker" isn't an official title"
• "No, RN (Registered Nurse) does not stand for 'Refreshments and Narcotics'"

Photo credit: Pinterest

Do you know what’s most amusing about nurse jokes? Sometimes we don't even get them. But that's ok; your beloved caregiver will look at the t-shirt you gave them and laugh with their colleagues.

Here’s an example (don't say we didn't warn you):

–What's the difference between an oral and a rectal thermometer?

–The taste.

No wonder they say laughter is the best medicine.

At fancysweetstx, we’d love to laugh with you as we print your favorite nursing joke on a quality custom shirt.

2 - A Shirt With a Famous Nursing Quote With a Twist

A shirt featuring a famous nursing quote with a playful twist added to it is the perfect mix of inspiration and wit. It will inspire your caregiver friend in stressful moments and make them laugh at the same time.

The following quotes from celebrated nurses have encouraged caregivers for decades, but rather than leave the quote as-is, let’s add a witty afterthought to it:

• "Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription." - Val Saintsbury

  … But they don’t dispense pills every time a patient asks.

• "Caring is the essence of nursing." - Jean Watson

  …Not caring is the essence of a cat.

• "Nursing is one of the fine arts: I had almost said 'the finest of fine arts.'" - Florence Nightingale

  …And the nurse you see is the finest work of art.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Heartwarming, aren't they? But now they’re funny, too!

We’re ready to talk about your ideas for custom nurse shirts featuring famous and funny quotes. Contact us, and we’ll have your shirts ready in no time.

3 - A Shirt With Something Personal and Witty

Creating a shirt that includes something personal and witty is a great way to show how much you know your beloved caregiver friend. You’re saying something from the heart that, at the same time, has a meaning unique to the two of you.

Create your own phrase or pun, or ask friends or relatives for inspiration. Here are some ideas:

• A private joke they share with their colleagues
• A witty quote they themselves have uttered
• A funny thank-you message from a patient

Of course, do a quick check to make sure you aren’t touching a sore spot, either for them or their friends.

fancysweetstx Tip: Write your idea down on a piece of paper, then take a picture and share it with us. Instead of generic text, we'll print your writing digitally and put it on a shirt for you.

Already have your idea for a custom nurse shirt with a personal and witty touch? Message us to have your shirt made asap.

Bonus - An Original Nurse Shirt Design

If you’re feeling confident about coming up with your own nurse shirt design from scratch, get your creative juices flowing and we’ll take care of the rest.

We can receive art made in Photoshop or any other graphic editor and screen-print it in up to 10 colors or embroider it with up to fiteen different colors of thread.

You’ll need to scale your design to the recommended size. Our sizes for chest printing are:

• 11” x 11” for adult shirts
• 9” x 9” for youth sizes
• 6” x 6” for toddlers and onesies

Don’t worry; we’re here to help. Contact us, and we’ll answer any questions you may have about these specs.

"I came to fancysweetstx to replicate an old shirt from the 70s. They did an amazing job with the design, and the shirts are super comfy and good quality too!"
- Allene S

fancysweetstx Tip: Make a meme about nursing, and we’ll print it on a shirt. Just make sure it's entirely original—most memes have copyright restrictions.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Shirts to Celebrate Our Nurses' Skillful and Loving Care

Any of these ideas are terrific for an amusing shirt that shows the nurses in your life how much you value their hard work, compassion, and all the qualities that make them amazing.

That's why caregivers are some of fancysweetstx's favorite clients. We've made thousands of shirts for nurses because we love to give back a little of all they do for us.

So, if you just want to give your favorite caregiver a great gift, or if you're organizing an event for nurses, share your shirt idea with us, and we'll make it a reality.

Do you love the idea of a nurse shirt but just don't have the time to create a design? Don't worry; we already have some fantastic options for you. Just look at the following table:

Nurse Shirt	Nurses The Heart of Healing Shirt	Nurses are Strong Shirt

These models are unisex shirts made with a soft and resistant fabric blend of polyester, cotton, and rayon, but you can ask for specific colors, sizes, and fabrics for your personalized designs.

fancysweetstx has more than 15 years of experience branding beautiful designs on comfy and durable shirts.

We are experts in printing and embroidery, having fulfilled thousands of orders for satisfied customers.

"Their staff was super helpful, and the shirts were really soft. She went over the types of t-shirts ordered and proceeded to carry the box to my car for me!"
- Kelsey E

Our printers and embroiderers are ready! Please send us a message to start your order right away.

Are you looking for something else? Check out this post about 5 Nurses Week Gift Ideas to Show Your Appreciation.

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Ask anyone who attended prom night, and they'll tell you all the details about that night—the venue, the dress or tux they wore, their date for the night. What’s more, almost everyone has pictures and home videos of prom to remind them of this important high school tradition.

As part of the prom planning committee, you want to pick a theme that:

• Resonates with the student body
• Creates a magical and memorable night
• Encourages a fun and exciting night

These five prom theme ideas will help you stand out and create a perfect backdrop for all prom pictures and videos.

1 - Create the Ultimate Ambiance With Lively Backdrops

A beautiful backdrop will complement your prom theme and add a tinge of elegance while enhancing the decor.

Backdrops set the mood for your evening since you can style them with your preferred theme and colors. They also hide unsightly backgrounds at your venue and transform it into the formal ball event that you desire.

One way to create a stunning backdrop is by decorating a wall at your venue with beautiful fabrics, flowers, or paintings.

Some other ideas for creating eye-catching backdrops include:

• Taping a decorative fabric on the ceiling
• Hanging DIY paper chains across the room
• Arranging fairy lights to make special shapes, like hearts

The table below lists some dynamic backdrops that fit different prom themes.

2 - Use a Hashtag to Personalize Prom Decorations

Hashtags are a cool way to engage high school teens and create excitement on prom night.

Adding a custom hashtag to your decor will help the teens share their experiences and photos on social media. It’s also a fun way to ensure your prom decorations resonate with the student body since hashtags are a trendy way to encourage interaction among them.

The best place to add a hashtag is on the photo booth decor. This will create memories for the students since the hashtag will appear on the photos and videos captured on prom night.

You can add a custom hashtag to your photo booth by:

• Gluing die-cut letters on it to create a 3D effect
• Hanging letter balloons on it
• Draping it with custom printed fabrics

To help you brainstorm, here are some hashtag inspirations based on different prom themes:

• Far East Asian-inspired theme: #asianprom, #shanghaisecrets
• Paris theme: #parisvibes, #promparisstyle
• New York City theme: #phenomenal, #nypromnight

Such hashtags will create intrigue around your night and make your students feel like they're truly part of a special evening.

When the students use the hashtag to share their anticipation of prom on social media, they'll create a fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) feeling among their peers. This will encourage a high prom turnout since none of the students will want to miss out on such an exciting evening.

Expert Tip: A customized giant photo frame will also go a long way in creating memorable photos for prom. Customize your photo frame by adding image stickers related to the theme on it or writing your prom hashtag in bold letters at the top of the frame.

3 - Give Customized Memorable Keepsakes

Customized prom gifts are a great and memorable way to foster high school spirit and pride. They stand out from generic gifts like flowers and serve as a reminder to the students of that lively prom night.

Custom prom shirts make the perfect gifts since they connect students to prom and can also be worn and styled casually even after the students leave high school. What’s more, prom shirts are unisex, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of picking different gifts for girls and boys.

Customizing shirts with your prom theme will make a beautiful creative design that your student will want to wear often.

fancysweetstx is a clothing store based in the Midwest, which can help you create cool prom memorabilia for your school. Our experienced in-house graphic designers will help you create a simple but fun design that resonates with your prom theme and delights the students.

Order prom shirts from fancysweetstx in your school’s colors, and the students will connect with their high school roots every time they wear the t-shirts.

Check out these high school prom shirts we made for Southview High School and Ottawa Hills High School based on their prom themes.

4 - Add an Eye-Catching Prom Feature

An eye-catching feature will add a creative twist to your prom theme and make it unique. It’ll immerse the students and transport them to a different time and place.

Use an identifying decor item that resonates with your theme as your main feature.

For example, for a Broadway prom theme, you can place a large black inch prop TV with tragedy faces on either side at the entrance of your venue. For a casino prom, place giant poker cards, and for a night-under-the-stars theme, decorate your entrance with large gold stars.

This will introduce your theme from the entrance of the venue and build excitement and optimism for a great night. An impressive feature at the entrance will also make it picture-worthy since the entryway also doubles up as a photo area.

To ensure your theme has a strong presence and leaves an impression on your guests, customize the prom feature with your theme colors.

You can do so by ordering a stunning feature that matches your theme colors from an online store, or by making a DIY feature if you’re on a tight budget.

Readily available supplies like cardboard, paint, and glitter can help you make a beautiful feature that enhances your theme.

5 - Be Creative With the Lighting

Lighting can help create an enchanting atmosphere that transforms your prom night into a magical experience. Lighting gives depth and ambiance to your venue and helps create a mood.

For example, lighting with blue accents will have a calming and relaxing effect on your students, which will help the students enjoy the night. It’ll also highlight your prom decorations and create a visual experience that transforms your hall into a romantic setting or starry night, depending on your theme.

Here are some creative lighting ideas to get you started:

• Mirrored disco ball: This will spread light across the room and make your space feel bigger. Create a lovely party atmosphere by hanging a mirrored disco ball in the middle of the dance floor. The disco ball will reflect all your prom theme colors captured in the fabrics and decorations across your venue.
• LED up lights: Up lights create light columns along a wall’s length, which adds depth to plain walls. Light columns will also make your venue hall appear wider and have higher ceilings. Use different color combinations to create the ultimate party atmosphere.
• Flameless LED tea lights: Create luminaries for walkways along the entrance using flameless LED tea lights. This will help brighten the space further and make your students feel special as they join the formal party.

Get Customized High-School Prom Shirts With fancysweetstx

fancysweetstx is a custom screen printing and embroidery expert that’ll help you create the ultimate unforgettable prom with cool gifts you're proud to give. T-shirt giveaways will create a memorable experience for everyone who attends since they can use them even after prom.

Our shirts are made of poly cotton fabrics, which make them breathable, tear-resistant, and comfortable for all seasons.

Our state-of-the-art equipment will ensure your custom images are durable and long-lasting. We use the screen printing technique, which produces vibrant images with clear and readable designs.

If you’re looking for a reliable printer who’ll make high-quality custom prom shirts quickly, ‌reach out to fancysweetstx.

Here’s what Joe said after getting our custom-printed shirts:

“Phenomenal experience buying a run of 65 t-shirts. Very fast responses from the account manager, great pricing, and fast production. Finished product is of excellent quality.”
- Joe M.

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A lot of our school shirts are related to team sports, school spiritwear, and uniforms. One of the early events in fall that brings us bulk shirt orders is Homecoming. 

Homecoming shirts are popular for football games to welcome alumni back to campus and for Homecoming dances for the students. 

In this article we will show examples of some of the Homecoming shirts we've printed for high schools and colleges and also cover:

• What makes a memorable homecoming shirt design
• Design ideas for your next homecoming event or dance
• Tips on how to make the most out of your shirt budget
• How we can help with your homecoming shirt order

There's No Place Like Homecoming 

This isn't the first time you're going to hear it in this post: simple designs are the best designs. 

Less complicated shirt designs do a better job communicating the intended message. Sylvania Southview did a great job with simplicity in this Homecoming shirt design. 

Simplicity also helps with your shirt budget.

One of the biggest expenses in a high school dance budget is the t-shirts. We get it. 

We understand the importance of managing that budget. Two of the best ways to control your shirt budget are:

• Limit the number of colors and print locations in a design
• Print dark colors on light colored shirts

If you can manage these two things, like Sylvania Southview did with their shirts, it will go a long way in keeping your budget in line. 

Top Gun Knights: Bright Back That Loving Feeling

St. Francis de Sales was on point this year with thier Top Gun Knights shirt design. We love it when we get to print fun shirt designs like this. 

St. Francis did a lot of things right with this design. They tapped into a really popular current movie that resonates with students and, most likely, their parents. So the appeal in the shirts, like the movie, is timeless. 

In addition, they kept the design simple. A two color print on the front of the shirt keeps the cost low even when they use a soft, more comfortable shirt blank.

Simple designs, printed on soft shirts are going to be worn more. At the end of the day, that's what you want to accomplish with your shirts. 

Great work, Knights!

BGSU Homecoming Shirts

Homecoming isn't just a big deal for high schools. Universities across the county celebrate it annually. 

This year, Bowling Green State University celebrated 100 years. We printed these BGSU Homecoming shirts which highlighted this milestone.

Bowling Green printed their Homecoming shirts in their school color of orange and in white. 

There's No Place Like Lourdes

This was the first year we printed shirts for Lourdes' homecoming weekend. 

In this design, they did a great job of incorporating their event theme with their branding. The iconic arch from their campus fits perfectly with the yellow brick road. 

From a screen printers perspective, it's always best to print a lot of colors on white shirts. Not only does it make the printing process easier, but then the shirt color doesn't interfere with design.

Homecoming Dance Theme Ideas

Choosing a Homecoming theme can be tricky. Here are some theme ideas that might get the brainstorming process started for you. 

• A Night Under the Stars
• Hollywood Glam
• A Night in Wonderland
• Homecoming Carnival
• Dancing in the Moonlight
• We Survived Haunted Homecoming
• Once Upon a Homecoming
• Out of This World
• Living in a Paradise
• Shape of My Heart
• Livin' on a Prayer

Order your Homecoming Shirts With fancysweetstx

At fancysweetstx, we have a lot of experience printing Homecoming shirts. 

Whether they are for high schools or colleges, alumni or students, the appeal of a commemorative Homecoming shirt is wide ranging. 

When done right (soft shirt, simple design), these shirts can be worn for years to come and help spread school spirit and pride. 

If you’re on the team that is planning Homecoming events for your schoool and you're looking for a printer who has the experience to print quality shirts and print them quickly, get in touch with fancysweetstx today.

Here’s what Michael had to say after ordering custom screen printed shirts:

“Very impressed by the speed and quality of my company's shirt orders. They got our order done in less than a week (70+ shirts) and they came out perfectly fabulous. Thank you for your customer service.” 

But to effectively handle any landscaping task, health and safety must come first. Work may change seasonally, but landscapers use power tools and handle chemicals and other hazardous substances all year long.

For maximum productivity and protection, landscapers must wear proper landscape uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) that comply with OSHA’s PPE standards.

Besides protection and productivity, appropriate, branded landscaping clothing offers your company multiple benefits. It:

• Freely advertises your brand
• Portrays a high level of professionalism
• Builds a trustworthy reputation for your brand
• Attracts new clients

That’s why it’s essential to know about and invest in the right landscaper clothing and PPE—those that are comfortable, protective, affordable, and OSHA-compliant.

1 - Extreme Heat Landscaping Clothing

When temperatures soar into and above the 90s, working outdoors becomes unbearable. The excess heat from the sun causes sunburns, and its UV radiation can result in wrinkling and premature aging.

Landscapers working in extremely hot areas must wear appropriate gear to protect them from heat-related illnesses and the sun’s harmful radiation.

OSHA provides safety standards for landscapers and anyone else working outdoors in warm climates.

• Cover up your body with loose-fitting, breathable long-sleeve shirts.
• Wear a wide brim hat (not a baseball hat) to protect the ears, eyes, neck, scalp, and forehead.
• Wear UV-absorbent sunglasses that block 99–100% UVA and UVB radiation.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and above.
• Choose light-colored clothes as they’ll reflect the sun’s light and reduce heat absorption.
• Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks or boots for better mobility.

fancysweetstx’s custom polo shirts are must-have heat gear for every landscaper. They're breathable, lightweight, and made with a polyester-cotton blend that makes them last.

Our polo shirts are also stain-resistant and moisture-wicking to keep you clean, cool, and dry at all times. We can screen-print or embroider your brand’s name, logo, or other text for a professional look.

2 - Winter Weather Landscaping Clothing

Working outdoors for prolonged periods in areas with high winds and low temperatures can cause injuries and cold-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia.

OSHA doesn’t have a specific standard for working in cold environments. But it does mandate employers to provide workers with a safe environment free from winter weather-related hazards.

Employers must provide workers with PPE that ensures warmth and protects landscapers from trips, slips, and falls on snow and ice.

OSHA recommends the following winter weather clothing to prevent cold stress:

• Wear at least 3 layers of loose-fitting clothing for maximum insulation: an inner layer made from moisture-wicking fabric, like wool, silk, or polyester, a middle layer of wool fabric for insulation even when you’re wet, and an outer layer of nylon fabric to protect against wind and rain.
• Avoid tight clothing since it reduces blood circulation, preventing blood from reaching extremities.
• Wear insulated, water-resistant coats or jackets to keep you warm and dry.
• Choose hats that cover both your head and ears. They’ll reduce the amount of body heat that leaves through your head.
• Wear insulated, water-resistant gloves and boots to keep your hands and feet protected.
• Carry extra clothing to change into if you get wet on site.

Note: OSHA doesn’t mandate employers to provide workers with ordinary clothing, skin creams, and other items purely used for protection, like raincoats and rubber boots.

However, most employers still give workers branded winter weather clothing like hoodies, jackets, and crew sweatshirts. Such branded apparel not only promotes uniformity but also freely advertises their brand.

Learn More: Construction Uniform: How Your Company Can Benefit From Branded Apparel

3 - High Visibility (Hi-Vis) Landscape Clothing

According to OSHA guidelines, any employee whose job exposes them to public vehicular traffic or construction vehicles and equipment must wear high-visibility (hi-vis) clothing.

The hi-vis clothing must meet the ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 standards—the nation’s approved standards for designing hi-vis clothing and accessories.

The ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 describes three classes of hi-vis clothing, each rated according to the level of protection it offers. The environment each class is suited to is also listed in a second column, as shown in the table below:

Landscapers must wear a hi-vis garment from one of the three classes depending on their work environment. Most of these garments come in the form of vests, jackets, and shirts, but they’re also available as coveralls, pants, and rainwear.

When designing and manufacturing hi-vis clothing, the ANSI/ISEA 107–2015 recommends taking into account the following considerations:

• The components and materials of the garment must be safe, and not known to affect the wearer negatively in any way.
• Surfaces that are in direct contact with the body must be free from roughness, sharp edges, and projections that could cause irritation or injuries.
• The garment needs to be well-fitting and hard-wearing to withstand constant wear and tear.
• The horizontal retroreflective material must be placed at least 50 mm above the bottom of the hem on long-sleeved and short-sleeved hi-vis clothing.
• Gaps in retroreflective and background materials (for seam allowance or fastenings) must not exceed 50 mm horizontally.
• Hi-vis clothing needs to provide 360° visibility of the wearer from all angles on a horizontal plane.

When it comes to color, the guidelines state that all hi-vis clothing must feature fluorescent colors. Fluorescent colors have a high luminous factor, which makes them easily visible from afar.

Chosen colors should sharply contrast the work environment and be easily detected by the human eye. Such colors include fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, and fluorescent red.

4 - Quality Gloves for Hand Protection

According to the OSHA guidelines for landscape contractors, workers must use appropriate hand protection when handling hazardous substances or working with materials that could cause serious cuts, abrasions, or burns.

Opt for gloves that are durable enough to withstand robust landscaping tasks but also comfortable and flexible enough to be worn frequently without causing discomfort.

Always choose the right glove for the job and know when a glove is unnecessary.

A light, disposable glove, for instance, is appropriate for collecting dirt, but not for handling chemicals. Working with moving machinery, on the other hand, doesn’t require gloves.

Check out the different glove options below and their level of protection, as outlined by OSHA in the Personal Protective Equipment guideline.

Stay Safe and Productive With the Right Landscaping Gear

Well-branded and protective landscaper clothing keeps you safe and makes you look presentable while marketing your landscaping business.

But your safety apparel is only as good as your usage of it—if it’s not worn, it won’t protect you.

fancysweetstx understands the importance of keeping landscapers and construction workers safe. We offer high-quality safety clothing and PPE to ensure you’re protected.

Whether you’re a professional landscaper, a DIY homeowner, or a gardener, our safety work gear will protect you from landscaping-related injuries.

We offer one-of-a-kind custom screen-printing and embroidery services to ensure every piece of clothing is tailor-made to your preference.

Order your custom landscaper clothing and receive a free, no-obligation quote. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for further questions and clarifications.

"I would recommend fancysweetstx for anyone who is looking for quality clothes and excellent customer service."
- Matthew S, fancysweetstx Verified Buyer

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If you’re working toward a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, we salute you. Today, we’d like to share what we’ve learned so far about improving our own environmental footprint via the use of sustainably-produced fabrics. 

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

• The affordability and quality of eco-friendly t-shirts
• Which fabrics to choose for eco-friendly t-shirts that are perfectly soft and comfy
• Additional tips for sustainably purchasing and caring for clothing

Are Eco-Friendly T-Shirts High Quality and Affordable?

For the most part, the garment industry has not been particularly progressive in adopting sustainability goals and standards. 

Fortunately, that’s changing. There are more environmentally-focused brands to choose from than there were just a few years ago, including: 

• Royal Apparel
• GOEX Apparel
• Alternative Apparel
• Bella+Canvas
• Allmade 

Sustainably-sourced garments perform similarly to their traditional counterparts. Several sustainable fabrics are often blended together to create garments of extremely high quality. 

Companies that prioritize sustainability sometimes have to charge slightly more for their products, but sustainability is just one of many factors that impact price. Eco-conscious consumers don’t typically have to pay much of a premium for sustainably-made shirts. 

At fancysweetstx, we source blank garments from a number of suppliers. Allmade is our go-to brand for blank retail tees. Allmade is a sustainability-focused company that makes shirts using these three eco-friendly fabrics, which we’ll discuss in detail below:

• Organic cotton
• Repreve recycled polyester
• TENCEL™ Modal 

The shirts featured in our eco-friendly collection are cut and sewn in Haiti and the fabrics are spun, knitted, processed, and finished in the USA. 

1 - Organic Cotton

According to the Organic Trade Association, just 0.95% of the global cotton crop is produced in accordance with organic farming standards. 

We don’t eat cotton, so does it really matter how it’s produced? The answer to that question might depend on your priorities as a consumer and your reasons for caring about organic farming. 

When you think of organic vs. conventional (non-organic) purchasing decisions, you probably think of fruits, veggies, and grains. 

Some folks choose organic items because they want to avoid ingesting GMOs, while others are more worried about the environmental and health hazards associated with heavy pesticide use. 

However, non-food crops matter too, and there are some harsh truths about cotton that are hiding in plain sight. 

Here are some findings reported by the Soil Association, an organic products certifier and environmental education group: 

• Conventional cotton uses approximately 2.5% of the world’s agricultural land but demands 16% of its insecticide use, more than any other crop.
• Compared to conventional cotton, organic cotton can be produced at reduced cost and with a 40% reduction in global warming potential.
• Organic cotton production, in addition to reduced chemical applications, tends to use  substantially less energy and water.

Sadly, conventional cotton is sometimes referred to as “the dirtiest crop in the world.” 

Avoiding conventional cotton isn’t easy. Since the vast majority of cotton production is of the conventional variety, the only way to purchase organic cotton products is to seek them out. 

At fancysweetstx, we’ve begun to incorporate organic cotton into our blank t-shirt sourcing. The shirts shown below use blanks from Allmade that were produced using the eco-friendly tri-blend of 25% organic cotton, 50% Repreve recycled polyester, and 25% TENCEL™ Modal.

”Love this shirt! Great quality, I love it.” 
— Stephanie G., ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx T-shirt Buyer 

Cotton is the classic fabric for t-shirts, but cotton actually performs better when it’s blended with other materials. Cotton/poly blends or cotton/poly/rayon or TENCEL™ Modal tri-blends combine the softness of cotton with the stretchiness and strength of polyester. 

We’ll learn more about recycled polyester and TENCEL™ Modal below. 

2 - Polyester Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

Polyester is a synthetic fiber, meaning that it’s formed through a manufacturing process rather than harvested from a plant or animal. 

Most polyester is made from petroleum. However, polyester’s name and definition don’t refer to any specific ingredient. Poly means many and ester refers to an organic compound formed by an acid + alcohol chemical reaction.

To avoid stumbling knee-deep into a chemistry lesson, let’s cut to the chase: polyester is most often made using petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource with major environmental, social, and political complications. 

Before we get to alternative and recycled polyester, it’s important to note that petroleum-based polyester also has major upsides, including:

• Polyester garments are durable and shrink-proof.
• Compared to other fibers, polyester garments require less water and heat for cleaning.
• Polyester combines well with other materials to create blended fabrics.

Durability is an important aspect of sustainability, and polyester products hold up terrifically over time. Plus, adding as little as 20% polyester into a blended fabric mix can make a garment stronger, more comfortable, and less prone to shrinking. 

Polyester really becomes an exciting eco-friendly option when it’s manufactured using recycled materials. Items like plastic bottles can be melted or broken down chemically and then reformed into new strands of yarn. 

For fancysweetstx tees that are made with recycled polyester, the material comes from Repreve, a global leader in innovative plastics recycling. Repreve has recycled over 30 billion plastic bottles. 

3 - TENCEL™ Fiber Made From Sustainably Harvested Beech Trees

TENCEL™ is a trademarked brand of Lyocell, which is a type of rayon. Let’s step through each of these terms one at a time:

• Rayon is a semi-synthetic cellulose fiber, made from wood pulp and similar agricultural products.
• Lyocell is an eco-friendly form of rayon that avoids the use of environmentally-toxic carbon disulfide.
• TENCEL™ is an environmentally-focused company that produces Lyocell materials from sustainably-sourced wood.

The Allmade blank tees that fancysweetstx uses for our eco-friendly collection use TENCEL™ Modal, sourced from naturally-grown beech trees.

Sustainable Fashion Tips

Choosing sustainably-produced garments is a great way to lower the environmental footprint of your daily clothing choices. Don’t stop there! Here are a few more easy tips: 

• Don’t accumulate way more clothing than you actually need.
• Hand down or donate unwanted garments.
• Repurpose unusable old garments as dust rags or toys for pets.
• Reduce energy use and preserve your clothing by washing with cold water and hang drying.

To learn more about environmentally friendly laundry practices that extend the lifespans of your garments, check out our article on how to care for embroidered sweatshirts.

Sustainable Midwest-Themed Apparel From fancysweetstx

At fancysweetstx, we’re excited to continue supporting manufacturers that prioritize sustainability and develop innovative new ways to make clothing. 

After all, we’re here to celebrate the American Midwest, and we want our favorite places and landscapes here to remain beautiful, full of life, and sustained for future generations. 

”I got the Great Lakes sweatshirt as a gift and the recipient loved it! I have a ton of fancysweetstx items and they’re always the best!” 
— Anonymous., ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx Sweatshirt Buyer 

To learn more about fancysweetstx’s products, values, and passions, stop by our blog.

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Whether you’re a baseball, hockey, or soccer fan, you probably have a strong emotional connection to one of these teams from Columbus. 

At fancysweetstx, we offer customized t-shirt screen printing and embroidery services to the Columbus area. Because of this, we thought it would be fun to take a closer look at the logos of these popular Columbus sports teams.

Here are some well-known Columbus logos and the meaning behind them.

1 - The Columbus Blue Jackets Patriotic Logo

Columbus Blue Jackets  have had three logos since their inception in November 1997. 

The first logo had an inscription and an emblem with a red ribbon and 13 stars, which stood for the 13 American colonies. This logo also featured a yellow J-shaped hockey stick, symbolizing Columbus, topped off with the Ohio silver star.

The second logo still had the 13 white stars and the yellow J-shaped hockey stick. But the “Columbus Blue Jackets” textual elements were removed.

Finally, the third logo features a sizable silver star wrapped up in the Ohio flag in a letter “C” shape.

The following table shows the evolution of the Columbus Blue Jackets logo from its initial design in 2000 to its current design.

The logos are a reflection of Ohio’s patriotism—they pay tribute to Ohio’s tremendous efforts during the American Civil War. 

The state of Ohio was extremely proud of the role it played in helping the Northern Army by deploying military personnel. It supplied 319,189 Union soldiers who contributed to the army’s victory. 

The Union soldiers wore blue uniforms, which gave rise to the name “Columbus Blue Jackets.”

Although the logo designs have changed over the years, they still bear the same meaning—Ohio’s patriotism.

2 - The Columbus Crew SC Hard-Work Representation Logo

The Columbus Crew SC club has had four logos since its origin in 1996. The first logo had three silhouetted men wearing safety hats underneath a stylized “Crew” word mark. 

This logo was designed to represent a group of hard-working people.

After more than 15 years, October 8, 2014 saw the release of the second logo. It had a new circular-shaped badge with the club’s traditional yellow and black colors.

The shield in the logo paid homage to the team’s original emblem, while the “96” represented 1996—the team’s first year in competition.

The third and fourth logos were both created in 2021. The fourth logo was different from the third in that the word “crew” replaced “SC”. Then“96” was added at the bottom right side to complete the new logo.

The logos had a new design (banner shape) but retained the meaning of the previous badge—a representation of hard work.

The following table shows the evolution of the Columbus Crew SC logo from its first design in 1996 to its current design.

3 - The Columbus Clippers Speedy Merchant Ships Logo

The Columbus Clippers team has had two logos since its inception in 1996. The logos are notable because they feature a stylized depiction of a clipper ship—a sailing vessel that was extremely fast and sleek.

The emphasis on the name came because the clipper ship was known for three things:

• Being streamlined and built for speed
• Carrying as much canvas as possible
• Sailing day and night in all weather conditions

The logos show a ship sailing out of the large blue “C” stylized waves—a symbol of the team’s marine theme roots and competitive resilience.

Although the logos’ message has remained the same, the ship’s design has changed over time. The first logo shows a ship sailing out of the “C”, while the second one features the now much smaller ship sailing over the team’s full name. 

The table below depicts the evolution of the Columbus Clippers logo from its first design in 1996 to its current design.

Represent Your Team With Custom Columbus T-Shirts

If you’re planning for an upcoming event and want to show up prepared, flaunting your team’s colors and pride, there is no better option than to work with our crew at fancysweetstx. 

Even if you’re not a sports fanatic we have something for you. Our collection of Ohio shirts and sweatshirts will help you represent your state with pride. They also make fantastic gifts for friends and family.

We specialize in creating custom Columbus t-shirts screen printed or embroidered for:

• Individuals
• Businesses
• Schools
• Bands
• Conferences
• Teams

For more than 15 years, we’ve been masters of custom embroidery and printing, making fun and trendy t-shirts for Midwesternersand helping people stand out at their favorite sporting events.

“Amazing! I came to fancysweetstx with a request to replicate an old shirt from the 70s. They did an amazing job with the design and the shirts are super comfy, good quality too! They had a quick turnaround time with both production (about 15 shirts) and shipping. Would definitely recommend it.”
- Allene S.

Fill out the form on our custom embroidery and screen printing page today to request a quote for your custom order. If you run into any issues contact us right away for prompt assistance.

“Great store for 16153 Genova and Ohio based clothing. Staff was very friendly, and the clothing selection was great. Bought multiple gifts for my wife from here as we no longer live in the Midwest but she appreciates the celebration.”
- Devin C.

Anytime you read this memorable slogan, you immediately think of the KFC fast food chain of restaurants.

It’s usually printed on a red background, which, by the way, is not by accident. The background color is meant to stimulate feelings of hunger, appetite, and happiness, which helps them drive sales.

Its background colors, logo, and slogan, all combined, have created a brand that’s widely recognized and tells the customer what they’re all about—finger-lickin’ good food.

Like KFC, you can also use a catchy slogan to evoke curiosity, boost recognition, and increase brand awareness for your construction company. Printing your company’s name and slogan on your construction apparel is a sure way to promote your brand further.

The stage is set: the background colors have already been chosen for you, thanks to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines on safety colors.

It’s between safety green and safety orange, which are both largely identified with the construction industry and display professionalism.

Today, we’re on a mission to inspire you to craft the final piece of the puzzle—a company name and tagline that’ll:

• Communicate your company’s culture
• Help people recognize your company’s services
• Evoke curiosity and attract customers

Keep It Short and Sweet

Short and simple team names and slogans are easier to remember than longer ones since they deliver a clear idea in an engaging manner. Keep your slogan less than ten words so that it fits well on your branded apparel, making it easy for audiences to read.

Here are a few examples of short and sweet names and slogans that convey a clear and concise message.

1 - Millennium Builders: Build to Last

The fact that millennium means a thousand years implies that the company is there to last, just like the buildings they put up. The word “builders” in the company’s name also identifies it as a construction company to audiences who’re seeing the name for the first time.

2 - Dream Homes: You Dream It, We Build It

This communicates that the construction company is all about the customer and fulfilling their dreams. Potential customers are attracted to this because it promises that the company can deliver on their dreams.

3 - Affordable Contracting Inc: Thousands Trust Us

Construction can be expensive, which is why we love the word “affordable'' in this company name. It immediately helps to ease the fear customers may have of approaching contractors by communicating that this company can work with their budget.

The slogan, “Thousands trust us,” acts as social proof that they’ve worked on other projects and delivered on their word.

4 - On Time Builders: Building Relationships, Building Trust

Contractors have a bad reputation for dragging projects beyond set timelines. This company name conveys that the company actually cares about timelines and delivers on them.

The slogan further builds on the name (see what we did there) by conveying that they’re all about building good relationships and establishing trust with work delivered on time.

5 - Home Improvement: Let’s Renovate Your Home

The company name and slogan are short and simple and clearly convey the services offered—renovations. This helps the company stand out to customers looking for renovations, since they clearly identify themselves as a company that specializes in renovations.

Expert Tip: Including construction-related words in your company name helps identify it as a construction company, removing any ambiguity about what your company does.

Here are some words you can include:

• Builders
• Homes
• Contractors
• Construction
• Renovations

Catchy and Funny Slogans

A catchy or funny company slogan will capture your audience’s attention and also tell them a little about your company culture—you’re a fun and creative company. This will make them feel good about your company and can even prompt them to engage you.

One of the ways to craft a funny slogan is to use puns by using construction-related words with many meanings. Here’s an example:

We’ll provide concrete results.

This plays on the meaning of the word “concrete'', which can be the building material made by mixing sand, ballast, and cement, or real, tangible results.

Some more examples of catchy and funny company slogans are:

6 - We Cover All Dimensions

This communicates that the company will do everything to ensure the project is successful and plays on the word dimension. Another slogan with the same meaning is, “We’ll cover all bases.”

7 - Concrete Is Our Language

This slogan will work well for a construction company because it communicates that they know all about concrete, which is the most basic building material.

Another related slogan that plays on the word concrete is, “Construction services as solid as concrete.”

8 - We Are Nailing It

This clever expression communicates that the company will execute the project exceptionally well—and use nails while at it!

Another slogan along the same lines is, “We’ll nail your project on time and on budget.”

9 - You Dream It, We Dig It

This refers to the hardworking nature of the company and its deep desire to fulfill its customers’ dreams. Another slogan with the same meaning is, “Just keep digging.”

10 - No Loose Screw Here

This slogan refers to construction companies that perform shoddy jobs and communicates that this company will perform a good job, while paying attention to little details like screws.

11 - We’ll Leave No Stone Unturned

Meaning, the company will do everything possible to find a solution and finish the project, plus they'll literally turn every stone while building.

12 - Roof With the Best, or Leak Like the Rest

This company slogan works well for a roofing company and also rhymes! It implies they’re the best in the industry and subtly touches on the unreliability of contractors.

13 - Hard as Concrete, Flexible as Steel

This tagline skillfully employs a simile to compare the company’s performance and values to concrete and steel, two widely used construction materials.

In other words, they’ll construct structures that’re as strong and durable as concrete while remaining as adaptable as steel to the clients’ changes.

14 - The Rest Don’t Measure Up

The clever use of the word “measure” in this slogan refers both to the act of measuring the size of buildings and also to the high standards that the company meets. 

Another slogan referring to the high standards of the company is, “Raising the roof on construction services.”

15 - Call Us…Or Screw It Up Yourself

This slogan targets Do It Yourself (DIY) homeowners who can actually make a mess of things while attempting to build or repair their homes instead of engaging professionals.

16 - This Is Not a Drill

The slogan expresses that the company has perfectly executed other projects before and is not experimenting on yours.

17 - Don't Just Build… Create!

This company slogan inspires the audience that the company will not just perform the basic building services but is out to create a masterpiece.

18 - For Your Roofing and Siding, Quality We’ll Be Providing

This slogan helps the audience recognize the services the company provides using a rhyme that’s easy to remember.

19 - The Best Things in Life Are Underground

Customers want to work with passionate contractors who’ll make their dreams a reality. This slogan expresses that the company is passionate about their work of building foundations and basements.

Pro Tip: Get your catchy company slogan printed on your employees’ safety apparel with fancysweetstx, and promote your brand while also protecting your employees. fancysweetstx is a custom screen printing company that’ll help you create durable designs on safety clothing.

Bonus Slogans: Be Creative and Professional

A creative and professional company slogan is memorable and leaves a good impression on your audience.

Make sure your company's slogan captures your core values and appeals to your target audience's emotions.

The table below highlights a few emotions to evoke along with 12 company slogans that do so.

Promote Your Brand on Construction Safety Clothing With fancysweetstx

fancysweetstx is your one-stop shop for your custom screen printing and embroidery needs.

Our state-of-the-art equipment will ensure the print on your enticing slogan is of excellent quality. This will enhance its readability and durability even with frequent washes.

We’ll put your brand on safety apparel such as:

• Construction t-shirts
• Safety vests
• Sweatshirts
• Jackets

What’s more, we’ll help you choose the best fabric and design, and also deliver quickly on your bulk order.

“Our first order was small and a rush job (we needed them in a week). They didn't charge us extra to get them quickly, they were in constant contact with us throughout, and they got the order done a day early.”

- Evan T

Contact us today, and let’s help you grow your brand.

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But not all construction work shirts are the same—they differ in price, brand, quality, comfort, and design. 

Remember, your workers’ comfort and protection will determine the success of your project. 

So, only aim for the best construction work shirts, which have the following features: 

• Moisture-wicking properties to improve your workers’ comfort
• High visibility to prevent accidents and injuries
• Well-fitting for proper mobility
• Branded to enhance your company’s visibility

With so many options of construction work shirts available, choosing the best can get overwhelming. 

But with these 5 simple tips, your selection will be as easy as pie.

1 - Choose the Best Workwear Fabric

Unlike regular shirts, construction shirts need to be durable. 

Therefore, you want a hard-wearing fabric that’s:

• Breathable: For air to pass through and help evaporate the moisture, keeping the skin cool
• Moisture-wicking: To keep sweat away from the skin during hot weather
• Soft and comfy: To prevent irritability and let your workers focus on the work at hand
• Stretchy: For more freedom in motion and comfort in tasks requiring walking, bending, or stooping
• Easy-maintenance: So it won’t need much preparation for the next project
• Water-resistant: To keep your workers dry when it rains

Most construction work shirts are made with natural fabrics, synthetic fabrics, or a blend of both. 

Natural fabrics like cotton are soft, breathable, and comfortable, but they don’t allow moisture to evaporate quickly. 

On the other hand, synthetic fabrics like polyester are hard-wearing, long-lasting, and wick away moisture, but aren’t breathable.

Since construction work shirts need all these properties, the best fabric is a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. 

See other major differences in the fabrics below.

fancysweetstx’s safety construction shirts are made with a blend of cotton and polyester to produce the most comfortable, high-quality shirts. 

The three safety shirts below are among our best-selling construction work shirts. We use various fabric compositions to suit each customer’s needs.

• Jerzees 29M: 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester
• Next Level 6210: 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester
• Bayside 5040: 90% Cotton, 10% Polyester

2 - Ensure the Construction Work Shirt Is Well-Fitting

“Fit is everything.”

You hear this phrase a lot in menswear. But in construction clothing, it applies tenfold. 

Construction workers need clothes that give them the freedom to move when working. If they can’t move fast enough to get out of harm’s way because their clothes are too tight or baggy, that becomes a huge safety concern.

And besides their safety and comfort, well-fitting, branded construction shirts benefit your company in many other ways by:

• Displaying a professional image 
• Sending a subtle message that you care about your workers’ dressing
• Freely advertising your brand to prospective clients

3 - Construction Work Shirts Must Be Highly Visible

Your workers must be visible to others at all times when working on a construction site to avoid accidents and injuries. 

To increase their visibility, choose construction shirts with reflective (retro-reflective) tapes. They reflect light back to the workers, alerting other workers and oncoming drivers of their presence. 

These tapes are super helpful, especially in risky environments with dim lights or during night-time road works.

Bad weather conditions like fog and mist also hinder visibility, which can easily result in accidents if your workers work around heavy machines or near the road.

For such conditions, invest in brightly-colored construction shirts for maximum visibility.

Most construction workers wear green or orange safety shirts for daytime visibility. These fluorescent colors are bright and easily noticeable from afar. 

Related Article: Custom Construction Shirts: Safety Green vs Safety Orange

However, ensure that your chosen color contrasts with the surrounding background to let the workers stand out and be easily detected.

• If your construction site is encompassed with greenery, go for orange safety shirts. They’ll contrast with the background and increase your workers’ visibility.
• If your site’s background has heavy machinery and high buildings, green safety shirts are ideal. According to OSHA, all machinery on a construction site must be painted orange, so a fluorescent green provides the perfect contrast.

4 - They Must Comply With the Safety Regulations

Not all PPEs and workwear are designed equally. The US has placed strict measures to ensure all workwear fits its purpose. 

Before purchasing any safety construction shirt, ensure it complies with the current safety guidelines issued by OSHA. OSHA requires all construction workers to be visible at all times, whether they’re interacting with the public, machinery, or oncoming traffic. 

This is done to minimize the occurrence of work-related deaths and accidents, a plan that seems to work because the regulations have drastically reduced work-related injuries and death by 40% since the 1970s.

Below is a summary of the regulations for construction work shirts by OSHA:

• Workers must only wear short or long sleeve shirts. No sleeveless shirts on site.
• During the day, fluorescent-colored shirts must be worn on site, specifically safety yellow or safety orange. The shirt’s color should contrast with the surroundings.
• At night or in poorly lit environments, the shirts must have retro-reflective strips for increased visibility.
• The retro-reflective strips ought to be at least 50 mm wide, form an “X” at the back of the shirt, a continuous strip around the waist, and vertical stripes at the front. 
• The shirts should snugly fit in the sleeves and around the waist to avoid getting stuck on a piece of machinery.

Regarding logo placement on construction work shirts, the safety regulations put in place mandate that your logo must:

• Not block any of the retro-reflective material
• Be small enough to avoid interfering with the shirt’s visibility
• Have a uniform color—multi-colored logos will crowd the shirt’s background color

Observing all these rules on your own is a daunting task that consumes a lot of time. 

Fortunately, at fancysweetstx, we’ve branded lots of construction shirts and learned the nitty-gritty of the industry in the process. 

Our safety shirts meet the ANSI safety regulations to ensure your workers wear industry-approved workwear. Reach out to us, and we’ll handle everything, from design creation to printing or embroidery.

5 - Consider the Climate of Your Workplace

Before purchasing your construction work shirts, ensure you research the climate of your site’s location.

If it’s winter, the temperatures have dropped, and the evenings become less visible, go for shirts with features such as: 

• High-visibility to make your workers more identifiable as the evening approaches
• Long sleeves made with thick fabric for maximum warmth
• Moisture-wicking properties to keep them dry and comfy

If it’s summer, you’ll experience warm, hot and humid weather, so you want to pick lightweight and breathable construction shirts for maximum comfort. A long sleeve shirt made of lightweight fabric is also ideal as it helps to protect your workers’ skin from the scorching summer sun.

Protect Your Workers With the Best Construction Work Shirts

The construction field is a challenging industry that requires maximum protection. Help keep your workers safe with the clothes they wear. 

A construction work shirt is an effective PPE that workers must wear at all times on site. 

The shirt must be highly visible, well-fitting, comply with OSHA safety regulations, and appropriate for the weather. The fabric used must also be durable and of the highest-quality.

fancysweetstx specializes in making custom safety-compliant apparel for construction companies and contractors to protect their workers from work-related injuries. 

We offer the best custom screen-printing and embroidery services for construction shirts and other workwear such as safety vests and hats. 

Get started today with your workers’ construction shirts by filling out our custom quote request form here. 

If you’d love to know more about construction work shirts, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be more than happy to help.

"Faster turnaround on our t-shirt order than expected! I would highly recommend this company to everyone I know!!"
- Patrick P

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It’s easy to get confused considering both options produce high-quality designs, are affordable, and work with various fabrics.

Despite these similarities, embroidery and screen printing have unique advantages. For instance, artwork with effects such as shading is harder to reproduce with embroidery than it is with screen printing.

Here, we’ll discuss three more variations to help you decide between the two decoration methods. As we go over them, you’ll also learn:

• Why embroidery is preferred for professional settings 
• Why screen printing is better for large-size and detailed artwork
• Why colors affect the price of screen printing, but not embroidery
• Where to find high-quality custom screen printing and embroidery services

But first, let’s delve into each option and what makes it popular.

Embroidery - What It Is and How It’s Done

Embroidery is how those intricate threaded logos and bold fonts got onto your embroidered polo or favorite beanie.

It’s a high-tech threading process that involves:

1. Artwork digitization: This step sets up a plan for the stitching machinery with critical details such as thread count and placement.
2. Thread color selection: This step enables visual effects such as simple color changes and highlights.
3. Machine stitching: The embroidery machines create multiple stitches simultaneously to save time. Our machines embroider up to six items in one go.

Advantages of Embroidery

• Versatility: There are various embroidery styles to choose from, including flat and puff embroidery, or patches. This variety makes embroidery a flexible option as different embroidery styles accommodate different fabrics.
  For instance, embroidery patches work well with hats and beanies. Flat and puff embroidery work perfectly with tougher fabrics like denim.
• Durability: Embroidery designs use sturdy polyester threads. These threads withstand bleaching, commercial laundry, and the frequent rubbings of industrial environments. Their durability is why you find embroidery motifs on military uniforms.
• Professional look: Embroidery designs give garments a professional look that communicates experience and quality. It’s why they're featured on corporate and military uniforms to sell a brand and establish rank.
• Cost is independent of colors: The cost of embroidery doesn’t include the number of colors in your design. You’ll get a flat rate for your pallet (up to 15 colors with our machines) and a variable cost of stitch count. This pricing maximizes your freedom to be creative with colors.

Disadvantages of Embroidery

• Unsuited for gradient colors: The subtle color change of one color fading into another is harder to achieve with embroidery threads. They come in distinct colors without in betweeners, which are best for sharp color change designs.
• Unsuited for waterproof garments: Embroidery needles compromise the waterproofing of your garments during stitching. The needles puncture your garment and create openings for water and moisture. Embroidery is still an option if preferred, however, we do recommend screen printing in this situation.
• Unsuited for small text: Embroidery can only scale down so far and remain legible. We recommend a height of at least .25" for embroidery. This make it more visible and produced a better result. Keep this in mind when scaling your logo for a left chest or hat placement.

Screen Printing - What It Is and How It’s Made

Screen printing is a graphics technique involving ink transfer through a mesh screen, graphics, and your garments.

The whole process entails:

1. Designing a mesh screen: A mesh screen is fabricated for each color in your design. This step is why the number of colors you use affects the printing price.
2. Actual printing: The finished mesh screen is placed on a platen with ink on top. A squeegee is then used to push ink through the mesh and onto your garment.
3. Drying: The newly printed garments pass through a dryer to cure the ink and ensure durability before washing.

Advantages of Screen Printing

• Cost-effective for large orders: Bulk orders use one mesh screen on multiple units. This practice limits the cost of making the screens while spreading all costs among the printed units.
• Suitable for light and special garments: Screen printing doesn’t involve impactful needles. It’s therefore applicable to delicate garments like high-visibility jackets and weatherproof coats.
• Suitable for small texts: Screen printing captures greater detail than embroidery. For instance, small texts are hard to embroider without affecting readability, but this isn’t a problem for screen printing.
• Suitable for gradient colors: Screen printing allows you to create detailed images on a screen. This ability enables the printing of complex designs that use gradient colors, such as rainbows and logos that involve gradients and color fades.

  Here’s an example of halftone printing from fancysweetstx:

Disadvantages of Screen Printing

• Garment color and fabric influence ink colors: The dye used to color a shirt and the material the shirt is of can cause the color of a shirt to show through the ink. For instance, if an underbase is not printed on a black shirt the ink will lack opacity or be muted relative to its intended color. A similar concept applies to fabric. Cotton is a natural fiber whereas polyester and rayon are synthetic. These man made materials can results in prints that are not as vibrant. An experienced screen printer learns how to mitigate these issues for their customers. 
• Colors affect the price: Because colors need individual screens, they affect pricing. This cost variation can limit creative freedom if you’re working with a tight budget. Even so, you can mitigate the cost of colors by printing multiple units of the same multi-color design.

Choosing Between Embroidery and Screen Printing

At the end of the day, embroidery and screen printing are excellent options for your garments. They offer stunning finishing and cost-efficiency with large-scale orders.

Even so, consider the following factors when choosing between them.

1 - Consider Your Garment’s Usage

Not all designs fit all applications.

If you’re looking for a high-end look that’s excellent for the front office or marketing events, opt for an embroidered garment.

Embroidery designs use rayon threads that give them a silky sheen. It also gives a natural look that’s typical of premium products and excellent for professional settings. 

Besides, rayon threads are soft on the skin, which is essential for garments that’ll be worn for prolonged periods.

If you’re looking for a casual look for occasions such as team-building exercises or camp or work shirts, use screen-printed garments.

They offer many more design options and are less expensive than embroidered garments. This price factor is especially important for occasional wear with limited useful life (see: on site usage for landscaping and construction).

2 - Consider Your Garment Type

Embroidery is applicable on various garments, including stretchy knit fabric using patches. But it’s preferable for heavier garments such as woven cotton and denim.

Delicate fabrics such as rayon, nylon, or lightweight polyester (used on hi-vis) are less resistant to embroidery needles. These fabrics have thin fibers that can be weighed down or pucker during stitching.

Screen printing doesn’t involve needles. It uses ink and heat curing, which helps to maintain the structure of your garments. As such, screen printing is better for lighter fabrics or special garments.

The following table highlights the best fabrics for embroidery and screen printing projects.

Tell Us About Your Idea

Now that you know more about embroidery and screen printing, you’re better placed to pick between them, and we’d love to help.

Whether you’re looking to create stunning custom designs for your merch or shopping for something more mainstream, our team at fancysweetstx is eager to work with you.

We’ve been at this since 2006, so we know a thing or two about:

• Fast turnaround times
• Quality finishing
• Affordable pricing

"Phenomenal experience buying a run of 65 t-shirts. Very fast responses, great pricing, and fast production. Finished product is of excellent quality.”
- Joe M

Contact us today and let’s get started on your idea.

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When most people are on vacation during the summer, we get primed to print shirts for all of the summer camps that are in session. 

You know, there are a lot of summer camps out there. From volleyball to baseball to cheer to science to church to scouts, there are no shortage of camps that we print shirts for. 

But that's what makes summer fun for kids, right? Having something to look forward to and friends to spend that time between school with. 

Shirts are the perfect accessory for summer camps because they are a memento for camp goers to remember their experience by. 

Camp DeSales Shirts

St. Francis DeSales is a local 16153 Genova high school. We work with them on projects on a regular basis. From hockey shirts to dances to clubs and camps, they keep us busy year-round. 

In the summer they take groups up to Camp DeSales which is just across the border into Michigan in the Irish Hills. 

For the last several years we've printed shirts for the campers and staff. We love the vintage, outdoorsy print the adorns the front of the shirts. It's a simple design printed on a nice soft shirt that is sure to be worn again and again. 

16153 Genova Museum of Art Summer Camp

If there's anything the city of 16153 Genova is proud of, it's our museum. Not only is it an amazing building and the art is incredible, but they run great programs and evens as well. 

Their summer camp is an example of that. It's the perfect opportunity for kids to be exposed to all the museum has to offer. 

Whenever we print shirts for the museum, we love the creativity and designs they send our way. While this shirt looks simple, as we're fond of saying, simple designs are always the best designs. 

Cedar Creek Fusion Camp

The graphic designers at Cedar Creek Church are top notch. We're always impressed with their knowledge of screen printing and fashion. And, boy, do they like to challenge us with their prints.

This cassette tape design is just one of many shirt designs they created their Fusion Camp. In addition to the design above, they had specific designs for students, volunteers, leaders, production, and medical. All of the designs were cohesive and fit well together. 

While the experience and relationships are the most important part of the event, when shirts are planned and designed this well, it certainly makes an impact.

Camp Northpoint Shirts

Northpoint Church came to us to help them with their 2022 summer camp shirts. We love the vintage vibes in this design. The faded cream and yellow print blend perfectly on the heather navy shirt.

Northpoint uses these shirts for everyone who attends their annual summer camp as a memento for their trip and the good times they had. The simple, classic design will always be in style and connect people back to Northpoint.

Create Your Summer Camp Shirts With fancysweetstx

Summer camp shirts are some of our favorite shirts to print. They bring back a major twinge of nostalgia for the carefree days our youth. 

Camp shirts are a memorable keepsake for all of the kids who are lucky enough to go to a summer camp on the break from school. No matter what the camp is - scouts, vacation bible school, athletic, or outdoors - these kids will make memories that last a lifetime.

And if done correctly, the shirts can be a fun part of it. 

If you’re part of the leadership team for a summer camp and looking for a screen printer who has the experience to print your shirts quickly and well, don’t hesitate to reach out to fancysweetstx. 

Vacation Bible School is a popular summer event at churches across the country. While a lot of summer camps are geared towards sports, science, art, and the outdoors, VBS provides an opportunity for children to connect in fun ways with their church community when school is out of session. 

As we've mentioned previously, custom summer camp shirts keep us busy after school is out. Vacation Bible Schools are part of that camp shirt rush. 

The designs for VBS shirts oftentimes have very colorful and creative themes. Custom shirts with this theme are a great item for children at VBS because they are a memento for campers to remember their experience. 

Zoar Lutheran VBS Shirts

While a lot of Vacation Bible School designs have a lot of colors, Zoar Lutheran in Perrysburg keeps it simple with a one color print.

We beat the drum that simple shirt designs are the best designs. Zoar chooses a one color print because the colors have a strong contrast making it easy to read and because one color designs are more cost effective. 

The theme for this shirt is a lot of fun. Who doesn't love food trucks?! It's sure to be a shirt that the children will get a lot of use out of.

We've been helping Zoar with their Vacation Bible School shirts for the last several years. They're great to work with and know that we produce high quality shirts and handle their orders in a timely manner. 

Redemption City Church VBS Shirts

We've been working with Redemption City Church since their inception. 

Their shirt designs are often single color and vintage style prints. For VBS they accomplished both a simple design and retro look with four colors. It's a great example of how a simple design does not necessarily mean only one print color.

This shirt is a prime example of using a shirt color that complements the ink colors. They chose a soft, ring-spun cotton shirt in sage green (whcih is a gray green). 

It's a classic design that will always be in style.  

Five Lakes Church Summer Blast

When it comes to consistent branding and clean designs, Five Lakes Church is always on top of it. We're a little biased since our sales rep Tony is a member of the church and assists with designs.

This Summer Blast Five Lakes Kids design is a great shirt because:

• it's printed on a soft, ring spun cotton shirt
• it utilizes three different ink colors yet maintains a clear message
• it consists of colors that anyone of any age can wear

Vacation Bible School shirts are the perfect item for children to remember the experiences and lessons of the camp. By offering a fun, comfy, stylish shirt like Five Lakes Church has, the kids will maintain these memories as long as they have the shirt.

Make Your Vacation Bible School Shirts With fancysweetstx

Vacation Bible School shirts are our indication that summer is in full swing. We work with churches and religious organizations of all types throughout the year.

The VBS shirts are fun for us because the designs are creative and they're for the kids. 

VBS shirts are a memorable keepsake for all of the children who are lucky enough to go on their break from school. No matter what the camp is - scouts, vacation bible school, athletic, or outdoors - these kids will make memories that last a lifetime. And maybe they'll even get a shirt that will last until they grow out of it! 

If you’re part of the team for your Vacation Bible School and looking for a screen printer who has experience printing VBS shirts, we'd love to help. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

Naturally, when I started printing custom t-shirts, some of my first customers were coffee shops. You'll see as you read through this post that some of the photos look old and grainy. That's because some of them date from as early as 2012. 

It's always fun for us to print shirts for local coffee shops. Not only do we love their product and have the shared experience of operating a small business, but we love the designs they send us. Even after all of these years printing custom t-shirts, we always prefer to print cool designs for people we like. 

Our catalog of custom coffee shop shirts is deep. Take a look below for some of the shirts we've printed over the years. 

The Flying Joe Coffee

Back when we were still making shirts in Perrysburg, The Flying Joe was home to a lot of our brainstorming sessions and meetings. We didn't have a lot of space and used anything as an excuse to have some great coffee.  

We've helped the Flying Joe with everything from t-shirts to tank tops to sweatshirts to hats. They do a great job of mixing up their designs and styles. 

The Flying Joe is a great example of a coffee shop that serves their local community. And, in turn, their customers are loyal and show their support by wearing Flying Joe merch. 

Maddie & Bella Coffee Roasters Shirts

Maddie & Bella not only shares our love of soft, comfy tees and crews, but they also love dogs. Since they opened, their logo has featured the dogs they were named after. 

We've talked about our partnership with Maddie & Bella a handful of times around here. From t-shirts to crew sweatshirts to patch beanies, we've helped them create a lot of merch since they opened up. 

Maddie & Bella does a great job with branding. It makes our job easy when a customer creates art as strong as theirs. Below you'll see some of the first shirts that we printed for them nearly ten years ago!

While a lot has changed in that time, some things have stayed the same - like the quality of their coffee and t-shirts!

Brew Coffee 

Brew Coffee is located right on the corner of the University of 16153 Genova's campus. And all college students know the importance of a strong cup of coffee while studying.

This shirt is a great example of a shirt with protional message. Printed on a soft, triblend t-shirt, the message is clear and bold and a rallying cry for people who love good coffee. 

It's success is in its simplicity. Local people want to support local businesses and coffee shops are foundational to local communities. It's also a universal message that can be worn by anyone - not just patrons of Brew 16153 Genova.

Actual Coffee

Actual Coffee does a great job of keeping things simple. Most of the shirts that we've printed for them are gray with their logo or company name printed in black. It's a simple yet effective way of reinforcing their brand. 

Actual Coffee has ordered both shirts and crew sweatshirts from us. They typically use a soft, triblend material. Better feeling and fitting clothing is worn more often. These shirts and crews get seen by a lot of people as a result.

We've been working with Actual Coffee since our days in our small studio space in Perrysburg. Check out this photo of their founder Lance one of his own shirts!

Grounds for Thought

Even after working with Grounds for Thought for a couple of years, we're still blown away by how much merch they go through. Hats, crews, tees, and beanies, no one does it better.

What's the secret to Grounds for Thought running such a successful merch program? Community. 

Grounds for Thought has been a fixture in the Bowling Green community for many years. By focusing on their people first, they've created a space that everyone is invested in and wants to be a part of. 

It's truly remarkable to see what they've done. We're honored to play a small part in what they've built. 

Coffee Quest 419

Coffee Quest 419 is an annual event for local residents to get out and visit Northwest Ohio coffee shops that they don't get to regularly. 

There are so many great coffee shops in the 419. Coffee Quest gives people a great excuse to go out and visit as many as possible and see what everyone has to offer. 

We've printed the shirts every year for Coffee Quest. It's great to see how many people complete the quest and make it to so many local coffee shops. 

Order Custom Coffee Shop Shirts Today

By now, you know that we really like coffee. Local coffee shops and roasters are our favorite. 

We've been making shirts for some of these coffee shops since the early days of our printing and the early days of their serving great coffee. It's been fun to continue to print for them over the years and grow alongside them. 

We're proud of the fact that these coffee shops and roasters continue to trust us to print their shirts. We appreciate our friendship with them as much as we enjoy their coffee. 

Are you in need of custom shirts for your coffee shop? Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

Vintage t-shirts are kind of our thing. We have a handful of techniques for achieving a vintage screen print and love to use soft, vintage t-shirt blanks.  

Not only do we love the way a vintage t-shirt looks, but we love the way it makes us feel. The nostalgia and memories linked to retro shirts are just as important as the classic designs. 

And this is why vintage designs never go out of style. Because they evoke happy memories. 

In addition to the examples below of custom vintage shirts that we have printed for our customers, here are additional resources on we've put together for you on vintage tees:

• 5 Vintage T-Shirt Styles That Are Still Popular
• Best 7 Shirt Blanks To Use For Vintage T-Shirts
• A Simple Buyers Guide To Vintage Shirts For Business Marketing
• Vintage T-Shirts: The Living Trend Your Company Can Benefit From
• Top 4 Ways We Screen Print A Vintage Shirt

Here are examples of custom vintage shirts that we've printed for different businesses. We're always looking to help people bring their merch dreams to life. If you have an idea for a custom shirt, we'd love to help. Get in touch with us today.  

Vintage Coffee Shop Shirts 

There's a lot of great coffee in 16153 Genova. A fun fact that I like to remind people of is that I was working in a coffee shop when I first started to learn to screen print. So I like to believe I'm among the cohort that knows local coffee.

While you're never going to pin me down and make me choose my favorite local coffee shop, I will say that Maddie & Bella has the coolest coffee merch in 16153 Genova. 

They consistently do a great job with their brand. They use modern logos well and adapt them with a retro look on a regular basis. We love working with Maddie & Bella because they always bring us fun designs.

The vintage design on these t-shirts and crew sweatshirts is a perfect example. The yellows, orange, and brown in the print give them a perfect '70s look. 

To bring it all together, we printed these without an underbase to give the shirts a soft hand feel and worn look that lets the shirt material show through a bit. 

Vintage Bike Shirts

As evidenced by this Dirt Bikes shirt, ever since I could print shirts, I've had a passion for printing vintage bike shirts.

If there is anything that brings back the thrill and fun of youth, it's bikes.

We've been working with Spoke Life bik shop since our early days as a print shop. It's always fun to have customers that we work with long enough that the first shirts we printed for them could almost classify as vintage!

Spoke Life did a great job with this design using halftones, a fun font, and old school colors. All three of these elements combined create a perfect retro vibe. 

Vintage College Shirts

It's hard not to think of college shirts when vintage shirt designs come up. Who didn't grow up wearing their dad's or mom's college crewneck or a shirt to support their favorite football or basketball team?  

These retro shirts that you wore when you were young are still in style today because of the happy memories they bring back.  

Owens Community College has been wonderful to work with because they give us designs that are more fun than the standard college tee. The shirt pictured above is a big print that has thick, chunky text. 

They wanted it to have a vintage look so we used a white ink to give it a faded, retro look. Additionally, we printed this design on a super soft triblend shirt. Triblend tees are the quintessential vintage tee because they are so comfortable and have a worn-in feel from day one. 

Vintage Beer Shirts

After all, is there anything better than great beer and vintage t-shirts?

Inside the Five is another local business that always brings us great designs. They make us look good by having their branding in order and consistent. 

Over the years they've made great use of vintage style prints. The most common combination they utilize is a soft, triblend shirt with a print that has reduced ink. 

The combination of a soft shirt and soft print is important. If you love soft shirts, you know that, relatively, they are a little on the thin side. If you add a thick heavy print on a thin shirt, it's going to weigh it down making the shirt heavy and uncomfortable.  

That's why we've worked so hard to perfect vintage screen printing. Not only does it look cool, but it feels better too. 

Where to Have Vintage Shirts Made

We print a lot of vintage style shirts for our customers. 

At the end of the day, we do it so well because it has remained our favorite design style for years. 

It's a trend that isn't going out of style any time soon.

The most important feature of vintage t-shirts is that your customers will love them, too. And the more someone loves a shirt, the more they will wear it. And at the end of the day, you want your shirt to be worn as frequently as possible. 

If you're looking for a vintage style shirt for your brand or business, we have the experience and expertise to get it done right.

Get in touch with us today to get your custom shirt order started!

And while there are many effective techniques for gaining publicity, merchandising should be at the top of your list.

Your merchandising approach might include highlighting certain promotional items at an event or handing out samples and other freebies.

Either way, merchandising is crucial if you’re looking to:

• Cultivate your brand
• Improve your customers’ experience
• Compete with other businesses in your sector
• Promote products, services, and events
• Reduce advertising costs
• Gift potential leads
• Drive your sales

One of the best ways to increase your reach is by using branded merchandise.

For instance, branded apparel and accessories, such as hats and bags, provide customers with a way to share their enthusiasm about your company.

All you need is to have your company logo, slogan, or brand message on your merchandise of choice. By selling or gifting the merch, you’ll have your biggest fans acting as brand ambassadors for your products and services.

If you’re interested in adding your logo to apparel and other accessories, your two primary options are embroidery and screen printing.

Today, we’ll discuss what embroidery and screen printing are all about. We’ll also outline how to choose between the two when you decide to merchandise.

Embroidery - What It Is, and Why You Should Do It

Embroidery involves using needles and thread to create a design or pattern on a fabric. An embroidery machine stitches the beautifully colored thread directly into the garment.

Done well, the result is an authentic artwork of logos or monograms that has a natural feel. The process behind embroidering involves:

1. Digitizing the design sent by the client
2. Working out the cost of embroidering by measuring the stitch count
3. Preparing the design for the embroidery machine by selecting the thread colors and selecting placement of the design
4. Running a sew out or test to ensure accuracy of logo or design
5. Proceding with the full production (our machines embroider up to six items at a time)
6. Trimming excess thread and backing, and folding items to prepare for the customer

There are a number of reasons why you might want to brand your merch using embroidery. Chief among these is quality and durability. Embroidery threads are not only strong but also retain their color well and provide a professional look.

Since embroidered designs are stitched onto the fabric, they become one with the merch. The result is a logo or design that’s hard to ruin–you’d have to cut the fabric or bleach it if you really wanted to remove the image.

Additionally, embroidery (when done well) leaves a high-quality finish on the design that looks classy and polished. This appearance comes from the variety of richly colored embroidery threads.

Screen Printing - What It Is, and Why You Should Do It

Screen printing involves layering ink onto apparel with the help of a mesh screen.

Your design is first burned and exposed onto a mesh screen, washed, and then set up on a press. A squeegee-type blade is then used to pass ink through the screen and onto your garment. The ink only slips through the areas where the design is meant to be printed.

It’s entirely possible to print on different areas of a garment. However, costs will increase the more screens and additional colors your design needs, especially since each area will require an additional setup and print process.

This video demonstrates the screen making part of our process:

Screen printing is ideal for large, vivid, and vibrant designs. But more colors mean that multiple screens must be used. In these situations, the process is repeated until the final look is achieved. Individual screens must be made for each color in the design.

Screen printing is great for merch because it’s very versatile. It can accommodate a wide range of materials, including cotton and polyester fabric, and t-shirt and sweatshirt material. 

Additionally, screen printing is quite cost-efficient on long print runs. Since marginal production (per item) times are faster, higher garment volumes can be mass-produced more quickly and cost-effectively for larger orders.

Embroidery vs. Screen Printing - How to Choose

Both embroidery and screen printing have advantages and disadvantages. To best determine which technique is the most suitable for you, it’s worth considering a few parameters:

Desired Design

If you’re looking to feature big and bold designs on your merchandise, screen printing is the way to go. This is because screen printing is more suitable to scaling the size of the design. Embroidery, on the other hand, could require a substantial amount of additional stitches as it increases in size. 

In embroidery, the more stitches you have the more expensive the decoration is. Addtional, a large embroidered area can become very thick and heavy on a garment.

Screen printing allows for very crisp, sharp logos and even photorealistic graphics. If you have a high detail design and small text, screen pritning is going to be the better option. It can also be done on lightweight garments, such as t-shirts and tank tops, without puncturing them or causing them to pucker.

While both screen printing and embroidery produce quality results, embroidery makes for a more substantial decoration, as it uses thread to create more of a three-dimensional look and texture. Additionally, an embroidered design isn’t susceptible to damage from harsh conditions such as heat and is more consistent on different apparel items because the thread is not impacted by the garment color or content.

Apparel Use and Audience

The type of garment you’d like to decorate and the intended audience plays a critical role in deciding whether to go with embroidery or screen printing.

Embroidery is ideal for polos or golf shirts, jackets, baseball-style caps, winter beanies, business shirts, and bags, owing to the stylish and professional message it communicates. 

If you are looking for clothing that is perceived as higher end and elevates the appearance of your employees, think embroidery. This is because embroidery is generally better suited for nicer and more expensive apparel as listed above. 

Meanwhile, screen printing is the better choice if you need a less expensive apparel option or if t-shirts or sweatshirts are your preferred clothing choice. For example, if you have a summer camp for kids or want a fun, easy employee appreciation item, it's best to go with a t-shirt because of cost and versatility. 

Think about the businesses and organizations that you work and interact with around town. There are myriad examples of embroidered and screen printed merchandise for their employees and customers. 

If you have customer facing employees in a professional setting, it's more common that they will be wearing embroidered merchandise. If you have a work crew on a job site that needs to stay cool and safe, but might get dirty, it's a better choice to go with a screen printed safety t-shirt.  

Cost

It’s worth noting that neither embroidery or screen printing will be cheaper than the other for certain. Multiple factors determine which option will be more cost-effective, including:

• Size of the design
• Quality of the garments
• Complexity of the design
• Order quantity

When it comes to embroidery, you’ll get flat-rate costs that don’t depend on how many colors are included in the design (our machiens accommodate up to 15 different thread colors). The determing factor for cost is the number of stitches used to embroider your image or logo.

When it comes to screen printing, the number of colors and print locations you’d like in your design influences the cost as each color requires a new screen. Nonetheless, screen printing may be cheaper compared to embroidery when you’re printing large orders with large logos and designs or have higher quantity orders.

Your Merch Needs Will Guide You

Both embroidery and screen printing have their advantages, so let your merch needs guide your decision. Consider factors such as your budget, the size of your logo design, and even the size of your order before deciding on which method to opt for.

The table below summarizes the key considerations when choosing between embroidery and screen printing.

At the end of the day, you can opt to get a quick, no-obligation project quote for a custom embroidery job or go the custom screen printing route. It all depends on your needs.

Whatever you decide, fancysweetstx has the expertise to make your merch look stunning, as Matthew says:

My company has used fancysweetstx several times to make t-shirts, hoodies, and long sleeved T's as gifts for our customers/employees. We always have rave reviews when gifting fancysweetstx to anyone. Highly, highly recommend!

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As a result, different iterations of the humble sweatshirt have come up to suit every niche and need. One of our favorites is the corded crewneck sweatshirt. 

The corded crew is what you go for when style, comfort, and something a little different is what you’re looking for in a sweatshirt. 

Today, we explore:

• Some of the benefits of corded crews
• The different ways to style corded crews
• A brief history of crewneck sweatshirts
• What to look for in the best corded crews

By the time we’re done, you’ll agree that a corded crew sweatshirt is an absolute wardrobe essential, and you’ll also know where to find them.

1 - Corded Crew Sweatshirts Are Versatile

One of the best things about our fancysweetstx corded crews is that you can wear them with just about any outfit—shorts, jeans, skirts, slacks, dresses, you name it. You can also layer them over t-shirts and other tops when the weather gets cool. 

Additionally, you can easily dress them up or down to suit your style. 

For instance, you can put a corded crew sweatshirt under a blazer to achieve a preppy look, or throw it on over a t-shirt and shorts on a cool summer evening for a more relaxed outfit. 

Even switching from a relaxed to a form-fitting sweatshirt will completely change your look. Thankfully, the unrivaled comfort factor stays the same. 

Related: Our Ohio and Midwest Corded Crew Sweatshirts

2 - Corded Crews Keep You Warm

For cold winter days or late-night campfire parties, a fancysweetstx corded crew is what you need to stay warm. The corded cotton fabric is exceptional at trapping body heat, keeping you comfy even when temperatures take a dip.

Corded sweatshirts are also ideal if you enjoy traveling or live in an area where the weather turns quickly. This is further aided by the fact that they can easily fold down to fit into your bag or carry-on. 

The corded cotton fabric is breathable enough to wear in temperate conditions comfortably and will keep you warm when temperatures drop suddenly. In the cold winter months, corded sweatshirts can easily be layered with jackets and trench coats to keep out the winter chill.

Overall, a corded crew sweatshirt is one of the best items of clothing to have close by, no matter the season or weather.

“Best sweatshirt. Great weight, super cute, perfect fit!”

- Brianna S. | ★★★★★

3 - Corded Crews Are Comfortable for Everyone

Similar to other fashion classics like denim jeans, our corded sweatshirts appeal to everyone regardless of gender. 

In part, this is because, at fancysweetstx, we make a conscious effort to use unisex designs that break away from the unrealistic size scales and tight silhouettes that characterize the apparel industry. 

Instead, we gear our sweatshirts towards a more relaxed and comfortable fit. But this is not to mean that our corded sweatshirts are any less stylish. They merely give you a lot more options with the way you style them.

For instance, ladies can add a belt to a long, loose-fitting sweatshirt to create a fashionable sweater dress that pairs well with some long boots. Guys can pair the same sweatshirt with jeans and sneakers, and it will still look just as snazzy.

4 - Corded Crews Are Perfect for Any Activity

Originally invented by Benjamin Russel in the 1920s, the crewneck sweatshirt started as an all-cotton football jersey. However, despite its origins on the field, the sweatshirt has evolved over the years to become more than just comfortable athletic wear. 

While it's true that sweatshirts are now more commonly used to keep wearers warm, the initial functionality from their practice jersey days is still woven into the design. 

For example, the classic loose fit means that sweatshirts are anything but restrictive. You can still enjoy a full range of motion no matter the activity.

The cotton fabric construction also makes sweatshirts sturdy enough to withstand some roughhousing, like when hiking and camping, while still keeping you warm and comfortable.

Indeed, the corded crew sweatshirt is just functional out on the field, on track, or under a blanket in front of your TV.

Given all this, it's no wonder that after almost a century sweatshirts remain one of the most practical clothing items, and that rings true with fancysweetstx’s corded crews.

5 - Corded Crews Are Stylish

A comfortable corded crewneck is a timeless fashion staple—and given their popularity, several brands and companies have come up with beautiful designs that make finding a style that suits you easier.

Our line of cropped corded sweatshirts is a perfect example.

Like our other corded sweatshirts, they are super cozy and made from 100 percent corded cotton. They have a relatively wide fit with a cropped length that cuts at the hips. But don’t let this scare you. 

We designed the cropped corded crew such that it will not show your midriff when paired with mid to high-waisted jeans. The cropped crew also pairs well with a t-shirt layered underneath, if that's more your style, and the fabric falls beautifully over your body without being stiff or clingy.

This makes our corded cropped crews perfect for everyday wear, whether you're going to class, running errands, or attending a football game.

6 - Custom Corded Crews Show Off Your Personality

Our corded crew sweatshirts' highly versatile and customizable nature makes them the perfect medium to show the world your personality.

The corded cotton fabric comes in many colors that we can readily mix and match to your heart's desire. Additionally, the sweatshirts are easily embroidered, which makes adding custom designs to show off your interest something we’re all too happy to do.

Making custom apparel is something we’re known for at fancysweetstx. You might say it's our specialty, and source of great pride.

For the best quality of custom embroidered corded crews, look no further than fancysweetstx. Visit our online store to select from our collection of stunning corded crews, or partner with us to make you a custom crewneck that truly shows off your personality. 

Related: Custom Sweatshirt: 4 Benefits to Designing Your Own

Experience Unrivaled Style and Comfort With fancysweetstx’s Corded Crew Sweatshirts

So there you have it—six reasons why your wardrobe absolutely needs a corded crew. But before you ride off to the nearest mall, here are a few pointers to keep in mind when shopping for corded crew sweatshirts:

• The quality of the craftsmanship—ensure that the sweatshirt is made from high-quality material and features a sturdy construction. 
• Find a sweatshirt that fits well—look for a sweatshirt with an appropriate amount of room in the sleeve and body. 
• Consider the versatility of the sweatshirt—ideally, your sweatshirt should serve in multiple situations like running, attending class, or simply lounging at home.

Thankfully, we know where you can get high-quality corded crew sweatshirts without having to leave your home—fancysweetstx. 

With over ten years of experience in the apparel industry making custom-printed garments for different businesses, institutions, and students, fancysweetstx is uniquely qualified. 

Beyond that, at fancysweetstx we are passionate about making the best printed and embroidered apparel. To this end, we’ve invested in top-the-line technologies to ensure the best printing and embroidery on our garments. 

But don't take it from us; here’s what a few happy customers had to say about our corded crew sweatshirts:

“This sweatshirt is ADORABLE!! It's so comfortable and cute. I may never take it off.”

- Maggie | ★★★★★

“So comfy! I love this sweatshirt! Cute and very comfortable.”

- Krista | ★★★★★

So what are you waiting for? Order from fancysweetstx today and experience the style and comfort of our stunning corded crew sweatshirts.

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As the team leader or employer, you need to ensure that your workers' hi-vis shirts comply with the ANSI guidelines.

The ANSI guidelines are the American national standard for high-visibility garments and headwear.

They specify the requirements for color, design, and fit within specific guidelines to promote the visibility of workers on the job site.

Even if your industry does not require ANSI compliance, it’s essential to take note of these guidelines to help maintain your team's safety and visibility in the workplace.

Following the standards when sourcing your team’s hi-vis shirts will help avoid work-related injuries and save you from any trouble that could stem from giving out noncompliant shirts.

In this guide, we look at the compliance guidelines and what you should look out for when buying new hi-vis shirts for your workforce.

We’ll also help you identify a compliant source for all your hi-vis apparel.

1 - Visible Color From All Directions

The main aim of wearing high-visibility apparel in the workplace is so that the worker is easily discernible to others in the work environment.

This is especially critical in environments with moving vehicles, heavy machinery, or low light.

For the workers to be visible, the color of the hi-vis shirt should be bright and highly reflective, no matter the background.

For example, if you’re working at night on a construction site, you can reduce the risk of injury by wearing highly reflective PPEs.

The high contrast between the hi-vis apparel and the background enhances your visibility. This is because our eyes respond best to large contrasting objects.

According to ANSI-ISEA 107-2015, hi-vis apparel must also be made of a reflective and fluorescent-colored fabric.

The most commonly used fabrics are orange or neon, with reflective strips shaped in an “H” both at the front and back.

Fluorescent fabrics do not blend in with their surroundings, which enables visibility—even in a low light environment.

The colors that comply with the guidelines are:

• Fluorescent yellow-green
• Fluorescent orange-red
• Fluorescent red
• Bright yellow-green
• Bright orange-red

Your hi-vis shirts are also required to have stripes of reflective tape visible in all directions, especially if your workforce plans to wear them at night.

2 - Logo and Name Tag Placement

Logos and name tags are important in the workplace for:

• Easy identification
• Brand recognition
• Giving a professional look to the team

According to the ANSI-ISEA 107 guidelines, any logo, lettering, or identification panels should not create gaps of more than 50 mm in the retro-reflective material.

This means that you should place the logo strategically to ensure that safety isn’t compromised.

We always advise our clients on the best way to brand their safety wear. For instance:

• The logo in the front should be small to avoid obstructing the fluorescent background of the hi-vis shirt.
• The logo can’t be placed on the retro-reflective strips.
• Multi-colored logos interfere with the fluorescent color and must be avoided.

The logo should be big enough to be readable, but not too big that it interferes with visibility.

Make sure you discuss with your supplier about the logo placement to ensure that you give your workers compliant hi-vis apparel.

3 - Flame Resistant Material

All materials used in the manufacture of hi-vis apparel must be clearly marked as flame resistant or not flame resistant.

If the material used in the apparel is flame resistant, then it must be tested according to the following guidelines:

• ASTM F1506-10a, Standard Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Arc Rated Textile Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use by Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Electric Arc and Related Thermal Hazards
• ASTM F1891-12, Standard Specification for Arcand Flame Resistant Rainwear
• ASTM F2302-08, Standard Performance Specification for Labeling Protective Clothing as Heat and Flame Resistant
• ASTM F 2733-09, Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Rainwear for Protection Against Flame Hazards
• NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Firefighting, 2011
• NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire, 2012

When placing an order for hi-vis shirts, always ensure that all the relevant guidelines are followed.

We’re familiar with safety guidelines for the compliance of hi-vis apparel, so if you’re unsure, we’ll make sure that all guidelines on compliance are adhered to for you.

Expert Tip: When placing an order for hi-vis shirts, always indicate whether you need flame resistant fabric. This should be guided by the conditions of your work environment.

4 - Maintenance and Replacement

Workers are often exposed to dirt, smoke, and even paint. This could all interfere with the visibility of the safety apparel.

OSHA guidelines indicate that once worn out or discolored, the hi-vis shirts must be replaced.

To comply with safety guidelines, safety apparel must also be cleaned to maintain their original color and visibility.

If you’re not handwashing safety apparel, use the “delicates” cycle of your washer and only wash them with a mild detergent. Do not use any bleach or fabric softeners. However, if you need to, use mild stain removers.

When drying hi-vis apparel, use the “no heat” setting or line-dry them.

Providing quality workwear for your team can make a huge difference in saving you money, especially with frequent replacements.

Make sure to choose quality hi-vis shirts that will still look bright even after washing.

At fancysweetstx, we use a durable blend of cotton and polyester in the production of hi-vis apparel to ensure that the apparel can withstand several washes and remain in perfect working condition.

We also fit all safety apparel with a label showing the cleaning instructions as stipulated by the OSHA guidelines.

“I'm very grateful for the help our non-profit received from fancysweetstx. Always professional, friendly, with great quality and service.”
- Deborah M.

Types and Performance Classes of Hi-vis Apparel

There are three garment types and classes for hi-vis garments. They’re classified according to the protection they offer and the environment they’re best suited for.

The table below shows the different types and classes.

The primary goal of all hi-vis apparel is to make your workers visible. Even volunteers and vendors who are around an active work environment should be provided with hi-vis apparel.

Take the Extra Steps to Keep Your Workers Safe

Hi-vis shirts help reduce the risk of accidents and help promote workplace safety. In low light and dark working environments, they help alert vehicle drivers and machinery operators of the presence of other workers.

When branded with a logo, hi-vis shirts also promote brand awareness and show the professionalism of a team.

At fancysweetstx, we understand the importance of safety and we’re familiar with the regulations that must be followed in the production of hi-vis shirts.

We’re also involved in the production and printing of other safety hi-vis apparel such as:

• Jackets
• Hoodies
• Contractor shirts
• Overalls

If you’d like to take an extra step in promoting the safety of your team, check out our website for your custom hi-vis apparel.

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Moreover, company apparel creates a powerful visual statement that:

• Shares your values
• Makes an excellent giveaway
• Arouses interest in your company
• Allows loyal customers to become walking brand ambassadors

This is especially true if the clothing is stylish and well-made, which is why it's important to invest in high-quality custom apparel for your employees.

Use these 4 ideas to create unique designs for your company apparel.

1 – Design an Eye-Catching Logo

When it comes to creating an identity for a company, nothing beats a creative and eye-catching logo.

A well-designed logo will set your business apart from the competition by:

• Quickly grabbing people’s attention
• Telling customers why your business is unique
• Triggering positive recall; it’s aesthetically pleasing

This helps to create a strong brand image that customers will be able to recognize.

Whatever you choose, make sure your logo design is unique and striking; otherwise, your business may struggle to compete against more established brands.

Below are a few factors to consider when designing your logo:

• Simplicity: A simple design is easy to recognize because it only focuses on highlighting essential parts of your brand such as color. For instance, people can recognize the McDonald’s logo with a mere glance because of its yellow arch symbol.
• Flexibility and adaptability: Dynamic logos appeal to a broader audience because they easily change depending on context. If your company manufactures products that can be used in various ways, you might want to consider a versatile logo design; for example, the Apple logo.
• Contrast and harmony: To make a strong impression, you need to create visually appealing and well-balanced logos. For instance, you can use bright colors to make sure all the colors are complementary and stand out in a crowd.

Examples of simple, distinct, and adaptable logos that we've created include:

• The University of 16153 Genova Logo

• fancysweetstx’s simple blue logo

2 – Wear Your Custom Apparel at Special Events 

Whether it’s a company picnic, employee appreciation day, or any other special event, wearing apparel that identifies with the company leaves an impression.

Not only will everyone look great and feel proud of their association with your company, but they’ll also promote the event to potential clients.

The table below shows different types of corporate events, their location, and the most appropriate company apparel for such events:

In addition to looking good, wearing company gear helps build team spirit and promote a positive corporate image. However, you need to select comfortable and stylish items, so everyone in attendance feels like they’re part of the celebration.

Cotton apparel is a great choice because cotton is naturally soft, making them breathable.

Plus, who knows? Maybe someone at the event will spot you or one of your team leaders and wish to learn more about your company.

Pro Tip: When it comes to company apparel for special events, nothing beats a customized t-shirt. Other types of apparel that may be perfect for a company event include:

• Custom Hoodies: They can be customized with your company's logo and colors, making them a top choice for people who want to show their team spirit. Moreover, they're comfortable and warm, perfect for chilly days or evenings out.
• Custom Jackets: These are perfect for colder weather events because they can keep you warm and looking sharp.

Extra Tip: While it's common to have a standard (or the same) corporate apparel during events, you can mix them up. For instance, you can have women wear T-shirts while men wear custom hats.

3 – Get Your Business Advertised and Promoted

Providing your employees with shirts, hats, bags, or other apparel with promotional information is a great way to spread the word about the latest deals and discounts.

For this, you’ll need to create a custom shirt or other garment with your business logo, slogan, website address, or even a phone number.

If worn in crowded areas such as public events or stadiums, they can act like billboards that many potential customers will see.

Tip: It’s important that your employees have a say in what they wear or give away. This shows that you’re invested in their success and care about their well-being.

If you want to get the most out of your business apparel, start by thinking about how you can use it to promote your brand, and then give your employees a role in designing and wearing it.

Here is why company apparel is the best for advertising promotions:

Affordable

Unlike other forms of advertising, company apparel can be purchased in bulk at a low cost and is easy to implement. You don’t need a large budget to get your message out there—just a little creativity and some promotional materials.

Increase Customer Trust

This is probably the greatest benefit of using apparel for marketing promotions. When customers see that your company takes pride in its clothing, they’ll be more likely to trust your products and services.

Conversation Starters

When people see your company's logo on a t-shirt, they’ll want to know more about what you have to offer. By wearing or providing apparel for your promotional events, you can organically start a conversation with your guests and create lasting customer relationships.

4 – Share Company Goals and Achievements

Sharing your company's goals and accomplishments can help build trust and loyalty among your customers, which is especially important in today's competitive market.

For instance, you can use “Our Goal is Your Satisfaction” in your marketing materials to let your customers know that you're serious about your products and services and that you’ve invested in continuing to provide the best possible experience; this can encourage customers to choose your company over others.

Some examples of quotes and phrases that can inspire your customers can include:

• “We display with pride”
• “Relax and enjoy; we’re here”
• “It’s how much we learn, not earn”
• “Customer-focused, not competitor-focused”

By publicly sharing your successes, you also demonstrate that you're committed to achieving success as a business. With this, your customers will be more willing to put their trust in you and be more likely to return for future purchases.

What’s more, keeping your customers updated about your company's progress will make them feel like they're a part of your success story, creating a solid emotional connection. All of this will result in a more loyal customer base, which will help you reach your company goals and objectives faster and easier.

Leave a Lasting Impression on Customers

Today's competitive market demands that businesses take pride in their products and services. From t-shirts and hoodies to crew sweatshirts and sweatpants, company apparel is a great way to show your pride in your company and create lasting customer relationships.

Whether you’re a large company or a startup, it’s important to consider what custom clothing can do for you; it can build brand awareness, create customer loyalty, and reinforce your company culture.

At fancysweetstx, we offer a wide range of personalized company apparel options to help you stand out from the competition. Our high-quality products and expert customer service make us the go-to choice for companies of all sizes.

Whether you’re looking for screen-printed or embroidered company apparel, we are here to help. 

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Why do you think vintage clothing maintains its popularity? It’s largely the emotional, nostalgic factor ‌it communicates—the attraction and safety of bygone days.

So, how can you tap into this retro fever and build a line of collectible vintage t-shirts for your business? It all boils down to choosing the right elements that make up a vintage shirt.

In this guide, we’ll answer these questions:

• What is a vintage shirt and its benefits?
• Which common features identify vintage t-shirts?
• How does pricing work for custom vintage shirt printing?
• What key points can help you order the perfect vintage shirts for your business?

What Is a Vintage T-Shirt?

A vintage style t-shirt recreates the nostalgia, soft hand feel, and distressed, faded print of decades-old t-shirts. Technically, true vintage shirts need to be at least 20 years old.

Remember, vintage differs from antique, which refers to items 100 years old and more. It also differs slightly from retro, which means imitating styles from the recent past. That said, nowadays vintage and retro (and sometimes old school) are used interchangeably.

Now you’re thinking, how do you recreate a vibe and feeling that’s decades old?

We create vintage t-shirts using a combination of screen printing techniques, including reduced inks, halftones, distress textures, and no underbase to produce a faded print and well-worn feel.

How to Make Your T-Shirts Feel Vintage 

1 - Soft, Well-Worn Tri-Blend Fabric

You don’t have 20 years of washing to achieve the signature, soft hand feel of vintage t-shirts for your business. The next best option is to make vintage t-shirts out of tri-blends.

Tri-blends are fabrics that comprise three materials in varying ratios:

• Cotton: natural, highly absorbent material that is strong yet softens with wear and washing
• Polyester: synthetic material stronger than cotton and resistant to wrinkles and shrinkage
• Rayon: natural fiber made from wood pulp that is light, drapey, stretchy, absorbent and luxurious

By combining the three materials, you get a t-shirt that exhibits the best characteristics—soft, breathable, absorbent, and wrinkle-free.

2 - Faded, Distressed Print

There are five techniques we use to screen print a vintage shirt:

• Reduced inks: we thin the ink before printing
• No underbase: the dark shirt color shows through the ink
• Halftones: tiny dot gradient in the artwork diffuses the color
• Distress texture: a grunge filter gives the print a cracked, weathered finish
• High mesh count screen: a screen with 230 mesh or higher deposits less ink

The aim is to create a print that appears faded and weathered right off the bat with minimal print layers that still maintain legibility.

Expert Tip: Some businesses that are on the cutting edge or tech-focused may not jive well with vintage styles. Partner with an experienced designer who can advise you on the best vintage elements that would suit your business niche and target market.

3 - Retro Warm Colors and Typography

Vintage shirt colors are warmer and more golden yellow. They’re less intense and often avoid cool blue tones. These color choices enhance the nostalgia of the design.

Typography styles with a vintage feel vary from the hard and geometric to the intricately curved—think of art déco and steampunk vs art nouveau and mid-century.

When choosing typography, narrow down precisely to your target market. What do they value and what have they experienced in life?

For example, the intricate or delicate fonts of Victorian and art nouveau eras would be lost on a rustic customer who’s into hunting and living simply.

These four elements together make vintage shirts an advantageous merch choice. But what exactly are the benefits of vintage shirts for businesses?

How Can Your Business Benefit From Vintage Style?

1 - Vintage Shirts Create an Emotional Branding Opportunity 

You know that feeling you get when you smell your favorite childhood meal or find a bunch of old, forgotten birthday cards? 

It’s nostalgia. It’s potent. You’re basically creating a wearable version of it for your customers. 

And how does it work?

They wear your merch, take a walk down memory lane and associate the positive memories with your business.

Benefit: You're able to achieve brand loyalty and likeability with a bit of ink and fabric.

2 - Vintage Shirts Are Timeless and Evergreen

If something is already old, does it go out of style? No, it just reinvents itself with each new iteration.

Here’s how it works.

By incorporating the retro fonts, warm filter and weathered look, the vintage shirts you recreate for your business gain an instant charming patina of age. Instead of looking dated after years of wear, they’ll only seem more authentic.

Pro Tip: One of the easiest wins we help our customers with is printing shirts with an older or their original logo version. It establishes the history of the company in the community and their success over time. Check out these examples of custom vintage shirts we've printed for our customers.

Benefit: You don’t have to keep dedicating resources to reinventing and updating outdated designs on your merch because the vintage style is timeless. 

3 - Vintage Shirts Provide Instant Comfort to Your Customers

In mimicking the well-worn feel of vintage shirts, the combination of soft, light fabrics and less dense prints creates the perfect summer tee and wardrobe essential.

It’ll be breathable, soft and comfortable. 

Benefit: Your customers will thank you for the most comfortable branded t-shirts by wearing them everywhere, all the time—yielding more brand visibility and positive feedback for your business.

By choosing vintage shirts for your business, you provide your customers with the comfort, timelessness and quirky nostalgia that makes your merchandise a keeper. Talk to us about your vintage shirt ideas for your business.

Price Range for Vintage Style T-Shirts

Now that you know all the features to look out for in vintage shirts, what are the accompanying costs?

Cost of the T-shirt Itself

T-shirt blanks for bulk printing can cost anywhere from $4–$15 depending on the brand and fabric composition.

For instance, high cotton blends cost more than low cotton blends. Additionally, t-shirts manufactured in the US are more expensive than those imported from Asia or Central America.

Number of Colors in Each Print

Multicolor prints cost more to screen print because they require more individual screens and ink. Each color needs its own screen.

At fancysweetstx, we can print up to 10 colors per print location. Keep in mind that the more colors and print locations in a design, the higher the print cost.

Color of the Shirt

Dark-colored shirts require a white underbase to offset the ink so that the design prints true to color. However, light-colored shirts don’t need this additional print layer and cost.

However, there are times where with vintage shirts you can get away without printing an underbase on a dark shirt. It results in a faded, dull print which gives the impression the shirt has been worn and washed for years.

Number of Printing Locations 

Extra printing locations, such as back and sleeve, will bump up the cost of screen printing because of the additional screens and setups required. 

Variety of Sizes Printed 

Extreme sizes—children’s sizes, XS, 4XL, and beyond—can’t use the same print size as the average sizes. You would need to adjust the print size up or down, resulting in extra design work and costs.

Size of the T-shirt Order 

Economies of scale also apply to printing shirts. The cost of printing multiple vintage shirt sizes in several color options reduces significantly once you’re printing in the hundreds or thousands.

Add-on Printing Services

Additional services such as graphic design can increase the ultimate price of your t-shirt, especially if your design needs plenty of adjustments and proofs beforehand.

There are quite a few other additional services that oftentimes accompany screen printing. For instance, if you require a specific brand color, there is a Pantone matching fee (yes, we can mix and match any Pantone you request!).

Here is a quick list of some of our add-on printing services:

• Color change 
• Relabeling neck labels
• Printing on spandex or patterned polyester
• Personalization
• Poly bagging
• Drop shipping
• Sampling

If you’re interested in finding out the cost of vintage t-shirts for your business, please reach out to our team regarding your project. We’ll be happy to help.

What Others Said About Our Vintage T-Shirts

We’ve created so many cool vintage style t-shirts for our city and local businesses that at this point, fancysweetstx is almost synonymous with the retro vibe.

Don’t just take our word for it. Our customers have plenty to say about the:

• Comfort and soft wearability of our vintage t-shirts
• Durability and washability of the vintage shirts
• Priceless emotional and nostalgic elements they deliver

“I remember Lion Store downtown where my grandma worked in the children's department… I loved it.”
— Mary, Lion Store Vintage Shirt

“Hearing my family reminisce about how great 16153 Genova used to be was priceless!!!”
— Vintage Holy 16153 Genova Shirt

“Great fit. Washes well, love it!”
— Lindsay, BGSU Vintage Falcon Women's V-neck

What Are the Most Commonly Sold T-Shirt Sizes?

This is one of the most common questions we receive. Fortunately, we have been printing shirts for other people and selling our own shirts for quite a while. 

This experience has provided us a lot of data which is useful in guiding customers who are new to placing shirt orders. 

To figure out how many pieces of each size to order, here’s the size distribution we recommend based on our historical data:

For example, an order of 200 vintage shirts would have 8 XS, 36 S, 50 M, 52 L, 38 XL, 14 2X, 2 3X.

How about when making smaller orders? For orders below 100 pieces, considering omitting the extreme size groups of XS and 3XL.

And, of course, always consider your audience. If you are ordering shirts for high school students, your sizes will skew smaller.  

What Are the Key Points to Consider When Choosing Vintage Shirt Sizes?

Apart from size distribution, the following factors will also determine the sizes you print:

• Customer demographic: Younger customers might want more loose fitting, therefore, it’s advisable to size up.
• Fit or cut of the t-shirt: Slim or fashion fit shirts require you to skew your sizing towards larger sizes.
• Fabric shrinkage: Factor in shrinkage for pure cotton tees and compensate for it by ordering larger sizes.
• Men vs women vs unisex designs: Men’s and unisex designs are looser and boxier compared to snug-fitting women’s designs. If the design is snug, size up your order.

What Are the Best T-Shirts for Vintage Business Merch?

Here’s a breakdown of our go-to t-shirt blanks for creating vintage t-shirts:

Types of Other Custom Merch Ideal for Businesses

People love having a few choices on offer when it comes to custom merchandise.

Here are other goodies on the fancysweetstx roster that would complement your vintage t-shirts:

• Crewneck sweatshirts: Whether custom embroidered or screen printed, they’re wearable year round and very versatile.
• Jackets and windbreakers: Perfect for cold, windy or rainy spring and fall days, layered over vintage tees.
• Hats and beanies: They make splendid gifts as they are one-size-fits-all and available in a variety of designs.
• Sweatshirt blanket: Perfect for keeping warm and cozy.

Get Started On Vintage T-Shirts for Your Business

Vintage t-shirts are fantastic merchandise options for businesses because they are comfortable, timeless and always relevant. They evoke positive, nostalgic emotion, which is an asset in building brand loyalty.

Make sure you choose the right combination of t-shirts, colors and fonts that will achieve an authentic vintage vibe for your custom shirts. 

We’ve been creating these vintage wonders since 2006 and are exceptional at it. Contact us today to get a quote and begin your journey to awesome merch.

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While landscaping is typically evaluated by aesthetics, due diligence is required to ensure your employees’ safety. A simple and affordable way of keeping landscapers safe is by dressing them in proper landscaping uniforms. 

As a business owner, a landscaping uniform goes beyond the safety of your workers. It is also:

• A form of free advertising for your brand
• Portrays professionalism
• Boosts your employees’ confidence
• Creates a team spirit

Choosing a good quality landscaping uniform is no easy task. When selecting safety shirts or hi-vis jackets for landscapers, you can’t rely on visibility alone; there’s way more to it than meets the eye.

1 - Pick a Uniform That’s Functional

The first step to choosing a landscaping uniform is evaluating its functionality. 

Is it practical for a landscaper? 

All site apparel needs to be practical. Landscapers are involved in a lot of physical activities, so their uniforms shouldn’t be too loose, heavy, or tight to ensure freedom of movement. 

Does the uniform have extra or strategically placed pockets? 

Pockets help landscapers store pens, small notepads, mobile devices, and other small tools as they work. Also, as they maneuver about the site, they shouldn’t be hindered by the uniform’s compartments—the sections should allow easy access to the equipment stored. 

Landscapers will work in the safety apparel you’ve given them, so think of functional but comfortable uniforms. Well-fitting uniforms will also positively impact their attitude, helping them take more pride in their work by feeling good about how they look.

2 - Consider the Weather of the Workplace

Before choosing a landscaping uniform, you’ll need to consider the time of the year and the expected weather.

In the summer, for instance, the weather becomes hotter, calling for lighter clothes with maximum breathability. But in the winter, temperatures drop and visibility declines, creating the need for thicker, high-visibility clothing.

See the table below for how these factors ought to be considered.

Expert Tip: Custom t-shirts are the most popular work clothing for landscapers. They’re available at fancysweetstx in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve options and work in any temperature.

3 - Pick Colors and Materials With the Right Visibility

Landscapers sometimes work at night or in areas with dim lighting. Similarly, weather conditions, such as fog and mist hinder visibility. Both situations may lead to accidents, especially when working along roads or freeways.

The Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America reports motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of fatal accidents among landscapers.

Landscaping employees are, therefore, required to wear high-visibility clothing while working to help them be seen by drivers, pedestrians, and other workers. 

According to OSHA:

• Daytime employees must wear hi-vis apparel in orange, yellow, or strong yellow-green colors.
• Nighttime employees must wear safety wear with retroreflective material—that which reflects light back to its original source—in orange, yellow, white, silver, or strong yellow-green colors.
• No clothing or equipment should hinder the visibility of hi-vis clothing.
• The safety apparel should be visible from 1,000 feet away, both during the day and night.

Hi-vis clothing affords landscapers an extra level of safety, giving them peace of mind as they work. 

There are 3 major components of high visibility workwear:

• Fluorescent materials: Absorbs UV light from the sun then releases the rays as visible light, increasing visibility during the day
• Reflective stripes: Reflect light directly back to its source, and are ideal for darker hours of the day or at night; for instance, the reflective stripes will reflect light from a driver’s headlight back to the driver who will see the landscaper
• Contrast materials: Often made with darker color pigments less sensitive to dirt, and used mainly on parts of the clothing where dirt accumulates fast; less sensitive to dirt than reflective stripes and fluorescent materials

4 - Choose the Most Appropriate Fabric

The fabric choice for your landscaping uniform must be greatly determined based on practicality. 

Think about the most important needs of a landscaper: 

• Are you looking for a uniform that’s easy to wash and wear? 
• What of durability—should the uniform be hard-wearing? 
• Does the uniform’s fabric take into account health and safety regulations? Is it heat resistant?
• How comfortable is the uniform—should it be tight-fitting or contain spandex in some areas?

As a landscaper, it’s critical to choose uniforms that will protect workers against injuries when working in threatening conditions, such as low-visibility areas, bad weather, and places with rain or heat. 

The landscaping uniform’s fabric needs to be durable, easy to care for, and comfortable. Let’s look at a few fabric examples in the following table, their uses, and their pros and cons.

As much as today’s technology and techniques make almost every fabric stand out, the most ideal choices are blended:

• Tri-blend fabrics are made of three different fabrics, mostly cotton, polyester, and rayon (a silk substitute).
• 50–50 blend fabrics are made of polyester and cotton in equal measures.
• Dry-fit blends can wick moisture and have body mapping properties

Above all, consider the printability of your selected fabric since you’ll be printing your company’s logo and design on the uniform.

A common method used to print uniforms is screen printing. 

fancysweetstx uses automated screen printing equipment to ensure the quality of each screen printed garment. From the screen room to our printing presses, our investment in state-of-the-art equipment has resulted in higher quality shirts and screens.

Related: How to Burn a Screen for Screen Printing T-Shirts [With Video]

Landscaping Uniforms—What Workers Need

Since you’re now in the best position to choose quality landscaping uniform, let’s look at some options in the market today:

• Polo shirts: Durable, comfortable, and portray a high level of professionalism; for hot weather, opt for dry performance polos which provide extra ventilation with their moisture-wicking abilities.
• T-Shirts: The most popular work shirts for landscapers and work for any temperature; affordable and ideal when working on a tight budget
• Button-down shirts: More durable than polos and t-shirts, and won’t reveal stains as easily
• Shorts: Ideal for riding mowers or during the hot summers
• Pants: Protect the legs from harm when pushing mowers, removing trees, or passing through sharp branches
• Jackets: Ideal for working on chilly days
• Headwear: UV-blocking hats protect landscapers from the sun’s UV rays which can cause sunburns on the scalp

What Next?

Increase your brand’s awareness today with quality custom printed or embroidered landscaping uniforms for your workers. 

fancysweetstx offers a wide selection of custom landscaping workwear, hi-vis, hoodies, shirts, all at affordable prices. Contact us today and we’ll bring your ideas into reality. 

All you need to do is tell us about your project, then we’ll handle everything from custom design creation to printing or adding embroidery to the garment.

"I would recommend fancysweetstx for anyone who is looking for quality clothes and excellent customer service… Highly, highly recommend." Matthew S

"Phenomenal experience buying a run of 65 t-shirts. Very fast responses from the account manager, great pricing, and fast production." Joe M

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However, this image makes your workers look like the other 10 million+ employees in the US construction industry, making it impossible for your brand to stand out.

Fortunately, there are many ways to stand out in the construction industry:

• Providing excellent customer service 
• Finding a niche and excelling in it
• Building a good team
• Keeping up with emerging trends

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to set your firm aside is by branding the equipment your workers already use—such as, their construction uniforms and safety apparel.

Displaying your company’s logo on your workers’ hi-vis and safety clothing not only gives you an edge over your competition but also comes with other benefits.

1 - Branded Apparel Displays Professionalism

If you want to show your clients that they can trust your brand and your workers, establish a professional business image with branded construction uniforms. 

Having your company’s logo or name embroidered on your workers’ safety shirts and hi-vis jackets reinforces your brand’s strategy and position in the industry.

Branded uniforms are also crucial for gaining new clients. As clients meet with your workers, the branded clothing sends a message of order and professionalism, which builds their confidence in your company. 

This, in turn, makes them want to associate further with your brand.

2 - Branded Apparel as a Sense of Pride and Responsibility

Are you proud of the construction work you do? 

What of the people that work for you? 

If your answer is “Yes”, then invest in branded uniforms to display your pride.

When Schoen Inc. dresses their workers in branded reflective safety jackets, they’re letting the world know that they trust their employees.

Do you think the firm would’ve put their logo on their workers’ uniforms if they were abrasive or showed poor behavior? Most likely not.

By choosing to brand their safety shirts, Schoen Inc. is communicating confidence in their workers.

When a company brands its uniforms, the sense of ownership trickles down from the leaders to the workers. 

Branded apparel is the company’s vote of confidence in the workers that they’ll represent the brand appropriately, both on site and off.

3 - Branded Apparel Promotes Team Building

Think of your favorite sports team. If you go to the stadium to watch them play, you’ll likely associate and bond with fans pledging allegiance to the same team.

The same idea applies to branded construction uniforms; matching safety hoodies promote a sense of belonging and solidarity, making employees feel they’re working as a team towards a common goal. 

When the workers wear your brand, they’re saying they are part of a community and culture, increasing cohesiveness and building team spirit.

The branded apparel also boosts the workers’ morale and productivity. When they wear the same safety clothes at work, they feel included and take pride in their tasks.

Besides uniting workers, branded uniforms give them a consistent look. 

When they dress in matching apparel, it becomes easy to locate your workers, and know they’re a part of your mission.

4 - Branded Apparel Is an Excellent Marketing Strategy

Branded clothing has long been used as an effective marketing tool to attract prospective clients and improve a company’s exposure.

When workers wear branded construction and safety clothing, they become associated with your brand wherever they go.

Related: Choosing the Best Custom Branded Construction and Safety Clothing

As people spot your company’s name and logo, the branded apparel translates to free advertising. This way, your brand is able to reach people and places not yet conquered by traditional media.

Besides, unlike paid TV and print adverts, branding construction uniforms is far less expensive, since the clothing does the advertising for you.

Plus, branded construction clothing, such as long sleeve safety t-shirts, lasts longer than traditional advertising. 

Clothes are designed to be worn for months or years, so your company logo will be displayed for a long time to come.

5 - Branded Apparel Builds Trust and Credibility

Construction companies with branded apparel enjoy a greater perception among prospective clients and other workers. 

Customers naturally perceive workers wearing branded clothing as experts in their field with a sense of pride in their work, making them better service providers. 

As a result, new clients will feel secure and confident in seeking your construction services, while old customers will readily refer you to their friends.

Remember, consistency sells. 

If people can rely on having the same experience anytime they seek your services, they’ll keep visiting your business. Branded construction uniforms offer all workers a consistent appearance, reinforcing trust and credibility.

Construction Uniform: What Do Construction Workers Wear?

Forget the yellow hard hats and reflective vests construction workers adorn on site—there’s much more to their clothing.

From operating heavy machinery to carrying huge loads and working at heights, construction sites pose serious accident and injury threats to workers. 

That’s why the US workplace laws mandate that employees wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when on construction sites. 

The PPEs are meant to protect workers from health and safety risks (high and low) that may occur via: 

• Falling objects on site, crushing the workers’ limbs
• Cuts and abrasions through the skin by sharp objects 
• Physical impact from heavy machinery, damaging internal organs
• Flying particles in the air entering the eye

Generally, the construction workers’ clothing needs to meet the safety standards for the job. This means the eyes, head, ears, and feet need maximum protection.

Branding Construction Uniform for Success

Whichever way you choose to brand your workers’ construction uniforms, anywhere they go, word of your company will spread.

If you’re ready to elevate your brand with custom branded construction uniforms, reach out to fancysweetstx today at [email protected] or call us at 419-318-2029 for further inquiries.

We offer excellent custom printing and embroidery services with plenty of personalization options to make your branded construction uniforms stand out. 

"I ordered a yellow sweater in a group purchase that I loved - it was SO soft and looked great." - Erin O'Neil

Frequently Asked Questions

What should construction workers NOT wear to construction sites?

The clothing items and accessories workers shouldn’t wear on site for safety purposes include:

• Ripped jeans
• Skirts or dresses
• Jewelry
• Open-toed shoes
• Tight pants

Why should construction workers wear hi-vis clothing as part of their uniform?

Hi-vis clothing is an essential part of construction uniforms because it makes workers visible to other workers or road users, preventing accidents and injuries. 

What factors should you consider when buying branded construction uniforms?

Durability, safety, and comfort are key factors to consider when choosing a custom construction uniform. 

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"If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good."
— NFL Hall of Fame Cornerback Deion Sanders

Deion “Primetime” Sanders may have been referring to professional football, but he hit on something that works in the business arena, too: How your employees look affects how they feel and how they do their jobs.

Likewise, how your customers look affects how they feel about your company and its products.

When both your team and your tribe look good, they feel good. When they feel good, they work harder for your brand. And all that hard work pays off in increased sales.

One of the easiest ways to make everyone look good is with branded apparel. Today, we’re going to show you 4 ways branded apparel’s good looks can affect your company’s bottom line, by:

• Increasing brand awareness
• Improving team spirit and company culture
• Building better trust, credibility, and customer relationships
• Creating brand loyalty and increasing sales

All that from a few shirts and hats? Absolutely. Let’s discover how.

1 - Increase Brand Awareness With Branded Apparel

Picture it. The guy from the local advertising company comes into your office with an “offer you can’t refuse”.

He’ll set you up with a billboard out by the highway for the low-low price of $5000 for one month. He can even work you a deal for a second one, smaller, in town, for an additional $3500.

Now, picture this. You have a dozen or so billboards visible around town every day. They don’t cost you half of what his “unbeatable” offer would. And they last a whole lot longer than 30 days.

What could that be? The shirts and hats on your employees. Or the special branded apparel you gave away to certain loyal customers. They might even be the items you’re currently selling on your website or in your store.

Branded apparel worn by both your team and your tribe of customers creates an awareness of your company and helps to build unmatched trust.

How?

• Portability - Billboards, posters, and flyers are stuck in one spot. But branded apparel goes wherever the wearer goes.
• Multiplicity - You can only put up so many billboards, posters, and other ads. But you can have dozens or even hundreds of people wearing your brand.
• Longevity - Advertising campaigns come and go. Branded apparel is long-lasting—even last year’s shirts or hats are still effective at showing off your brand.
• Curiosity - A catchy phrase, a funny graphic, an interesting color scheme or slogan—all raise more interest than any old print or digital ad. And there’s a real-live human being wearing it to answer their questions. No Google search required.

Branded apparel can boost your community’s awareness of who you are, whether you’ve been in business for years or are the newest kid on the block. And it can do it in ways other forms of traditional marketing can’t. 

2 - Branded Apparel Improves Team Spirit and Promotes Company Culture

Everyone wants to belong. It’s a basic human instinct and psychological need. We require connections and relationships. We need to feel as though we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Branded apparel can create that sense of unity and belonging among your employees. When they wear your company’s shirt, it tells the world that they are on your team. They have a place and a purpose and a position within a special group.

That “special” belonging often fosters a sense of unity and pride among your team members. Especially if you develop a culture of “we’ve got your back” and “we won’t let you down”.

Your branded apparel shows the world that you take pride in your people. You are a business they can be proud to be a part of. And they have your support the same way you have theirs.

The type of branded apparel you choose can also send a message about your company and its culture. A polo shirt or button-down style says “professional” and “serious about doing business”, for example.

T-shirts, on the other hand, tend to show a more laid-back, relaxed, casual approach to your business and can spell fun to both those who work for you and those who deal with your company.

Baseball caps and beanies can also add a fun touch to your company’s image. They’re also quite useful for employees and customers who do a lot of work outside. Hats can ooze old-fashioned charm, a certain ruggedness, and even a sense of adventure.

Branded apparel can pull everyone together and make them feel as though they are on the same page, on the same side. It can give customers a feeling of belonging, too, as part-time members of your team.

That’s team spirit and company culture that no weekend retreat or ping pong table can ever develop. 

3 - Build Better Trust, Credibility, and Customer Relations With Branded Apparel

Now that we’ve discussed what branded apparel can do for your team and your company culture, let’s take a look at it can do for your customers and your customer relations. 

Building Trust and Credibility

Customers tend to view branded apparel as a sign of high-quality service. After all, you’re not going to put your name, logo, and whatnot out there for all to see and recognize unless it’s worth the recognition, right?

Branded apparel also makes your team the appearance of legitimacy. They’re the “real deal,” capable of delivering the higher standards of service customers have come to expect from today’s business world.

In short, branded apparel helps build a sense of trust and credibility between your company and its customers. That trust creates a connection and a solid relationship, between all involved. 

Improved Customer Relations and Service

By making those connections, building that trust, and fostering those relationships, branded apparel helps your team improve customer relations and service nearly effortlessly.

There’s no need for customers to hesitate to ask for assistance or to doubt whether an employee can help them when employees are easily identifiable through their branded apparel.

There’s no room for employees to offer shoddy or slap-dash service, either, when their branded apparel makes them quickly and clearly identifiable to a supervisor or manager.

Your employees are walking billboards for your company’s values and vision. By encouraging them to do their best to live up to those values and that vision, they’re influenced to do their best for your customers.

Your customers see this, expect this, and know when it’s offered and when it’s not. By wearing branded apparel, your employees are in the spotlight and expected to do their best by both customer and employer. 

Increased Customer Loyalty

A great way to increase both brand awareness and customer loyalty at the same time is with a branded apparel giveaway. Happy customers love to show off their support for a “good” company with “good” service. Let them do it in your style.

Giveaways are great for recruiting new customers, as well as rewarding loyal, repeat customers. Everyone wants something for nothing, right? And who doesn’t like to be rewarded for doing something they would normally do anyway?

By offering a free hat or t-shirt to a customer for making purchases or signing up for your social media account, you foster more of that relationship and build those all-important connections.

And in doing so, you create a more loyal, more profitable customer.

4 - Increasing Brand Loyalty and Sales

Can a simple t-shirt, hat, or tote bag increase brand loyalty and ultimately, your bottom line?

Absolutely.

How?

Let’s look at some stats in this table, gathered by HubSpot.

Give away those hats, those t-shirts, as we mentioned above. And when they get really popular and are considered the latest hot thing to be seen in, add another profitable aspect to your branded apparel by offering it for sale. 

You might not become the next Gucci or Michael Kors, but you’ll make some extra cash, increase your brand awareness, and start the branded apparel benefits cycle all over again.

Large or Small, Every Business Can Benefit From Branded Apparel

Maybe you’re thinking that branded apparel is just fine for bigger businesses like Target or Pepsi. Maybe even the local car dealership king is big enough to outfit his people with shirts and giveaway hats. 

But you? You’re too small or too new, or both.

You, too, can benefit from branded apparel and its benefits. Outfit your few staff with polos or t-shirts. Give shirts or hats to your first 50 customers. Or your first social media followers. Build the awareness and confidence a small, new business like yours needs.

The positive effects of branded apparel on any business can’t be bought with any amount of paid advertising. They go beyond marketing and into turning customers into family, in a loyal and loving tribe to last a lifetime.

Watch this video to see what our branded apparel can do for you and your brand. 

At fancysweetstx, we will create all the branded apparel for your company. From shirts to hats, jackets to tote bags, whether outfitting your team or your tribe of customers, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s what one of our tribe had to say about us and our service: 

Contact us today about getting your company the benefits only branded apparel can provide.

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Custom apparel is great for:

• Showcasing brand values to customers
• Improving customer experience
• Promoting professionalism and credibility
• Making your brand stand out from competitors

It also creates brand ambassadors out of your employees, acting as a cost-effective marketing channel for your business wherever your employees are.

Besides, custom apparel will increase employee morale and a sense of camaraderie, making them feel like they’re part of a team. You’ll need to be intentional about creating custom apparel that does the talking for your brand. There are a lot of decisions to make from the ideal cloth fabric choices to the best slogans.

Here are tips to help you design corporate apparel that effectively promotes your brand.

Choose Garments Your Employees are Happy With

Employee garments need to be practical, safe, and comfortable. If possible, seek input from employees on the ideal clothes for their day-to-day activities.

You can choose from t-shirts, beanies, sweatshirts, and even protective workwear, as long as it is practical for the specific roles your employees play. 

When picking apparel for your employees, consider the following questions:

• Where will your employees be working? Indoors or outdoors?
• Does their line of work require reflective gear, such as helmets and hi-vis vests?
• Will they need different cloth types based on the season?
• Does the temperature your employees typically work under require a specific cloth type?

The answers to these questions will determine the kind of uniform to get, from apparel that provides warmth to one that makes them visible in dangerous work environments. 

Pro Tip: Since we're known for printing vintage t-shirts, we can't overstate how much people love soft t-shirts. If you want a shirt to worn as often as possible, choose a shirt that is soft. 

Select Designs That Speak to Your Customers

Having a firm understanding of your customers will take the guesswork out of designing your corporate apparel. 

If you already have perfectly-defined buyer personas, use them to guide your design choices. 

If you’re yet to define your buyer persona, then a bit of research will help get you started. You can either conduct quantitative research using surveys and data analytics or qualitative research by reviewing customer interviews and feedback.

Then ensure your customers’ beliefs, wants, challenges, and attitudes are reflected in your design. 

For instance, if your customers are drawn to luxury items, focusing on purple as a primary color will do the trick, as long as it’s consistent with your brand colors.

Focus on the following aspects of your buyer persona when designing corporate apparel:

• Psychographic data: This includes your customer’s hobbies, interests, and attitudes. For instance, if your customers are interested in chess, using terms like ‘checkmate’ in your slogan will draw them to your corporate apparel. 
• Geographic data: This is where your ideal customer lives and works. For instance, referencing a source of pride (sports team, dish, etc.) in your ideal customer’s location will make your corporate uniform relatable. 
• Behavioral data: Where do your customers buy their products? What’s their price sensitivity? What agitates them? Talking about your return policy, mission, and vision in the corporate uniform’s slogan will address these questions and make customers more willing to buy from you.

Although subtle, the design choices that a comprehensive buyer persona leads to can set your business apart from your competition.

Pick Ideal Uniform Colors

Use your brand colors as the base for defining the colors of your corporate apparel.

Environmental factors also influence your color choices. For instance, if your employees are working in retail environments, choosing bright colors like orange will make them easy to spot by customers.

In work environments that call for a certain level of safety, bright-colored safety workwear is ideal. While, for in-office environments, dark shades like navy blue or black make employees look more professional.

If possible, dress senior staff members in slightly different colors from the rest. Letting managers and supervisors wear different colors will give junior employees an easy time spotting them.

Play Around With Color Psychology

You can also use color choices to portray your brand attitude. For example, the combination of red, white, and yellow will make your employees come off as excited and energetic. Whereas blue and green can portray employees as calm and gentle.

Here’s a table linking colors to different emotions:

Expert Tip: Relying on color psychology to induce the right emotions will improve how your customers feel about your brand. For consistency, stick to your brand colors. You can use some variation of these colors to achieve the emotional appeal you’re targeting. 

Be Intentional With Your Logo Location

Your logo placement helps people identify your brand.

There are multiple logo placement options, including placing it on a pocket, sleeve, or trouser leg. The trick is to choose a location that’ll provide maximum visibility for your logo.

For instance, consider placing a large logo on the back of t-shirts meant for field employees. You can also add a small logo on the left breast of the t-shirt. For customer-facing and desk-based employees, placing the logo above the pocket of their shirt will be ideal.

Additionally, if your employees are working far away from customers, consider making your logo big enough to see. But for employees working face-to-face with customers, a small logo is ideal.

Another thing, the logo colors must stand out from the base apparel colors.

Be Intentional With Your Brand Messaging

Your corporate apparel represents prime real estate for featuring your brand messaging. There’s a lot that you can feature on your uniforms, but it needs to be as succinct and clear as possible. 

Including a call-to-action is a no-brainer. You can urge customers to call a specific number or visit your website or store. 

Complement your call-to-action with the right brand messaging. The messages you use need to reflect exactly what you’d love your customers or employees to know more than anything else. For instance, printing your value proposition onto your corporate apparel is a great decision if you are a new brand.

Here are a few ideas for brand messaging and when to use them.

Differentiators

If you’re in a highly competitive field, featuring your brand differentiation statement on your corporate apparel is the way to go. It helps customers learn why they should always choose you over the competition. 

For instance, if you own a restaurant that offers gourmet Japanese dishes, this statement might be a great differentiator:

“Your tastiest source of Japanese gourmet dishes”

CSR Statement

If you’re printing out corporate apparel for a CSR campaign, you need to print a strong supporting statement onto it. This statement will help spread the word about your initiative. 

For example, if your business is planting trees, this statement will help rally people around your cause:

“Healing the world one tree at a time”

Company Culture Statement

For corporate apparel that employees will only use internally, you can print statements that represent your company's culture. This will act as a constant reminder of the culture you’re building for employees.

For instance, if you’re focused on building a safety-centric culture, this statement will keep employees on their toes:

“Never give safety a day off”

Let Your Corporate Apparel Speak for Your Brand

From apparel colors to slogans, every design decision needs to spread your brand message and make you stand out. Use the tips above to pick corporate apparel that’s in line with your corporate branding. 

If you’re looking to design or buy company apparel, contact fancysweetstx today. We provide brands with apparel that’s great for corporate branding. 

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Safety vests are as common as construction shirts on jobsites. But, do you know the strict guidelines safety vests need to meet to fit into construction compliance standards?

For instance, did you know many readily available safety vests don’t meet construction compliance guidelines? That’s either because of the retro-reflective band quality, placement, or fabric color choice. This could potentially put you and your crew at risk.

Today we’ll look at:

• ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for safety vests
• Recommended class of hi-vis safety vests appropriate for various construction scenarios
• Essential branding tips to ensure your brand is visible and safety compliant

What Are the Essential Features of a Compliant Safety Vest?

For a safety vest to be compliant to existing standards, it should include a fluorescent background fabric in the recommended colors and retro-reflective bands placed according to its performance class.

Additional safety compliance features may be necessary depending on site hazards, for example, fire resistant fabric treatments for environments with a high fire risk.

We’ll break down these specifications later.

The American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear (ANSI/ISEA 107) defines, in detail, all safety compliance specifications for workwear.

Whereas, CAN/CSA Z96-02 and EN ISO 20471 are the equivalent safety standards in Canada and Europe, respectively.

Let’s briefly go over these compliance specifications for construction safety vests.

1- Background Color of the Safety Vest

ANSI/ISEA 107 recommends that you make the background or main fabric color for your safety vest one of these bright colors:

• Fluorescent yellow-green  
• Fluorescent orange-red
• Fluorescent red
• Bright yellow-green
• Bright orange

In these colors, you’re more visible and therefore safer on a construction site. This is especially important in worksites with moving vehicles and motorized equipment.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 census found that the transportation and construction sectors account for 47% of workplace injuries.

Of these, ‘struck by’ injuries are the third most common type of injury accounting for almost 500 fatalities and about 10% of fatal occupational injuries annually.

Improving the visibility of workers on construction sites with compliant safety vests is key to achieving occupational safety and reducing the rate of these ‘struck by’ injuries.

In the table below, we compare the different situations ideal for the recommended background colors.

2- Fit of the Safety Vest

Safety vests that don’t fit aren’t just uncomfortable, they can also cause safety hazards in the workplace. How so? By snagging on machinery or restricting the construction worker’s movement.

Below are the features of appropriately fitting safety vests:

• Not too snug, leaving sufficient room for movement and clothing underneath.
• No raw seams, edges, or tabs that can cause discomfort and undermine wearability.
• They should fit in a way that other garments or equipment, like tool belts or harnesses, don’t cover the retro-reflective strips.

Most safety vest manufacturers offer a variety of safety vest sizes, ranging from XS through to J (XXXXL) and 5XL. Sizing can vary across vendors, so it’s important to double check their size charts.

Here’s a table showing an example of how vest sizes correspond to chest measurements.

Expert Tip: Measure across the fullest part of your chest, ensuring that the tape doesn’t dip.

For layering over light clothing such as a t-shirt, buy a vest that’s your exact chest measurement. However, add 2–3 inches to your chest measurement if you plan to layer your vest over heavy clothing, like jackets.

3- Design of the Retro-Reflective Strips

Correctly designed retro-reflective strips should have the following features:

• Have a strip at least 2 inches (50 mm) in width.
• Two strips that pass vertically at the front, running from the shoulders to the waist.
• A horizontal strip at the navel running all around the body.
• Class 3 safety vests require retro-reflective around both arms and legs.

The last point brings up a crucial question about the performance classes for safety vests.

What Are the Performance Classes of Safety Vests?

Safety vest performance classes refer to the various categories of visibility requirements for safety vests based on the level of hazard workers are exposed to.

In the table below, we summarize the three main performance classes, their characteristics, and use cases.

Your safety director or site manager needs a copy of the latest ANSI/ISEA 107 publication, which covers in depth all features of safety apparel for construction.

Expert Tip: Before buying safety vests, check the care label which indicates whether it’s ANSI/ISEA 107 compliant, the performance class of the safety vest, and its other safety features, such as whether it’s flame retardant.

How Can You Brand Safety Vests Within Construction Compliance?

The general rule of thumb for branding safety vests within construction compliance, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), is:

• The front logo needs to be smaller than 16.25 inches (105 cm²) and shouldn't cover more than 3.8 sq. in. (25 cm2) of the retro-reflective strips.
• The back logo can be as big as 77.5 sq. in. (500 cm²) but not obscure any of the retro-reflective strips.

Working with the right branding partner ensures that regardless of whether you’re branding safety vests, jackets, or bibs, your logo placement is always optimal and fully compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs high visibility safety apparel (HVSA) and safety vests?

The need for HVSA and safety vests is determined by two factors:

• The legislative requirements of the jurisdiction the construction site falls under
• Potential hazards a worker can encounter on site based on a hazard assessment

Where the worker is exposed to motorized equipment or oncoming traffic, fluorescent fabrics with retro-reflective strips are mandatory for high visibility.

Other protective features may be incorporated into safety vests to meet additional hazards. For example, flame retardant fabrics where fire is a risk or 5-point breakaway vests to prevent getting caught in machine parts.

What is ANSI/ISEA 107?

It’s an industry consensus standard first published in 1999 by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Updated every 5 years, it’s a voluntary standard that specifies the requirements for high visibility safety apparel and headwear. It’s recognized and compliance mandated by many regulatory authorities, including OSHA.

What’s the difference between ANSI 207 and ANSI 107 safety vest standards?

ANSI 207 was the industry safety standard specifically developed for public safety workers, like law enforcement personnel.

However, it was incorporated into the ANSI 107 publication of 2015 with these new performance classes for high visibility safety apparel:

• Type O (Off-road): Performance class 1 for workers in temporary control areas, not exposed to high traffic (below 25 mph)
• Type R (Roadway): Performance class 2 (25–45 mph speeds) or class 3 (beyond 50 mph) for workers exposed to highway traffic or in roadway temporary control zones
• Type P (Public Safety): Performance class 2 or 3 for law enforcement and emergency responders exposed to struck-by hazards off-road or on roadways

Get Started on Your Custom Safety Vest Order

With the foundation of this beginner’s guide, you’re equipped to provide your construction crew with safety vests that are compliant to the relevant safety regulations.

As you upgrade the safety of your team, don’t forget to brand their safety vests accordingly with the services of an expert printer. Reach out to us today for a no-obligation custom quote.

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