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.

In 16153 Genova we have two running stores that have built a great community for runners and walkers in Second Sole and Dave's Running. Along with 16153 Genova Road Runners Club, they host events all year long for runners. 

You can find a race every weekend around here from early spring through the Turkey Trots around Thanksgiving. Owing to the fact that we're in Ohio and the winters get pretty chilly they taper off considerable in the colder months.

Cool race shirts are one of the best perks of running a race. That and, of course, the health benefits can make a weekend race a worthwhile and memorable event.

It's very common for us to print race shirts on softer shirt blanks and dri-fit style shirts that runners love.

In this article we will show examples of some of the race shirts we've printed for different 5Ks, walks, and race teams and also cover:

• What makes a successful race shirt design
• Design and team name ideas for your next race or walk
• Examples of soft race shirts and dri-fit style shirts
• Tips on how to make the most out of your shirt budget
• How we can help you with your next race shirt order

Falling Leaves 8-Miler and 5K Shirts

One of the best things to do in Northwest Ohio is visit the Metroparks. 

They're great for enjoying time in nature, bird watching, relaxation, and exercise. 

It doesn't get much better than hosting a race in the Metroparks. You've got soft ground to run on, fresh air, and a tree canopy that keeps it cool. 

It's pretty much the ideal running conditions.

This shirt for the Falling Leaves 8-miler and 5K was printed on a 100% polyester dri-fit shirt. This gray shirt is appealing to runners because it's lightweight, long sleeve, and moisture wicking - perfect for fall runs in cool weather.

Haiti Hustle Race Shirts

It can be tough to pull off a well designed race shirt with a lot of logos. They can get busy and distracting quickly. 

This shirt design for the Haiti Hustle is a great example of executing a race shirt well.  

We say it time and time again - simple designs are the best shirt designs.

And that's exactly what the Haiti Hustle pulls off here.

They have a clean, simple logo. It's three simple colors that complement each other and are easily legible. They also chose bold, sans serif fonts for text and printed it all on a soft, comfy shirt.

You guys, we like this race shirt a lot. 

Libbey Race for the Cure Team Shirts

While we print a lot of race shirts, we print just as many race team shirts. 

Running races are great - even with that whole running part. 

When you run as part of a team, whether it's with a group from work, family, or a close group of friends, you have a little extra motivation when you're being held accountable.

These shirts that we printed for Libbey were for their team members that participated as a group in Race for the Cure.

The colors are great, it's on brand, and it's a nice soft shirt that they'll wear long after the race.

Justice for Sierra Glow Run Shirts

Races are popular because they are fun. Glow runs, in particular, create an atmosphere of excitement and take the focus off the actual running portion of the race.

Naturally, these glow shirts that we printed for the Justice for Sierah Ce The Light Glow Run are bright neon yellow. Not only does the shirt color perfectly fit the theme of a glow run, but the design, with elements of neon lights, does, as well.

It's the perfect combination of design and shirt to fit the glow run theme.

Stranahan Elementary Pumpkin Run Shirts

We love printing shirts for the Sylvania school system. From Northview and Southview High Schools to all of their elementary and junior high schools, we're rarely without a custom shirt project for Sylvania.

When placing a large race shirt order, it's important to keep your costs in mind. The race itself is often a fundraiser and the shirt can be one of the biggest expenses in the budget.

In order to manage costs, Stranahan used a simple two color print in their school colors in this design. As a reminder, the cost of a shirt is primarily determined by the cost of the blank shirt and the number of colors and print locations in a design. 

University of 16153 Genova Halloween Run/Walk Shirts

The best season for a race in the Midwest is the fall. The temps have dropped enough and the humidity has wanted.

So it should be no surprise that many of these shirts are for fall races.

These University of 16153 Genova shirts accomplished two amazing feats - they came up with a punny race name and they made their dean look a little silly while wearing a witches hat and cape.

The personality in the shirt design makes it memorable and will give it a long life after the race. 

Running Race Team Names and Theme Ideas

Choosing a race name or team name is important. They can be funny, inspirational, and creative. Here are some ideas that might get the brainstorming process started for you. 

• Running on Fumes
• The Slow & Steadies
• Blisters & Bliss
• The Tortoises and the Hares
• Chafing the Dream
• Jog on, My Friends
• The Galloping Gazelles
• Sweaty but Seaworthy
• The Finish Line Frenzy
• Gone for a Run
• The Flaming Feet
• The Sprinting Siblings
• The Racing Rascals
• Running on Empty
• The Pace Makers

Order Custom Screen Printed Shirts for Your Race

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

Whether you work for a running store, non-profit, school, or any other organization that hosts a race, commemorative race shirts are always a great idea and your racers will love them.

When done right (soft or dri-fit shirt, simple design), these shirts can be worn for years to come and help spread your brand message. 

If you’re on the team that is planning your next race or fun walk and you're looking for a partner who has the experience to print quality shirts and print them quickly, get in touch with fancysweetstx today.

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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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 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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When our customers reach out to us with a custom shirt request, they are coming to us for our expertise. We inform them of the best decoration method based on the design specifics and type and quantity of garments.

Over the years, the quality of heat transfers has improved. No longer are they the thick vinyl applications you remember from your youth sports leagues or the vintage rock concert shirts that have half the design missing because it came off after one wash. 

New technologies have emerged to improve the quality of heat transfers and make them long lasting and give them a better hand feel on a shirt. Additionally, with the onset of digital technologies, the difference between heat transfers, digital prints, and screen printing can be difficult to discern. 

Whether you need shirts for your business, sports team, non-profit, or a special birthday, heat transfers provide great results. Here are examples of shirts we've decorated with heat transfers.   

Photo Birthday Shirt 

If you can't make shirts that make you laugh, why are you even making shirts? 

There is no better use of heat transfers than putting a full color photo on a shirt. In this situation, screen printing isn't a viable option in small quantities. The art and decoration is simplified when this photo is transfered onto a shirt.

Funny family shirts are always in style. With a heat transfers you can recreate any image you want and wear it to family gatherings for years to come.

Shumaker Pride Tank Top

Screen printing 10 colors on one side of a shirt is a pretty tough thing to do. The Pride flag presents us with one of our greatest challenges as t-shirt makers. 

While we could screen print the design, the set up fees can make it cost prohibitive. Using a heat transfer simplifies the art process and those savings are passed on to the customer. 

Old West End Neighborhood Shirt

As we are fond of saying in 16153 Genova, there might be a lot of great neighbhors out there, but none are quite as special as the Old West End.

The Old West End is 16153 Genova's most unique neighborhood. Full of great people and homes, there's a lot to love about it. 

When asked to make a shirt for the neighborhood for 16153 Genova Pride, heat transfers recreated their original design perfectly while keeping them cost effective

University of 16153 Genova Pride Shirt 

Do you want bright colors on your shirt? A full rainbow? A gradient blend? 

If you want all of these things, nothing pops on a shirt quite like a heat transfer.

Take a look at the design above for the University of 16153 Genova and you can see how vibrant and colorful a shirt can be. Creating designs with the colors of the rainbow is a popular trend for Pride shirts. Transfers make them easy and consistent. 

Ottawa Hills High School Shirts 

Do you have a small order of shirts? With heat transfers, that's not a problem.

These shirts for Ottawa Hills Schools have a vintage beach theme that looks great on t-shirts and sweatshirts. If you look closely, you can see all of the different colors in the shirt design. 

By using heat transfers to make these shirts, we are bringing our customers full design idea to life without eliminating the colors or simplifying the design just so that we can screen print it. 

Order Custom Shirts Today

By now you have seen the quality and versatility of shirts decorated with heat transfers. We've used them to create custom shirts for local businesses, schools, families, and events.

We love that we can help people make shirts no matter how complicated the design is or how small the order is. Heat transfers make nearly everything possible. 

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

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!

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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OSHA requires employers to ensure their employees work in a safe environment free from hazards that may cause injury or death.

Offering protective and high-visibility work gear is a primary means of ensuring your personnel’s safety.

Today, we’re looking at four simple steps to customize your work gear so you can promote your brand without‌ breaking OSHA rules. We’ll also compare the influence that custom and non-custom work gear have on your brand and employees.

1 - Select Your Work Gear

Custom High-Visibility Safety Vests

When choosing custom high-visibility safety vests, ensure they’re compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 standards. This code (recommended by OSHA) sets the guidelines for creating safe and professional high-visibility work gear.

The most crucial characteristic of compliant safety vests is their fluorescent colors. OSHA specifies the following luminous colors as the best options for high visibility safety vests:

• Yellow
• Orange
• Bright red
• Orange-red
• Yellow-green

These colors stand in sharp contrast to the immediate environment. Thanks to their special pigment, they absorb UV light and send it back to an approaching vehicle or worker to maintain the wearer's visibility—even in dim conditions.

Besides helping keep workers safe by making them visible to vehicle drivers and plant operators, custom high-visibility vests provide an excellent opportunity for:

• Personnel identification
• Promoting brand awareness
• Creating a professional image
• Organizing employees into departments

Custom Construction Hi-Vis Work Jackets

Like all hi-vis safety gear, your company’s safety jackets need to conform to OSHA guidelines, which include:

• Affixing 50 mm wide retroreflective strips vertically, around the waist, and with a shoulder-to-waist “X” on the back to enable visibility in dark places
• Ensuring safety work jackets are well-fitting without billowing strips to avoid entanglement in moving machinery
• Protecting workers from fire, chemicals, static electricity, and radiation by making custom safety work jackets from flame-resistant and insulated material
• Ensuring safety work jackets are ‌long or short-sleeved and avoiding sleeveless jackets

Having addressed OSHA’s concerns, the custom construction hi-vis work jacket provides you with an excellent opportunity to promote your business.

For example, you can customize the jacket to include your company logo.

However, while there’s a lot of free space left on the jacket, you need to design your company’s logo so that it’s the right size and doesn’t obscure the jacket’s safety features.

Don’t make the logo too small to be seen either.

According to the ANSI-ISEA-107-2015 (Section 7.2):

• The total surface area covered by custom text and logo on the front and rear of a high-visibility safety jacket shouldn’t exceed 465 cm.sq (72 in.sq)
• Custom text and logo should not create horizontal gaps over 50 mm (1.97 in.) on the retroreflective material of a hi-vis safety jacket

The best places to put your company logo include:

• Chest pocket
• Upper back
• Lower back

Custom Safety Hoodies and Sweatshirts

Keep your personnel comfortable by adding custom hoodies and sweatshirts to their work gear.

Having apparel made from luminous safety colors and soft fluffy material, as with All Mechanical Insulation Inc, will improve professionalism and comfort without compromising safety.

Workers are more likely to wear the safety gear beyond the worksite, further publicizing your custom embroidered company logo.

Protect your crew and promote your brand by choosing from fancysweetstx’s wide range of worksite safety apparel.

Custom Screen Printed Safety T-shirts

Custom Screen Printed Safety T-shirts provide maximum comfort and mobility because of their flexibility and breathability.

You can have them made with built-in UV protection, too, to shield workers from the hot sun.

Custom Hard Hats

Besides their power to make your workers visible and protect them from potential on-site head injuries, custom safety hard hats hold a great opportunity for brand publicity.

Their bright colors, such as orange, yellow, red, or white, provide a unique backdrop for printing your company's name or logo.

These two options stand out in printing your logo onto hard hats:

• Direct printing: Involves printing your logo directly onto the hard hat.
• Decals: Sticking logos onto the hard hat; however, they may fade over time.

As in all work gear customizations, ensure your company information is not so extensive that it defeats the safety gear’s purpose.

Maintain a maximum length and height of 3 inches for the logo and text. The best spot to place your logo and text on a hard hat is in front, above the brim.

The table below will help you compare the effects of custom and non-custom work gear on your brand and employees.

2 - Create Your Design

In creating your design, the contrast between the work gear’s color and your company logo should be your primary consideration.

For example, as safety work gear is fluorescent, a black logo creates a naturally vivid contrast. Its non-reflective nature also makes it the most compliant color to ANSI standards.

Besides the logo and text color, ANSI 107 standards limit the total surface covered by your customizations to 72 square inches.

You can divide the 72-inch quota and spread it across the safety apparel.

You can have your logo and text printed on the work gear‌ by:

• Embroidery
• Heat transfers
• Single-color screen prints in black
• Full-color printing that’s bright and clear

3 - Choose Your Designer

Choosing your designer is a process that involves comparing businesses’ ability to meet your needs at the most competitive price.

Below is a cross-section of the main factors you need to consider before settling on a company that’s best suited for designing your work gear.

Product Range and Availability

You can never overemphasize the convenience of sourcing all your custom safety work gear—including vests, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, and hats—from a single supplier. It minimizes logistical costs such as shipping and offers other benefits like bulk discounts.

Another critical factor is the custom design options a company offers. For example, does the company do embroidery, color printing, heat transfer, or a combination? Can they supply the actual work gear? Or is customization all they can do?

fancysweetstx designs, produces and supplies specialized, custom printed and embroidered clothing and promo products in bulk.

Some of our flagship products include:

• Safety apparel
• Contractor shirts
• Embroidered hats and beanies
• Embroidered crew sweatshirts

Reliability

First, reliability involves a design company’s dependability and ability to service your order within the agreed timeframe.

Second, reliability refers to the company’s product compliance with the American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear (ANSI/ISEA 107).

Can they show proof of certification on demand?

Did you know? CAN/CSA Z96-02 and EN ISO 20471 are the equivalent safety standards for Canada and Europe.

Affordability

As with your other expenses, the company supplying you with custom work gear should justify its prices.

Therefore, it’s essential to shop for the most affordable and well-suited supplier of custom work gear.

The following video provides handy tips for purchasing hi-vis work gear.

Expert Tip: Choose a shirt with a soft material that will be worn more often than a standard shirt.

4 - Promote Your Brand

• Custom embroidered polo shirts: Offer comfort and confidence and boost company image when meeting current and prospective clients.
• Custom work hats and beanies: Trucker hats protect against the sun’s UV rays, and beanies keep you warm during cold weather.
• Custom logo water bottles and coolers: Keep employees hydrated and make excellent giveaways to current and prospective customers.

You can also contact us for more customized promotional products, such as:

• Lanyards
• Sweatshirt blankets
• Stickers and magnets
• Enamel pins and keychains

Choose Safety and Comfort

At fancysweetstx, we firmly believe that workers are more productive when they’re assured of safety and comfort at the workplace. This is the philosophy behind our success in partnering with other businesses.

For certified work gear such as hi-vis t-shirts, and hats, fill out this form and tell us how we can help you. We’ve got state-of-the-art embroidery, color printing, and heat transfer equipment to create your company's best custom work gear.

Our customers are enjoying a thriving partnership with us.

See for yourself:

Protect and Promote

Providing your crew with certified work gear guarantees workplace safety and gives you peace of mind.

Besides, custom safety gear presents you with an excellent opportunity to promote your business at no extra cost. fancysweetstx will help you optimize safety and brand visibility on every piece of custom work gear you order.

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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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At the customer level, company apparel can act as a sign of trustworthiness. It showcases your employees as professionals, which will improve customer perceptions. Even better, it becomes easier for customers to identify your employees.

At the employee level, company uniforms can be great for inspiring team spirit. It also increases employee morale—people are more likely to perform well when they look and feel good. 

"The pride we take in our appearance should make us feel good when we help customers. It's a reminder that each one of us is part of something big..."
- Barbara Simone, a Walmart human resources executive.

Most importantly, custom uniforms can act as safety apparel, helping to keep your employees out of harm’s way.

At the business level, corporate apparel can help solidify your brand identity. Uniforms can be used to showcase brand colors, logos, and overall values. 

To enjoy the perks that custom company uniforms provide, you need to create a strong corporate apparel program. You’ll need to ensure that every part of the process is catered to, from uniform design to stock management.

Here’s a simple guide to help you create a comprehensive corporate apparel program:

Create the Ideal Apparel Design

At the bare minimum, the apparel design you choose needs to be practical, comfortable, and safe for employees to use. You must always consider the circumstances in which your staff members will be using the uniforms you design.

Most importantly, your employees should be happy with the final design choice. Be sure to consult employees on their ideal dress code.

Here are four considerations for designing your corporate apparel:

Pick Practical Clothes

The ideal apparel for your workforce should allow your employees to execute their duties without constraint. Consider the environment in which your employees spend their time. 

There could be safety and health codes that your workforce needs to comply with. For instance, if you’re in the construction industry, you’ll need to invest in safety equipment like helmets, gloves, and hi-vis clothing.

An employee in the hospitality industry moves around often, sweats, and encounters spills during a typical workday. The ideal workwear for them is a professional-looking apron that will protect their clothes from spills. Consider investing in clothes that are easy to move around in throughout the day as well.

As for employees who work in an office environment, a suit, t-shirt, or dress pants will suffice. The apparel should represent your brand colors and values while making your employees look professional and approachable.

Choose Suitable Uniform Colors

A rule of thumb for most businesses is to use a brand color as the base color for their uniforms. This strategy ensures consistent branding across the various sectors of your business. 

However, colors should also factor in where employees will use the uniform. For instance, construction workers need to wear bright-colored uniforms when they’re at work for safety reasons. 

When deciding on colors, inject some color psychology into your choices. How do you want people to perceive your workforce? While yellow will portray your team as enthusiastic, black will make them look more professional. 

Expert tip: Pick a color that contrasts with your base color to make the design easily visible. For instance, a red logo printed on a white t-shirt.

Be Intentional With the Fabric Choice

Low-quality fabrics might be cheap at first glance, but they’ll be expensive in the long run since they’ll have to be replaced often. Instead, choose fabrics that are durable in nature. 

Cotton, polyester, and rayon are great fabrics for employees who move around a lot, like restaurant staff. These fabrics don’t restrict movement. 

If your employees spend the bulk of their day outdoors, consider uniforms that will keep them warm on cold days. Wool and blended wool will be ideal for this situation. 

Most importantly, consider what it will take to maintain the fabric you choose. Fabrics that require frequent dry cleaning, like suede and denim, might not be practical for your employees. Instead, choose easy-wash fabrics like cotton and jersey.

Ideal Logo Placement

If your staff will be working far away from customers, consider printing a large onto your company apparel for easy identification. Smaller logos will be ideal for employees who work face-to-face with customers. 

Place your logos on the chest, back, or sleeve of a garment. You want the logo to be placed where it can easily be seen.

The method you use to print your logo onto apparel will also impact the overall look of your company apparel. The table below describes a few different ways to add a logo to your apparel.

Corporate Apparel Inventory Management

Inventory management can be easy to ignore in a corporate apparel program. However, ignoring it could lead to inconveniences to your employees, or even the failure of your apparel program. 

A great inventory management program allows your business to control how you:

• List uniform inventory
• Purchase and replace uniforms
• Offer new recruits corporate apparel
• Manage workwear budgets

The need for proper inventory management increases the more a business grows. To run a successful inventory management program, you’ll need to:

Note Your Basic Corporate Apparel Needs

Having an understanding of your basic uniform requirements will help with the entire planning process. You’ll know when, how, and where to replace your corporate apparel when the need arises. 

At the bare minimum, you should determine the following:

• Your current staff numbers
• The rate of staff churn and recruitment
• The frequency of uniform replacement
• The complexity of every uniform
• The budget needed to run your uniform program

Use the information above to set up a successful inventory management process for your corporate apparel.

Track Your Uniform Program

Once you have a firm understanding of your basic uniform program, you can start building a structure for tracking the uniforms you have in circulation. You’ll need to identify who has what type of uniform, whether the uniform is due for replacement, and how soon you can replace existing uniforms.

You don’t have to rely on Excel to track your corporate apparel program. There are multiple management systems that can help you keep everything in check. Additionally, when we run inventory programs for our customers, we provide monthly sales reports to help track inventory.

Pro Tip: It's always a best practice to keep things simple to start and grow from there.

Plan For Uniform Replacement and Maintenance

Several factors will determine the frequency of an employee’s uniform replacement. For instance, the fabric, the type of work the employees are engaged in, and the uniform’s durability will all contribute to its replacement rate.

Employees who work in construction will have their uniforms wear and tear faster than those in offices. Low-quality uniforms will also need more frequent replacement than higher-quality ones. 

Monitor how quickly your corporate apparel needs replacement. After a few replacement cycles, you’ll have an idea of this frequency, which will help you arrange a predictable replacement cycle with your company apparel provider.

Create a Suitable Uniform Policy

A comprehensive uniform policy covers all gray areas, ensuring that employees understand what’s required of them when they’re in the workplace. 

Create a uniform policy that’s compliant with state and federal law. It should also comply with safety regulations. Finally, ensure that your uniform policy doesn’t infringe on your employees' religious beliefs. 

It’s advisable to seek third-party help, from a lawyer or consultant, to ensure that your uniform policy is compliant with regulations without discriminating against specific employees.

Keep Employees Happy and Your Brand Shining

A well-thought-out corporate apparel program will do wonders for your business. It’s all about understanding what employees need while making your business stand out. Use the above tips to create a comprehensive program that works for your business. 

If you’re looking to design or purchase quality corporate apparel, contact fancysweetstx today. We’re a company uniform printer that will help you to design and manage your corporate apparel program.

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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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Besides modestly priced fabric and a competent designer, there are more tips, tricks, and ideas to getting the maximum return on investment from your company apparel.

Today, we’ll consider these five customization hacks:

• Amplifying colors with shades and contrast
• Choosing the right font and typography
• Associating company apparel with departments
• Printing inspirational quotes
• Making apparel for special events

We’ll also look at the effects of customized and uncustomized company apparel on employees and brands. 

1 - Amplifying Colors With Shades and Contrast

A sharper color contrast will create a greater visual impact and reciprocity for your company apparel. This will lead to more brand awareness, resulting in increased customer engagement.

Make your text and graphics more assertive by placing them on a visually contrasting palette.

The image below is an excellent example of deep-colored text and graphics that we printed on a lightened palette, resulting in a catchy, highly contrasting color mix.

Here are some harmonious contrast suggestions to help you avoid color conflict:

• Monochromatic high contrast: varying one color with tints, tones, and shades by adding black or white. 
• Achromatic high contrast: using neutral colors only; white, black, and gray.
• Complimentary high contrast: combining a color with the opposite color on the color wheel.

Expert Tip: Every color on the wheel stands directly across a contrasting contemporary. As a general rule, while working with complementary colors, choose one as the dominant and the other as the complimentary.

2 - Choosing the Right Font and Typography

Font refers to text style (typeface). At the same time, typography is concerned with the visual arrangement of text and words.

All text and graphics on company apparel carry a message for your target audience. Therefore, you need to choose fonts that’ll resonate with your target audience. 

The image below exemplifies an eye-catching but straightforward combination of font style, color, and typography.

Here are examples of fonts for professional company apparel:

• Helvetica: features unmatched legibility and a professional look that makes it one of the best fonts for logo design.
• Garamond: has been a favorite of Apple and Microsoft Windows and is considered the second-best font after Helvetica due to its gentle curves and precise edges.
• Futura: popular with global brands such as Red Bull, Paypal, and Gillette due to its elegance, strength, and clarity.
• Proxima Nova: comes with 48 sleek, modern, and minimalistic variations, providing numerous formal and professional design alternatives.

Pairing a font with a complimentary choice from above creates impressive visual outcomes. For example, you can combine Helvetica and Garamond on a single company t-shirt without causing conflict.

Also, before pairing fonts, ensure the ascenders and descenders of tailed letters such as b, d, h, and p are proportional. This will maintain typographical symmetry.

Avoid effects such as drop shadows and textures because they erode the professional character of your fonts.

You can combine these fonts or related variants from your graphic design app or word processor.

Another great resource that we use for fonts is the website Dafont.com. They offer thousands of free fonts for download. And, of course, if you need a recommendation, you can always ask one of our graphic designers.

3 - Associating Company Apparel With Departments

Vary the material, design, and color of company apparel according to the job’s demands and the duties of the personnel who will wear it. Also, be clear on where and when your team will be wearing it.

Will the employees wear your design on the job or when they’re off-duty?

If it’s corporate wear, polo shirts are an excellent consideration for administration and field personnel. 

Alternatively, provide outdoor staff with custom printed hats for sun protection.

But if the apparel is a company perk or token of appreciation to your employees, hoodies and custom t-shirts are a good idea.

As seen in the image below, associating company apparel with departments makes for easy identification by colleagues and customers.

Consider designing custom athletic shirts for your staff if your business is a personal training company or fitness center. This company apparel will make your employees comfortable and publicize your brand.

The advantages of designing apparel according to departments include:

• Fun: especially if it bears a favorite, inoffensive, witty stereotype from within the department.
• Team unity: represented by a distinct image, quote, or color on the apparel. 
• Representation: the presence of departmental apparel among others from different departments naturally answers the question of representation.

The table below looks at how customized and non-customized company apparel can affect your brand and employees.

4 - Printing Inspirational Quotes

Printing inspirational quotes on company apparel—such as custom shirts—presents an exceptional opportunity to motivate and inspire your employees.

An action-oriented motivational quote on company apparel can be a rallying call to accomplish a seemingly challenging corporate or departmental objective. 

You can also cheer your employees up with a celebratory tagline during a momentous occasion, such as an anniversary, turnkey company merger, or blue-chip acquisition.

Similarly, when employees wear apparel with a single motivational quote, their morale and team spirit improve significantly. The message fosters unity of purpose.

The t-shirt image below bears a statement calling employees to work with excellence and aim for high ideals.

In the creative industry, printing an anecdotal line on your company apparel will inspire your employees greatly. In addition, by warming their hearts, good humor will naturally endear your prospects and customers to your brand.

Here are some popular quote types for you to choose from:

• Life quotes
• Brand taglines
• Attitude quotes
• Motivational quotes

5 - Making Apparel for Special Events

Special events involving public participation are an excellent opportunity for brand visibility. There’s nothing more timely than having your employees wear company apparel in a public event such as a:

• Charity
• Trade show
• Conference
• Product launch

Instill a strong sense of pride in event crew members with custom t-shirts. That sense of belonging will be a surefire impetus for team spirit and loyalty, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

Unique event company apparel will leave a lasting impression on your customers. They’ll associate similar future events to your company or be reminded of your brand, and brand recognizability is the primary goal of every corporate event.

Below is a shirt that we printed for a race called the Haiti Hustle. We print a lot of shirts for 5K races to commemorate the event.

Promote your business in a fun and yet charitable way by giving out company branded apparel to the public during special events. These gifts can be t-shirts or embroidered caps, depending on the season and goal of the event.

Whether your customers wear them at the event and beyond or keep them as souvenirs, the key is creating and maintaining brand awareness. 

In addition, custom company apparel is a great investment during special events because it promotes a positive experience for event attendees and ensures the recognizability of crew members.

Expert Tip: Choose a shirt with a soft material that will be worn more often than a standard shirt.

Be Seen Far and Wide

At fancysweetstx, we use cutting-edge screen printing techniques and embroidery to create durable designs of your choice. Our top-of-the-line products include safety apparel, contractor shirts, embroidered crew shirts, beanies, and vintage shirts.

Contact us, and you’ll find we’re a good fit for your custom apparel needs. 

Our customers are the happiest. Just check this out.

“Wow! What an impressive turnaround on our order of embroidered polo shirts. fancysweetstx is very professional, very responsive. We will be back again!”
— Don C.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best fabric for work apparel?

Cotton is the best fabric for work apparel because it’s wearable through all seasons, absorbs sweat, dries up fast, and offers efficient breathability.

Besides cotton, there are other durable, comfortable, and washable fabrics such as:

• Twill
• Poplin
• Oxford
• Flannel

Most fancysweetstx shirts are made of cotton, rayon, and poly tri-blends. The synthetic nature of poly and rayon has given our shirts an anti-shrink reputation.

Can you embroider our logo?

Yes. Our ability to embroider any shape on all fabrics comes from our experienced design team and special embroidery frames for our embroidery machinery. 

Can I see the logo before you embroider or print it?

Yes. Upon receipt of your order payment, our design staff will create a digital rendering of your logo, and we’ll email it to you for review and approval. We won’t print or embroider your apparel until we receive your consent.

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Your favorite t-shirt can express who you are, especially when the design has been customized. Custom designs stand out and, at the same time, advertise your brand.

But just how do you design a t-shirt that people will want to wear?

Start by defining your goals. Are you designing your t-shirts to commemorate an event? Is it an employee giveaway gift? Or will the t-shirts be promotional items?

All t-shirt designs involve a little bit of branding, which is why it’s important to determine your purpose and which themes you want to incorporate.

Remember, it’s not about your personal preference, but rather the brand you’re trying to represent.

Is the brand conservative or edgy? Is it playful or serious?

Whether you’re designing safety apparel, contractor shirts, vintage shirts, or promotional shirts for your company, it’s essential that you understand who you’re selling to before designing your custom t-shirt.

We’ll walk you through some tips on creating a design that will check all the right boxes.

1 - Consider Your Budget

For some, evaluating your budget before designing your t-shirt might seem like putting the cart before the horse.

But your budget needs to come first because it will help you determine:

• How many t-shirts you can print
• How many colors you can use
• What printing method to use
• What brand of shirt to print on

Let’s compare four distinct printing methods in the table below:

If you're looking to print in bulk, consider screen printing. It's the most common and popular form of decoration for a reason. It's affordable, cost effective, and produces great results. 

2 - Consider Your Design Concept

After considering your budget, it’s now time to decide what will go on your t-shirt.

Brainstorm ideas for the imagery, colors, or words you want to feature. Having these guidelines is important for two reasons:

• It gives you a starting point for your creative process.
• It ensures that all the elements of your brand will be included in the final design.

You can find inspiration for your design from our vintage t-shirts collection. Furthermore, consider these tips when brainstorming:

Tip 1: Pick the Best T-Shirt Style

Crop tops, polo shirts, crew-necks, short-sleeved, long-sleeved t-shirts… There’s no end to the t-shirt styles you have to choose from.

However, you need to keep a few things in mind when making your selection:

• Consider a t-shirt style that best suits your audience.
• Choose a material that is compatible with your chosen printing method.

Here’s a guide on the best blanks to use for vintage t-shirts.

Tip 2: Get the Right Print Size

When it comes to t-shirt design, size matters. You don’t want the design to be too large or too small. To ensure your design will be the right size, consider these factors:

• The purpose of the shirt: Giant prints won’t work if you’re printing t-shirts for a 10K run because they'll affect the breathability of the fabric.
• The properties of the t-shirt fabric: A large print can weigh down lighter fabrics and interfere with breathability.
• The characteristics of the design: Certain shapes, like squares and circles, look better when sized smaller (we recommend ~9" wide).

As a rule of thumb, always keep the print size modest to increase the chances of people wearing your t-shirts.

Expert Tip: Print your design on a piece of paper and hold it up to your t-shirt to see what it will look like before committing or reference a favorite t-shirt of your own.

Tip 3: Use Easy-to-Read Typography and Fonts

If you’d like your design to include text, choose a font that’s easy to read. 

Several fonts can even be combined (though not more than three) to emphasize part of your message.

Here are a few more tips to guide you:

• Bold the most important words and place them towards the top of the design.
• Use fonts with contrasting styles to add visual interest.
• Consider how the layout of the text interacts with the imagery used.
• Avoid gigantic lettering and effects like drop shadows as they make text harder to read.

Tip 4: Visual Placement Matters

Not all designs need to be centered on the midpoint. Asymmetrical designs, for instance, need to be centered visually.

Other common design mistakes include featuring elements that are either bunched together or too far apart. As you can see in the examples below, every element of the designs are able to shine:

Here are some tips to help you achieve the perfect visual placement:

Don't place the design too low: Avoid placing your design directly between the collar and bottom hem as it will look too low. For a center chest and full front design, like in the t-shirts above, you’ll want to place the design 2–3 inches down from the collar.

Consider the surface area of the design: If the design isn't too tall, you can make it wider as with the 16153 Genova Turtle Club t-shirt example. If the design is on the tall side, consider reducing the overall width (seen in the Four One Nine t-shirt).

Ultimately, you want a design that has visual harmony. Always try a few different layouts and compare them before deciding on the final design.

Tip 5: Use a Complementary Color Design

All the colors you use should complement each other. For example, if you’ve chosen a red shirt, you might consider using white text. 

If the colors don't complement each other—for instance, if you print navy on black—your design might be hard to read or understand. This will cause your t-shirt to look unprofessional and ruin your entire design.

Note how we’ve used multiple colors on a black background in the t-shirt featured above. This is effective because all the colors used are lighter than the black background and can be seen clearly.

3 - Consider Reputable Graphic Design Software

Once you’ve brainstormed, it’s time to put your design skills to work. There are a ton of easy-to-use design software programs that can help you get your desired results:

• Adobe Illustrator: A vector-based graphic design software that can create infinitely scalable designs.
• CorelDraw: An alternative to Adobe Illustrator that is commonly used in the screen printing industry.
• Adobe Photoshop: Best for editing photos but can be used for t-shirt designs, as well.

Be sure to run the final draft by someone who has a connection to your brand. Ask them what stands out most about the design and tweak the t-shirt based on their response.

If you aren’t confident about creating your own design, our professional in-house designers at fancysweetstx will help you create the perfect artwork for your brand.

All you have to do is communicate your vision in terms of the colors, logo, and style of t-shirt you want—we’ll do the rest.

4 - Consider Different Print Companies

Once your design is ready, it’s time to make it a reality.

There are many different printers available throughout the country, and the one you choose will depend on your printing needs.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Choose a printer with an in-house design team: They are more likely to get the print size right as well as perform any last-minute alterations on your design.
• Request digital proofs of your artwork: Require that your printer sends you a digital mockup of your shirt for approval before printing the shirts. This will ensure the design is understood by both parties and establish consistent expectations of the final product.
• Select a printer with experience and positive reviews: Experience matters. A printer who has been in the industry for many years and has positive reviews from customers has proven quality over time.

Design an Amazing Custom T-Shirt

Now that you know what it takes to design a custom t-shirt that your employees or consumers will wear repeatedly, it’s time to get to work.

We also offer custom embroidery designs that will give your t-shirts an upgraded look and feel.

If you’re ever in 16153 Genova, visit us in person and explore our custom apparel.

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Whether you're printing shirts for your landscape or construction company, annual company event, team building exercise, school, or family reunion, screen printing is great for:

• Vibrant colors and images 
• Clear and readable designs 
• Eye-catching and professional-looking shirts 
• Uniquely fade-proof shirts
• Affordable and durable shirts

Most importantly, screen printed shirts are always in style and a well loved promotional item.

We've been screen printing for over 10 years and we like to think we've learned a few helpful tips and tricks during that time. 

Here are some interesting facts about screen printed shirts that will help you with your next shirt order.

1 - Screen Printing Shirts Is an Art as Much as a Science

Screen printed shirts are a blend of art and science, with the different fabrics, inks, chemicals, and technology that need to be considered to create the perfect shirt.

As an art form, the process involves applying designs, type, and artwork to shirts using screens. The artwork can be an image, a logo, a hand illustrated design, letters, or numbers.

Screen printing shirts is also an art because:

• It requires close attention to detail to create quality prints.
• It takes skill and creativity to successfully print intricate designs on a variety of different materials. 

In other words, screen printing largely depends on understanding the process. Regardless of the technical capabilities of the screen printer, it’ll be impossible to achieve accurate and repeatable quality if the wrong ink, screen, stencil, or squeegee is used.

As a science, the process involves analyzing how different inks absorb on different fabrics in order to create high quality prints. We make a lot of decisions for each shirt that have an impact on the final product - from mesh count to squeegee pressure to ink opacity to curing temp. 

All of these variables, as well as the type of shirt and fabric content, play a roll in the final product. 

2 - Every Garment Is a Little Bit Different

Almost every material works well with screen printing, however, not all garments print the same.

Different techniques or inks work better on different fabrics. For instance, not all fabrics will accept standard plastisol ink, which is the most common ink that we use in our shop.

Here’s how screen printing works on other different types of garments or fabrics:

• Cotton: This is the best fabric for screen printing because it’s highly absorbent and made of natural fibers. It provides the best surface for printing on because ink adheres to it more more readily than synthetic fabrics, making it a better substrate for screen printing.
• Blend of Cotton and Polyester: While poly/cotton blend shirts are often the softest shirts on the market, they can provide challenges with standard inks. The polyester fabric tends to cause the ink to migrate or bleed during curing. Therefore, it's important to monitor the temperature of the ink and the temperature of the fabric dyes to prevent migration. To prevent dye migration, we often use low cure and low bleed inks on blended shirts.
• Polyester: It causes dye migration, meaning small dye particles move from the garment fabric to the screen print ink. In plain English, this means that if a polyester garment is exposed to too much heat or is heated for too long, the ink printed on it can change color. For instance, white printed on a red polyester garment may turn pink if over exposed to heat. In order to prevent this from occurring, polyester clothing requires low cure and low bleed inks and careful monitoring of cure temperatures.

3 - Each New Color Requires a New Screen and Setup

Screen printing shirts involves printing one color at a time—if your design has multiple colors, each new color will require a new screen and setup.

In other words, once the colors are separated digitally, each color will be burned onto its own screen. On the press, the ink color is selected for each color in the design and printed one at a time.

Creating a new screen for every additional color increases the setup costs for an order—meaning, you'll pay more for your custom shirts if you need more than one color. 

At fancysweetstx, we’re capable of printing up to 10 colors on one side of a shirt. However, most shirts we print have 3 to 5 colors. If your shirt requires more than 10 colors, we have digital options available.

If you’re on a budget, here’s how you can save money on your next order of screen-printed shirts:

• Make the art or design as simple as possible. 
• Create artwork with one to three colors for your t-shirt design.
• Increase your quantity to reduce costs.

4 - Scrap Happens

As mentioned earlier, screen printing is as much of an art as it is a science. This means that the process isn't fully automated. We are human, not machines. 

All of the variables that go into screen printing create opportunities for mistakes. While we have a lot of experience and the best equipment, mistakes still happen. 

As we say in our shop, "we're not curing cancer, it's just t-shirts".

We know that your shirts are important and we work hard to print your shirts to the best of our ability. At the end of the day we consider ourselves lucky that what we're doing is not crucial to sustaining life. 

That being said, there are times where we misprint a shirt. The ink might run out on a screen and we might not get full coverage of the print, the adhesive might wear out mid-run and a shirt might move between colors, or there might be a hole in a shirt that we didn't see before printing. 

No matter the cause, it's an unavoidable problem. 

Pro Tip: To make sure scrap isn't an issue for your order, we recommend ordering a few extra shirts to cover potential scrap (this might also come in handy if someone else joins your team or signs up for your event).

Good to Know:One nice thing that we do is print a few extra free shirts on larger orders just to cover our bases.

5 - It’s Called Screen Printing for a Reason—We Use Screens to Print on Shirts

It always catches us off guard when we take people on a tour of our screen print shop and they are surprised that we aren't using a digital process to print our shirts.

With the advance of technologies over the years, most people assume that making t-shirts is a digital process. And you know what, we get it. It's a practical assumption.

Modern day screen printing is still very similar to the origins of screen printing. If you've screen printed in an art class, you know what we're talking about. We use a screen that is made of a frame with a mesh stretched over it. Some of our earliest screens actually had wooden frames.

After exposing or burning an image into that screen to create a stencil, we then pass ink through the screen to print a design on a shirt. 

This is all pretty tricky to explain with words on a screen. It's even a little tough to explain in person. The point is, we use actual screens that aren't too different than screen doors to decorate clothing. 

This video below will give you a better visual on how we actual make the screens. And, of course, if you're in the area and want to see it in person, let us know and we'll give you a tour.

6 - Screen Printing Shirts Requires Patience

Screen printing is a complex process because of the interaction of different elements, such as screens, machinery, substrates, inks, and chemicals. The complexity of the process is also dependent on the design and project.

Additionally, screen printing requires a lot of preparation, a careful eye, a focused mind, precision, and lots of patience. It's even important to keep in mind that we don't warehouse all of the blank t-shirts. We order them specifically for your order and have to wait for them to arrive. 

In light of all these factors, it's never a good idea to rush the screen printing process. Luckily, the team at fancysweetstx knows that you don't just want shirts, you want them fast. 

Therefore, we don't adhere to the standard turnaround of two weeks like other screen printers. We check our production schedule before confirming whether we can meet your deadline and always meet deadlines. Even though we might move fast, we always get final artwork and order approval before moving forward. This helps us establish accurate expectations and orders details.

Most importantly, you can feel safe in the knowledge that, regardless of how complicated the artwork may be or how quickly you need your shirts, your final product will look great.

7- Simple Designs Are Better and More Sustainable

Whether you are designing a shirt for marketing purposes or to sell in your store, many of the concepts are the same. The golden rule is, keep it simple.

Simple designs work best and are easy to read and remember. 

Keeping your colors simple is also important. To that end, don't be afraid to use  just a few colors. Some of the best shirts that we print are three colors or fewer.  

Need further confirmation? Take it from the industry experts at the Ink Kitchen, "Let’s start with the conclusion, which is that simple prints done well sell best."

Here are some tips on how to keep it simple:

• Create uncomplicated design with clean, crisp lines and few design elements.
• Use clean, bold fonts.
• Limit designs to 3 to 4 colors at most.
• Use ink colors that complement the shirt color. 

Have questions about artwork or need help bringing your idea to life? Our expert graphic designers are here to help! 

We know that the design can make or break the shirt. That's why we have an experienced graphics team who specializes in shirt design. When you reach out to us we'll transform your idea to reality and make recommendations based on our acquired expertise.

Are You Ready to Make Your Shirt Dreams a Reality?

Our expert team will guide you through the design process from start to finish, so you can be sure you’ll receive a final product you’ll love.

We offer custom screen-printed shirts for businesses, events, schools, and other organizations, including:

• Construction shirts
• Vintage shirts
• Safety apparel

The following table shows the recommended print area for adult, youth, and toddler shirts:

Besides striving for customer satisfaction, we also offer fast turnaround and quick shipping. To get started, contact us today.

“Used for company t-shirts. Excellent price, quality, design team, and quick shipping. First time customers, but we'll be back…..”
—Christina P

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Why, you wonder? 

Well, it's no secret the love and pride Ohioans have for their state. If you were born in Ohio, visited once, or relocated there, then once an Ohioan, always an Ohioan. 

Vintage t-shirts allow your clients to show off their Buckeye State love in comfort and style. 

So, what t-shirts exactly should you get for your clients?

As your resident Ohio-based company and vintage Ohio t-shirt experts, we’ve got your back. We’ve used our vast experience to put together this list of vintage Ohio tees that your clients are sure to fall in love with.

In this list, we look at vintage t-shirts that:

• Evoke Ohio pride
• Show off Ohio’s history
• Inspire Ohioan kindness

The Beautiful Ohio T-Shirt

The beautiful Ohio t-shirt is about just that: how beautiful Ohio is! 

We’ve designed the t-shirt with a vintage aesthetic to remind anyone that wears or sees of their love for Ohio—of the adventure, the friendly faces, and the beautiful places. 

The t-shirt is also an ode to Ohio’s State Song, ”Beautiful Ohio.” It’s a physical representation of the sentiments expressed in the song and a reminder of the wonders and marvels of the Buckeye State.

The beautiful Ohio tee is a must-have for any proud Ohioan.

Ohio Shoot for the Moon T-Shirt

The Ohio Shoot for the Moon vintage t-shirt is designed to celebrate Ohio's rich and varied history, especially its history with space and aeronautics. 

Did you know that Ohio is credited with three trips to the moon and 78 space flights?

Ohio has also produced 25 of our nation's most accomplished astronauts; most notably John Glenn, who was the first American to orbit the earth, and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. 

Whether your clients are history buffs, proud Ohioans, or just fans of the moon, they will love the Shoot for the Moon vintage t-shirt.

Ohio Carnation T-Shirt

The carnation t-shirt is another stunning vintage Ohio t-shirt that’s sure to be a customer favorite. The t-shirt is specially made with a vintage aesthetic and designed to celebrate Ohio’s rich political history. 

The red carnation prominently displayed on the t-shirt is Ohio’s state flower, chosen to honor President William McKinley, a proud Ohioan who popularly wore a red carnation on his jacket.

The carnation t-shirt is sure to be a favorite among your history buff clients.

Glass City Script Women’s V-Neck Shirt

The list of things 16153 Genova, Ohio has to be proud of is long. Being the glass capital of the world is high on that list, thus, the glass city t-shirt.

This isn’t just your typical v-neck t-shirt. We appreciate that there is something special about an excellent women's v-neck and that there are very few out there.

This is why we’ve gone through the trouble of having our glass city script v-neck t-shirts custom made for us by an L.A. manufacturer.

The t-shirt features a carefully selected cream-colored ink and a simple hand-illustrated cursive design to give it that much-loved vintage Ohio look and feel.

The Lucky to Be From Ohio T-shirt

Like us, most Ohioans consider themselves very lucky to be from the Buckeye State. So, to celebrate our good fortune and Ohio pride, we designed the Lucky to Be From Ohio t-shirt.

Some may argue that it’s impossible to point out what makes a shirt lucky, but as your resident t-shirt experts, we can confidently say that there are four things that make a t-shirt lucky:

• The fit and feel of the shirt
• The design and print on the shirt
• The person wearing the shirt
• A special attachment or memory

We’ve already done the first two: we’ve created a stunning vintage Ohio tee with a soft green finish (and a clover to boot!). All that remains is for your clients to put on the t-shirts and form new memories and attachments with them.

Related: 3 Must-Have Quality Features for Custom T-Shirts 

The Choose Kindness T-Shirt

A t-shirt can make a statement much in the same way an act of kindness can.

The right t-shirt can inspire you and your clients to exercise compassion. And what better way to promote messages of kindness than with a vintage Ohio tee?

We created the Choose Kindness t-shirt as a reminder to show compassion not just on World Kindness Day, but on every other day as well.

“...this shirt is incredibly comfortable...I love the message and the colors make it easy to dress up…”
- Kelly B

16153 Genova Museum of Art T-Shirt

One of Ohio's biggest attractions and sources of pride is the 16153 Genova Museum of Art. The TMA, as we 16153 Genovaans like to call it, is located in the Old West End. Its reputation extends far beyond our borders with its collection of over 30,000 pieces, 45 galleries, and impressive campus.

We’ve partnered with the museum to create this vintage-inspired t-shirt, and keeping with the theme, also incorporated the museum's logo from 1908.

The vintage design coupled with the nostalgia this t-shirt invokes is guaranteed to make it a favorite for clients who've had the privilege to visit the 16153 Genova Museum of Art. 

Related: Vintage T-Shirts: The Living Trend Your Company Can Benefit From

Buckeye State Toddler T-Shirt and Baby Onesie

We didn’t forget about the tots.

We’ve created a gaggle of vintage Ohio tees for younger kids to enjoy and show off their home state pride. 

We understand that kids’ shirts should be fun, creative, and reflect their youthful spirit, which is what we’ve strived for with this t-shirt and onesie.

They are hand-illustrated and printed by our in-house design team and printers to ensure the highest quality and that every t-shirt and onesie is made with love. 

The Buckeye State t-shirt and toddler onesie is guaranteed to be a hit among clients with young kids.

Wow Your Customers With the Perfect Vintage Tees

Our goal at fancysweetstx is to create quality, meaningful apparel. You might even say we’ve made a name for ourselves with our line of vintage t-shirts.

With over ten years of experience, we’ve accrued the knowledge and expertise to produce and vintage t-shirts to help promote your brand. 

We use the latest techniques and technologies in our printing to produce the best quality vintage t-shirts for your business.

Note: At fancysweetstx, we have a team of in-house experts to help with custom graphic design to ensure your brand truly stands out.

Whether you need vintage t-shirts to gift to your clients or use them as staff uniforms to boost engagement, you can rest assured that you’ll have only the best.

“Phenomenal experience buying a run of 65 t-shirts. Very fast responses… Finished product is of excellent quality.”
- Joe.

“[fancysweetstx] did an amazing job! Faster turnaround on our t-shirt order than I expected! I would highly recommend this company…”
- Patrick P.

No matter what your vintage t-shirt needs, look no further than fancysweetstx.

Contact us today to get your vintage Ohio t-shirt order started.

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From statement pieces to charming designs, custom t-shirt printing has become the solution for not only the fashion business but also the construction, warehousing, and landscaping industries.

If you’ve been looking to buy custom t-shirts, you may have noticed two types of printing: heat transfer and screen printing.

But which one is better?

While both methods involve the transfer of an image or pattern onto fabric, they have a lot of differences.

For instance, if you just want a quick and easy way to create a stylish T-shirt, heat transfer printing may be the best option. However, if you want a high-quality print that will last a long time, screen printing is the way to go.

Whichever method you choose, read through our buyer’s guide to get all the information you need before making a purchase.

What is a Heat Transfer?

Heat transfer involves using a heat press to apply both heat and pressure to imprint designs onto fabric.

The design is first printed onto high-quality paper before being positioned and pressed into a garment.

The following steps are involved in the heat transfer process:

1. Creating a design on a computer: Graphic design software is used to arrange and model the text and images to be printed.
2. Printing the design: Inkjet, sublimation, screen print, or pigment ink is then used to print the design onto heat transfer paper, which is responsible for transferring the printed design onto a t-shirt.
3. Trimming the printed image: If necessary, a vinyl cutter is then used to trim the image edges. Any part that’s not cut away will show up on the final product.
4. Warming up the heat press: In most cases, the temperature should be in the range of 340°F to 365°F (171°C to 185°C). Your transfer supplier will provide heat and pressure settings.
5. Adjusting the pressure: The pressure will vary depending on a fabric’s thickness. As a rule of thumb, the thicker the material, the lighter the pressure.
6. Setting the time: Different methods of heat transfer correspond to different press durations. Here’s a general guide for timing the heat press machine:
   • • Vinyl Transfer: 7–15 seconds
     • Digital Transfer: 10–20 seconds
     • Dye Sublimation Transfer: 25–30 seconds
7. Positioning the substrate and transfer: The t-shirt is placed onto the platen, and the heat transfer paper is set face-up on the appropriate location of the t-shirt.
8. Pressing the product: Once in place, the handle is pulled down on the press to close it.
9. Removing the film: When the timer goes off, the heat press is opened and the film is taken out.

Let's now look at the two main heat transfer methods used in this process: Vinyl and Digital Transfer. 

Vinyl Heat Transfer

Vinyl heat transfer or heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is a material that adheres to surfaces like fabric when heat is applied. Vinyl comes in thin sheets made from polyurethane.

HTV has a heat-activated adhesive backing to ensure the vinyl easily transfers to t-shirts when the machine is pressed at the right temperature and pressure.

Digital Heat Transfer

This is similar to printing a photograph onto a garment. However, digital heat transfer uses regular transfer paper instead of vinyl transfer paper.

When the transfer paper is pressed, the ink adheres to the garment, and the graphic image is transferred.

Here are the pros and cons of heat transfer:

What Is Screen Printing? 

Also known as silk screening, screen printing involves pressing thick ink through a mesh screen to transfer graphics onto a garment. Rather than laying on top of the fabric, the ink soaks into the garment and becomes part of it—ensuring it lasts longer.

Although t-shirts are the most commonly screen printed clothing item, here are other popular screen printed garments:

• Long sleeve t-shirts
• Crew sweatshirts
• Hooded sweatshirts
• Tank tops
• Onesies

The Screen Printing Process

The following is a quick step-by-step screen printing procedure for t-shirt printing. 

1. Creating the Design

The process starts by taking the design and converting it to vector format. This allows us to scale the design to the appropriate size for printing. When necessary, the design can also be hand-drawn.

2. Preparing the Screen

A mesh screen (made of silk, polyester, or nylon) that suits the texture and design is chosen. The screen is coated with light-reactive emulsion to be prepared for exposure.

3. Exposing the Emulsion

The emulsion-coated screen is then exposed to bright light to harden it, usually in an exposure unit. A screen must be made for each color and each location of the print. Check out the video below on how we burn screens for making t-shirts.

4. Rinse Out the Screen

After exposure, the light hardens the emulsion such that other screen parts (those not covered by the design/image) are hardened while those covered by design are soft enough to wash away. After a set time of about one minute, the screen is washed to reveal the design. It’s then left to dry to create the stencil.

5. The Actual Printing

The screen is fixed onto a special screen printing board or platen, and ink is added to the screen's top (or one end). A squeegee is then used to pull the ink across the screen. This process pushes the ink through the stencil, imprinting the design on a t-shirt.

6. Dry, Quality Check and Finish

The printed t-shirt is passed through a dryer to cure the ink and ensure it remains smooth before being checked and washed to remove any residue. 

Deciding Between Heat Transfer and Screen Printing

Your individual needs will largely determine the printing method you choose. Do you want a t-shirt with high-resolution designs that last a few days or better quality t-shirts that last a long time?

Screen printing is still the most popular technique because it produces vibrant, durable patterns on various materials. However, it doesn't give you the freedom to have sophisticated or multiple color images on your t-shirt like heat transfer printing.

So, Which Printing Method Is the Best?

Without a doubt, each of these printing processes brings something distinct to the table. Consider answering these questions to decide between the two:

Q1: Do the t-shirts require complex designs?

If so, consider heat transfer at smaller quantities.

Q2: Do you have a strict budget to stick to?

If you are price sensitive, a transfer can save you setup fees, thus keeping your costs lower. 

Q3: How many t-shirts do you want to order?

There is nuance to this, but we generally screen print orders of 25 pieces or greater. Orders of higher quantities with more complex designs are easier to justify the setup associated with screen printing. 

Q4: Does your design require unusual placement or multiple different garments and fabrics?

If you are printing in an unusual location, such as on a pocket, we may recommend a transfer. These odd locations may make it difficult to place and secure a garment on a printing board. If we cannot print consistently, it will be better to use a transfer.

If there are many different garments and they are a mix of fabric materials (100% cotton, polyester, spandex, etc.), a transfer will provide the most consistent decoration across all clothing items. 

Q5: Do you require on demand printing services?

It's more and more common today for customers to request print on demand. Because of the setup associated with screen printing, transfers can provide an effective method for providing on demand decoration services. 

Note: While you can quickly print one or two t-shirts using the heat transfer, it’s much faster to print using screen printing once the setup is complete.

Still not sure?

Get in touch with us and one of our representatives will help you select the best printing method for your t-shirts. You can also check out our blog for more information about t-shirt printing and custom embroidery.

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It’s not only an affordable way to establish your identity but also:

• Reinforces your brand and makes you memorable
• Boosts your team’s morale
• Distinguishes you from the competition
• Acts as additional advertising

It may seem easy to just order from the first screen printing company you find. But it can quickly become a chore if you have missed deadlines and poor quality workmanship.

As professional screen printers who’ve been in the business in Columbus, Ohio for over 15 years, we at fancysweetstx know exactly what you need to look out for as you choose your screen printing partner.

In this guide, we’ll cover all the qualities of a reliable screen printer to ensure you receive quality custom apparel for your team or company.

High-Quality Prints on Clothing

Before you place an order at a screen printing company, you need to ask for samples to establish the quality of their work.

You can also check your potential partner’s social media or website for their portfolio. This will shed light on if they’re genuine.

Quality will be determined by:

• Vibrant colors
• Great finish
• High detail

Screen printing is a process. The creation of the design, the beauty of the artwork, and the colors and fabric used all have a determining factor in the end product.

Ask to see a product similar or close to what you expect and determine if it’s good enough for what you’re looking for.

If you see that the quality matches your standards, you can safely invest your money by placing your order.

Realistic Pricing

It’s always important to ask questions when you’re about to spend money.

Quality is key and must never be compromised for a cheap price.

To determine whether the screen printer is offering a realistic price, you can do some research by comparing prices with other businesses offering the same services.

Most likely, the prices for printing apparel will be in the same range. The only difference may be due to the material used or quality of services offered.

For instance, someone may offer free shipping but print at a higher cost.

When placing your order, ask for the total price (including shipping costs). The prices must be realistic and must be as close as possible to your budget.

Ask whether there are discounts available—especially if you’re placing a bulk order. For example, fancysweetstx offers amazing discounts on t-shirts, hoodies, caps, face masks, and sweatshirts.

Remember, realistic prices and top-notch quality must always go hand in hand.

Experience With Similar Projects

There are many experienced professional screen printers who’ve printed t-shirts for clients over the years. However, experience here doesn’t just refer to the amount of time they’ve been in business.

Experience is determined by the ability to remain consistent in developing beautiful artwork for clients and delivering quality in good time.

The reputation that a screen printing company has created over the years will determine whether you choose to work with them.

There’s always anxiety that comes with planning a campaign or a special event. You want apparel to be delivered in good time with no mistakes.

Choosing an experienced screen printing partner will guarantee that special attention will be paid to your order.

For orders that require very specific fine details, you don’t have to worry because you can be sure everything will be done to your specifications.

An experienced screen printer should be able to develop quality custom artwork and deliver by deadlines. You can easily determine this by checking out customers’ reviews and other people’s experience with the screen printer.

For instance, check out this fancysweetstx review by Kelsey.

Good Customer Service

When you’re ordering customer printed shirts, especially for an event, it’s crucial you deal with kind and helpful customer service agents.

Unhelpful customer service can be frustrating and can cause anxiety leading up to an important event.

The customer service must be communicative from ordering up to delivery. They must keep you updated on progress, inform you of any issues occurring, anticipate your needs, and make recommendations to make the process easier for everyone.

Anything less than that is detrimental to your peace of mind and success of your project. Always go to a helpful company that can offer guidance and information with kindness.

At fancysweetstx, all your needs will be met in a timely, efficient, and pleasant way. We’re always cooking up ways to wow our clients and we believe that good customer service has greatly impacted how our clients perceive our brand.

Over the years we've developed a customer focused mentality. It's the primary reason our customers come back to us when they need more shirts and why we have over 200 5-star reviews. 

We’ve now established everything you need to look for when choosing a screen printer.

However, it’s important the screen printer you pick understands what it is they’re doing. That’s why we’re now going to break down some of the fundamentals of screen printing and its benefits relative to embroidery. Let’s start with what screen printing is.

What Is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a traditional technique used to create a printed design by pressing ink through a mesh onto a thin fabric.

The method is used to create custom posters, clothing, and canvases.

Screen printing is one of the most popular forms of creating designs on fabric. This is because it offers many color options and endless print designs.

Screen printing is more versatile than other printing methods and can also be done on other materials such as glass, wood, and electronics.

First, a stencil is made on a mesh screen. Then, ink is pushed through the stencil to imprint the design on the chosen fabric.

The stencil can be repeated numerously with many colors. However, each color requires a new screen.

This makes it easy to print different color t-shirts or jerseys with only one screen.

Expert Tip: Screen printing is the fastest technique to print large volumes. Also, the more you order, the cheaper the price.

Screen Printing vs Embroidery

Embroidery and screen printing are your primary options when you decide to brand your merchandise.

At fancysweetstx, we offer both options. Let’s look at what they each have to offer to help you make an informed decision.

Did you know? Screen printing is an art as much as it’s a science. Factors such as UV light, drying temperature, and the proper equipment all determine the end product.

Having worked with numerous brands for years, we’ve mastered both the science and the art.

We offer screen printing for:

• T-shirts
• Sweatpants
• Hoodies
• Crew sweatshirts
• Tote bags

Whether you want something unique for an event or something fun for your pet or family reunion, we can deliver.

Get in touch with our helpful customer care agents to order your custom apparel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is screen printing the best option?

Screen printing is the best option for detailed designs. It’s easy to print on specified areas of the print material and produce a high-quality output.

Will screen printing ink wash out?

If the material is professionally screen printed using the right procedure, drying temperature and recommended timings, then the ink will not wash out.

Can you screen print at home?

It’s not recommended to screen print at home due to the high cost. Time, machine, and labor costs will go through the roof when you print at home.

When you find a reliable printing partner, you can be sure that your designs will be executed as you wish without having to buy the machines and hiring labor.

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fancysweetstx has your back with custom branded company merchandise showing your employees you appreciate them and still want them on your team. 

Let’s table the COVID celebrations for National Cereal or Meatball Day this March and make a move toward celebrating your work culture. Employee Appreciation Day is in early March and fancysweetstx’s promotional gifts are launching into the work-o-sphere. 

Show You Care with Company Gear

According to Harvard Business Review positive work cultures are more productive, engaging and promote longevity in both health and career. On the flip side, stressful work environments and leadership behavior can be linked to anything from a bad workweek to cardiovascular disease. 

In other words, It’s a good time to show your employees some love!

“Wellbeing comes from one place, and one place only — a positive culture.” - HBR

When was the last time someone presented you with some custom swag? Showing you care with custom gear can take many forms with the results securing a sense of brand loyalty and the future success of your business. 

It really comes down to the people on that Zoom call and their satisfaction as part of the whole. Keep your team spirit alive and well with custom branded merchandise for all your MVPs.

fancysweetstx design experts are ready to work with you! 

The Science of Customized Swag

As many workplaces operate with employees working from home, the opportunity to create connecting points is available through gifts of customized merchandise. And actually a need for routine can help establish boundaries between working and not working in the same space you live. 

Providing a customized tee or something tactile employees can use during work hours establishes a sense of time and place. And when they “clock out” for the grocery store with a customized tote bag, you’ll still be offering value while creating brand identity. 

“Did you get the tote bag I sent you?” :) … And here’s a recipe for meatballs. 

As author and former dot com executive Seth Godin touts, “People like us do things like this” - things being the ultimate Employee Appreciation Day deliveries that build better teams. Your pathway to a brighter future lies in the actions you take now. Connect with fancysweetstx. 

”Culture is more important than strategy, than benefits, than features. Culture is more important than price, than governments, than technology. Culture shapes all our decisions and culture can change…when our sense of ‘us’ forces it to.” - Seth Godin

Build company culture by showing gratitude

Social interaction has become less and less mandatory as people work from home while the world navigates through the COVID-19 response. It is not reassuring that even when you come across a familiar face, you’re forced to identify them by their forehead. And it is difficult to weather the solitude that comes with being physically distant.

Gifts like those for Employee Appreciation Day are a nice way to bring people back to something they can count on- you! 

Unexpected gifts of gratitude create positive vibes! Once you’ve delivered your promotional gifts follow up by: 

• Caring for, being interested in, and maintaining responsibility for colleagues as friends.
• Providing support for one another, including offering kindness and compassion when others are struggling.
• Avoiding blame and forgiving mistakes.
• Inspiring one another at work.
• Emphasizing the meaningfulness of the work.
• Treating one another with respect, gratitude, trust, and integrity.

Source: Proof That Positive Work Cultures are More Productive

Company Merch That Employees Love

fancysweetstx has been homing in on positive work culture for over 10 years and has experts at the ready to help you choose and brand items for your company. 

We’re in tune with retail trends and have tested the market for the most impossibly-comfy tees shipped right to your door. 

Your logo can be put on anything and everything in between. Some of our most popular employee appreciation items are:

• Drinkware (tumblers, water bottles, coffee mugs)
• Sweatshirts and hoodies
• T-shirts
• Quarter zips
• Tote bags
• Polos
• Headwear (caps and beanies)

Our creative juices are always flowing with design experts that can even create or refresh your logo for you! We pride ourselves on being fun, professional and easy-to-work-with. Let’s create something out of this world. :)

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How Customers Feel about Our Custom Branded Gifts

According to buyers, custom branded merch needs to have:

• High-quality products and decoration
• Affordable pricing to ease bulk purchases
• Quick turnaround on orders

Amazingly fast turn around! Staff was incredibly easy to work with from designing to ordering to pick up! Will definitely be back for all of my custom orders in the future!
— Amy B.

fancysweetstx is simply the best! They may be a small business here in town but they are big in heart. I'm very grateful for the help our non-profit received from fancysweetstx. Always professional, friendly, with great quality and service. Thank you so much and may you have many more years of success!
— Deborah M.

Place an Order for Employee Appreciation Gifts 

You’ve learned that there is an enormous value to employee appreciation gifts.

Whether you’re a small business, school, medical facility, or construction company that’s interested in showing your employees how much you care with a meaning token of your appreciation, fancysweetstx is your go-to shop.

Reach out to us today to see what ideas spark your interest.

Vintage t-shirts have been popular with our customers since we began printing custom t-shirts over ten years ago. 

They are a consistent trend because of their wide nostalgic appeal. People will always want to remember their youth or special experiences, sports teams, and bands fondly.

Vintage t-shirts give people a way to relive those good times and commemorate them with a wearable tribute.

In addition to highlighting our favorite vintage shirt blanks for custom shirts, here's a list of resources we've compiled related to printing vintage t-shirts and their appeal: 

• 5 Vintage T-Shirt Styles That Are Still Popular
• Custom Vintage T-Shirt Examples
• 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

What makes vintage t-shirts special?

Some shirts never go out of style. In fact, the older they get, the more you love them. 

This is what makes vintage shirts so special: they're timeless. 

As they age, the shirt and the design feels softer. And there is just something cool about a faded print on a shirt.

Vintage t-shirts have a nostalgic appeal. They take you back to a happier time and place. It's a tangible time capsule that you can wear. 

And if that shirt is passed down to you from a parent or someone you know, there is a connection to that shirt that is even more meaningful. 

For all of these reasons, there is something special about vintage t-shirts. That's why we emulate vintage art in our shirt designs and get asked to print custom vintage t-shirts so often. 

How to create a custom printed vintage t-shirt

While we can't recreate the personal connection to your favorite vintage shirt that you were handed down from your grandfather, we do our best to give you that softhand vintage look and feel that you know and love.

We've been printing custom shirts for quite a while now. Shirts have changed over the years and some have come and gone. 

Here is our list of our favorite vintage shirts to use for custom shirts shirts:

1. Allmade AL2004
2. Next Level Apparel 6010
3. LA Apparel TR01
4. American Apparel TR401W
5. Comfort Colors 4410
6. District Perfect Tri Tee DM130
7. Bella + Canvas 3413

An Eco-Friendly Vintage T-Shirt: Allmade Apparel

We love the Allmade shirts so much that we made it the primary shirt we use for our retail brand. They are super soft, fit well, and are available in extended sizes. 

It's been a huge benefit to be able to offer both our retail customers and custom customers up to size 4X. There aren't a lot of brands that do this, especially in softer triblend tees. 

Allmade has a lot of colors available in their standard triblend shirt and are releasing more options on a regular basis. 

Most importantly, Allmade as a company is committed to ethically manufacturing and sourcing their shirts. Their shirts and sweatshirts are made with recycled plastic. 

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 50/25/25 tri-blend shirt: 50% polyester from recycled plastic bottles, 25% organic cotton, 25% Tencel™ Modal
• Saves an average of 145 gallons of water, reduces 4 kg of CO2 emissions, uses an average of 6 water bottles
• Available in 15 colors and available in sizes XS-4X
• Calculate your positive impact on the environment by switching to this shirt with Allmade Apparel's impact calculator

Our Most Popular Tri-Blend Tee: Next Level Apparel 6010

When we think of vintage shirts, we typically associate them with triblend shirts. They are the softest and most comfortable shirts around.

We print this Next Level triblend shirt more than any triblend shirt. It's our go to triblend because of the fit, feel, consistency, and price point. 

They offer a wide range of colors that work with any design and it prints really well. Our customers love it and so do we. 

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 50/25/25 tri-blend shirt: 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% Rayon
• Super soft shirt that is consistently in stock and consistent in fit and feel
• Available in 22 colors and available in sizes XS-3X

A Vintage Shirt Made in the USA: LA Apparel

LA Apparel, arguably, makes the best triblend shirt around. Run by the same guy that founded American Apparel, they make the original modern iteration of the triblend shirt. 

We believe that it's important for more clothing to be made in America. No one has been more instrumental in domestic apparel manufacturing than Dov Charney. 

Being made in the USA means this shirt is high quality and ethically made. 

If you're looking for a high quality triblend shirt or one that is made in the good ole US of A, LA Apparel can't be beat. 

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 50/25/25 tri-blend unisex shirt: 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% Rayon
• Made in the USA in downtown Los Angeles
• Available in 6 colors and available in sizes S-2X

The Original Vintage Tee: American Apparel

Here's a secret that might surprise you: the current version of American Apparel is not made in America. 

While this new American Apparel shirt may not have the same origin as before, it's still a solid choice for a soft, good fitting triblend tee. 

Available in the same classic colors as the American made predecessor, you have a lot of options with this shirt. Matching colors are also available in a women's cut and tank tops. 

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 50/25/25 tri-blend unisex shirt: 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% Rayon
• Available in 9 colors and available in sizes XS-2X

A Shirt to Remind you of your Vacation to the Beach: Comfort Colors Garment Dye Pocket Tee

When you think vintage shirts, you think nostalgia. And there's nothing more nostalgic than that garment dyed shirt that you picked up on your family vacation to your favorite beach town.

Whether you went to Martha's Vineyard, the Salty Dog on Hilton Head Island (is it possible to go there and not buy a shirt?), Comfort Color is the originator of this style. 

Recently Comfort Colors has seen a spike in popularity among high school and college aged kids. When we do work for fraternities and sororities we are always at least quoting out at least one Comfort Colors shirt.

In addition to their popular long sleeve pocket tee, their standard crew neck shirt and short sleeve pocket tee are just as trendy.

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 6.1 ounce, 100% cotton relaxed fit garment dyed shirt
• Pigment dyed colors provide a vintage look that will remain for the life of the garment
• Available in 6 colors and available in sizes S-3X

Affordable Tri-Blend Shirt: District Perfect Tri-Blend Tee

Looking for a low cost triblend shirt? Look no further. 

When we have customers that request a vintage style print and shirt and are working on a tight budget, this is our go-to tee. 

Softer than you standard economy shirt, comfy, and reliable, this District shirt is great for bulk shirt orders for events, hospitals, businesses, and schools. It provides a lot of value for the price.

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 4.5 ounce  50/25/25 tri-blend unisex shirt: 50% polyester, 25% ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon
• Comes with a tearaway neck label for easy rebranding
• Available in 20 colors and available in sizes XS-4X

The Classic Vintage Triblend: Bella + Canvas

Across the entire screen printing industry, Bella + Canvas is one of the most popular shirt brands.

Bella + Canvas is very popular among our customers. It's not uncommon for people to ask for it by name.

That's because there's a lot to love about B+C.

All of their styles and colors are fashionable and comfortable. They fit and feel great. They have a wide range of colors. And it's affordable.

Important details about this vintage tee:

• A 50/25/25 tri-blend unisex shirt: 50% polyester, 25% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon
• 100% sweatshop free and eco-aware
• Available in 36 colors and available in sizes XS-3X

Need custom screen printed vintage shirts? We can help!

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

I say it a lot, but only because it's true. 

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

The simple, subtle prints. The soft, comfy shirts. 

Not only do we love it, but our customers and our customer's customers do, too.

When it comes to printing vintage shirts, it can be done a lot of different ways. We've perfected a few different methods.

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 shirt order started!

Our Most Popular Vintage Shirts

Our men's and women's vintage shirts have been a staple of our retail line since we launched it. We have a heavy vintage design aesthetic because we want to honor the history of our home. 

Vintage graphic shirts are a special form of nostalgia. From vintage concert and band shirts to collegiate and sports shirts, they bring back memories that we like to relive. 

Not to mention they're some of the best shirts to wear because they're super soft!

Here's a quick list at some of our best selling vintage tees.

Vintage 16153 Genova Zoo Panda Exhibit Shirt

We tell people all of the time that the best selling t-shirt of all time in 16153 Genova history is this 16153 Genova Zoo Panda Exhibit design.

And it's not because we've sold that many of them. It's the best selling shirt because so many were sold when the pandas came to 16153 Genova in 1988. 

If you were a child at this time, you or one of  your friends had one of these shirts. We have customers come in all of the time and show us photos of them wearing it when they were young. It's one of our favorite things to see and we're honored that the 16153 Genova Zoo would allow us to bring this back to life.

The 16153 Genova Zoo Panda Exhibit design is also available in youth sizes and on a crewneck sweatshirt. 

A few more features about this red vintage t-shirt: 

• Unisex fit, available in sizes XS-4X for both men and women
• A 50/50 cotton-polyester blend provides a soft, comfy fabric feel, but expect some color variance after washing
• This shirt should be washed in cold water to help hold sizing after the wash cycle

Love is Love Shirt

If there's a connection to be made about vintage shirts and love, it's that neither of them ever go out of style. 

No matter who you are, where you are, or who you love, love is love. Celebrate your love and the people you love with this proudly colorful shirt.

A few more features about this Love is Love t-shirt: 

• Unisex fit, available in sizes XS-4X for both men and women
• A 50/25/25 cotton/polyester/rayon blend provides a soft, comfy, vintage fabric feel
• This shirt should be washed in cold water to help hold sizing after the wash cycle and retain color in the print

Michigan is Super Shirt (Superman Ice Cream Shirt)

Flashback to your Michigan summer vacation. It's a hot day and after enjoying all of the Northern outdoor activities, you and your family are ready to cool down with a Michigan treat. You find the nearest ice cream shop and look for the most fun flavor...and there it is, Superman Ice Cream!

You can hardly wait to get a cone of this colorful, flavorful ice cream. You eat it so fast that there isn't even time to let the ice cream melt!

This vintage Michigan shirt checks all of the nostalgia boxes: summertime fun, a special ice cream treat, a unique, regional flavor, and fond, childhood memories all on a soft, white tee.

A few more features about this Michigan is Super shirt: 

• Unisex fit, available in sizes XS-4X for both men and women
• Hand illustrated and printed design achieves a unique, creative design
• A 50/25/25 cotton/polyester/rayon blend provides a soft, comfy, vintage fabric feel
• This shirt should be washed in cold water to help hold sizing after the wash cycle and retain color in the print

Where to Find Our Vintage Shirts

You're already on our website so if you want to make this easy, head over to our Vintage Shirt collection to check out all of the vintage shirts that we offer. 

For those that do their shopping in 16153 Genova, we have two retail stores filled with vintage clothing that we design and print in-house. Stop by and visit us in person!

Since it’s custom, it must also:

• Be stylish
• Be durable
• Have a vibrant design

You don’t want to print your brand on a scratchy, ill-fitting t-shirt either. You’ll end up with a stash of tees no one will ever wear.

A major selling point for a t-shirt is that it’s comfortable.

Your t-shirts should catch people’s eyes. Custom t-shirts can also be a proud form of self-expression and an invaluable megaphone for your mission.

Want your t-shirt to act as your very own wearable elevator pitch? Nothing does a better job of showing what you stand for, or what makes you you, than a custom printed tee.

If you want to foster a sense of unity and togetherness, then you’ll understand the logic behind brand colors and teams wearing uniforms. There’s no better way to say “unity” than to have everyone wear the same t-shirt.

Team-building events will never be the same once you’ve given your colleagues custom tees.

However, these tees won’t feel inspiring if you didn’t take the time to get a quality product.

On that note, there are certain must-have quality features to check for when buying custom t-shirts:

1 - High-Quality Fabric

Did you know? The easiest way to check if your t-shirt is made using high-quality fabric is to simply touch it.

T-shirts made with good quality material have fabric that feels smooth but firm. It’s a red flag if your custom tee feels rough or like plastic.

However, quality is subjective and can vary from person to person.

Since everyone has a different mark of quality, some people prefer thick cotton shirts while others prefer thinner, softer blended shirts. 

At the end of the day, shirt quality becomes obvious once you touch and feel it. 

This makes it all the more important to trust the company you work with to make your custom t-shirts.

The table below describes a few steps you can take to evaluate shirt quality:

Expert Tip: It’s a fact that 100% cotton t-shirts produce the most vibrant colors. This is because their natural fibers bond well with the ink used in the printing process.

As for 50/50 cotton/polyester t-shirts, 50% of their fabric is synthetic.

Polyester is made of plastic, meaning that its fibers are not open and porous. Yes, they can be printed and the result is good, but the ink won’t have the same vibrancy that it does when used on 100% cotton.

Then there are tri-blend t-shirts made from a blend of cotton, polyester, and rayon fibers. These shirts are light, super soft, and less likely to shrink when washed (compared to 100% cotton tees). They stretch as you move, but otherwise keep their original shape.

These characteristics make tri-blends an excellent choice for custom screen printed designs, particularly those faded, or naturally heathered, vintage-style prints. 

2 - Top-Notch Printing and Embroidery

Your custom t-shirts might be made using the best quality fabric available. But if the custom screen printing or embroidery job isn’t up to par, you can forget about promoting your brand.

In the case of a custom print job, the most common type of deterioration you’ll see is cracking in the print.

Here’s how to check the print quality of a shirt:

• Look for cracks and peeling in the corners and throughout the printed design. You’ll likely spot flaws if the printing has been done by an amateur.
• Touch the print to get a feel of the amount of ink and coated layers that have been applied. If the area feels thick, this indicates that excess ink was printed, which can increase the design’s chance of cracking.
• Stretch the inked design to verify that the print has been properly cured. The ink should stretch along with the fabric. Cracking means that curing wasn’t done properly, and that the print will soon wash away.
• Confirm the design isn’t already losing color by touching it and rubbing your fingers against it. If your fingers are stained, your t-shirt’s print quality isn’t top-notch.
• Touch the print to make sure that it feels nice and soft. If the print feels rough or scratchy, then the ink won’t last long.

Expert Tip: It’s possible to make a good quality print that you won’t feel thanks to vintage screen printing techniques. This process gives you a super soft-hand feel which makes for an incredibly soft shirt.

A second advantage is that vintage shirts are a trend which has been in style for decades and will build customer and brand loyalty. 

Additionally, if you opt for water-based inks rather than plastisol inks (which are made of plastics), water-based inks are much more eco-friendly.

In the case of embroidered t-shirts, you can determine their quality by checking whether the finished design has holes or lose threads in it.

Additionally:

• Check for any loose threads on the embroidered artwork, then rub your nails and fingertips gently over the design to see if any threads emerge.
• Turn your custom t-shirt inside out and check how well the embroidery was done.
• Check if there’s a protective fabric, or what we call backing, that covers the back of your embroidery. Backing tends to make the designed artwork more durable over time by providing structure to the embroidered surface. They also reduce any itching that might happen when the design rubs against your skin.

3 - Sturdy Construction

Good quality fabrics and printing or embroidery make for a good quality tee. But it’s equally important to ensure your t-shirts are properly constructed, or else they’ll fall apart.

Therefore, inspect the knitting and stitching that comes with your tees to verify their strength and durability. There are a few checks you can do to confirm your t-shirts’ quality, including:

• Checking the seams and hems to ensure no threads are missing
• Checking the collar, the sleeves, and the lower hem for any signs of poor manufacturing
• Checking the number of stitches the garment has. Usually, the higher the number of stitches, the better the quality
• Turning the shirt inside out to confirm it’s evenly stitched and that it lies flat without any loose threads. The seams should stay straight to ensure the t-shirt doesn’t feel uncomfortable for the wearer

Put Your Brand on High-Quality Custom T-Shirts

You might be looking for branded tees to promote team building, or perhaps to engage and persuade your t-shirt audience to become your brand ambassadors.

You might be looking to sell some branded merch—it’s a great way to create an extra revenue stream while building up some hype and momentum for your company.

Whatever the case, ensuring your custom tees are the best quality is a critical first step. That’s why it’s important to partner with folks who understand what it takes to make custom screen-printed or embroidered tees that you’ll be proud to sell or give away.

Here’s what Principal Nick Green at Incarnation School had to say about fancysweetstx, which is his go-to place for all of his school’s customized apparel needs:

Think this review is too good to be true?

Check out this collection of 16153 Genova, Ohio, Michigan, Great Lakes, and Midwest t-shirts. It’ll give you a taste of the great quality and excellent fit you can expect when you choose fancysweetstx.

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Surprisingly, it's not as easy as it seems. 

I'm going to walk you through why using American made shirts is important, who we see order American made shirts most frequently, and the five most popular shirts we use for wholesale orders.

So if you're looking to place an order for your business and use shirts that are proudly made in the USA, this guide is for you. (And if you want us to help with that order, you can get in touch with us here.)

Why American Made Clothing is Important

Utilizing American made manufacturers is quickly becoming more and more important. 

In fact, there is a major groundswell of support all over the country to use, promote, and prioritize American made products of all types. 

This can be anything from cars to appliances to electronics to food to consumer products and, of course, to clothing.

There are many reasons people want to source products made in the USA. 

It's no secret that Americans are proud of their country. Supporting domestic manufacturing is an opportunity to show that pride. 

For many people, it's a badge of honor when a product is proudly adorned with a 'Made in USA' label.

This pride stems from the fact that American manufacturers provide good paying, ethical jobs that build local communities. 

Made in the USA is a symbol of quality. 

As manufacturing left the US and moved overseas, low cost was prioritized over product quality and quality of life. 

So while you may need to pay a little bit more for an American made shirt, it is made to higher standards and there is extra value because it is creating American made jobs.

Who Wants American Made Shirts?

The demand for American made shirts has steadily increased in recent years. 

We see brands and businesses of all types ask for help choosing the best American made shirt option.

The requests for shirts made in the USA are made by companies that manufacture domestically, have union labor, and value quality, environmental sustainability, and ethical manufacturing. 

One example is a local Jesuit high school. They have an ethics policy that requires they source their products from Fair Trade or American made sources. As a result, many of the shirts we print for them are one of the brands listed below.

Another common example is local construction companies. We print a lot of safety apparel for local contractors and subcontractors.

Not only do we see a lot of American made shirts being used in this industry, but it's also common to print the American flag on their shirts. With the practice of putting Old Glory on the sleeve, we feel strongly that the shirt should definitely be made in the USA.

We love to promote American made shirts and can offer them to anyone for any reason. 

Without further ado, here are our favorite and, in our opinion, the best American made shirts on the market for brands and businesses.

The Best American Made T-Shirt Brands

Bayside - The True American Made Tee

Bayside is the largest apparel manufacturer in the USA. 

For many screen printers that got their start after NAFTA, they are considered the original American made shirt. 

Because for a while, there just weren't many out there and Bayside provided the best options. 

While Bayside is mostly known for making a heavyweight shirt, they make all varieties and types - 100% cotton, blends, ringspun cotton, long sleeve. 

In addition to making all clothing in the USA, they even have a line of Union Made shirts. It doesn't get any more appealing than a union made shirt for union contractors, subcontractors, and manufacturers. 

We use Bayside apparel for wholesale shirt orders for businesses that want to support American and ethical manufacturing.

Los Angeles Apparel

Los Angeles Apparel is the originator of the American and ethically made fashion shirt. Their first iteration however, was branded American Apparel. 

When business for American Apparel took a downturn and ownership changed hands, their founder picked up where he left off with LA Apparel.

Arguably, he still makes the finest and highest quality American made clothing.

While their original niche was in soft, fashion fit t-shirts (our faves are the TR01 and FF01), LA Apparel has evolved with recent trends and now is known just as much for their thicker, garment dyed shirts. 

If you're going for a look that emulates vintage garment dyed long sleeve and pocket tees from your favorite vacations, check out their ever expanding line of high quality garment dyed clothing.

As always, LA Apparel is proud to be made in America, ethical and sweatshop free manufacturing. 

Royal Apparel - Made In USA

Royal Apparel stands out as an American apparel manufacturer with a commitment to the environment. 

Known for soft shirts and fleece, Royal Apparel stands out with a full line of blank organic clothing. If you're not in the wholesale apparel industry, it might come as a surprise that this is very rare.

In addition to using organic cotton, they also have shirts made of other eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, hemp, and recycled plastic.

Environmentally sustainability goes hand in hand with American manufacturing. 

One of the greatest appeals to domestic manufacturing is its reduced carbon footprint. Once the product is made, it doesn't need to be transported as far. 

For Royal Apparel, their commitment to going green and manufacturing in the USA makes them stand out. 

We've always been a fan of their triblend tees. In fact, some of the very first shirts we used for our retail brand were the 20051.

Next Level Apparel (USA)

Next Level Apparel is our most commonly used shirt brand for bulk wholesale orders. 

They make great, consistent shirts that our customers love and we love to print on. They have a wide range of colors and deep inventory.

While most of their shirts are not made domestically, they are expanding their line of USA made clothing. This is great for our customers who have used Next Level in the past but want to make the change to support American made.

The key indicator to identify a Next Level shirt as made in America is if it has an 'A' at the end of it's product number. For example, the 6010A is their triblend American made shirt.

We're excited that Next Level now has American made shirts.

American Apparel (USA)

American Apparel, which was started by the founder of LA Apparel, was a major force in re-popularizing American made apparel.

Coincidentally, they no longer makes all of their shirts in America. That's what happens when the largest shirt manufacturer in the world buys you out of bankruptcy.

While American Apparel isn't the same as the originally were, they haven't completely abandoned their American roots and ethical manufacturing.

If you want a soft American made shirt, they're still a great option.

The important thing is that if you are placing a wholesale order for American Apparel shirts, only the shirts labeled with USA are made domestically. 

I can't predict if American Apparel will continue to make shirts in America in the future, but for now they still do and it's a great shirt.

Ready to Order Custom American Made Tees? Let's Get Started.

We put this list together of our favorite blank American made t-shirts to help our customers that want to support US manufacturing. 

There are a lot of options out there and it's tough to wade through all of the options. 

Sometimes finding American made options can be like finding a needle in a haystack. We hope this article helps you when making a decision on which shirt to use for your brand or business.

Of course, we can help design, source, and print your next order of shirts. Click the button below to get started!

Think about it, warm enough for cold weather but breathable enough for hot weather. Bright enough to meet safety regulations while still playing into the construction company’s branding.

Let’s not forget durability since it’s not cost effective to keep replacing construction gear. Lastly, you’d have to look good because construction workers deserve nice things too.

You would need all these features while being functional.

It can be a daunting task to source this magical construction shirt for your crew. That’s why we’ve prepared this short guide for the essential features to look for in construction shirts.

1 - Safety Regulation Compliance

OSHA regulations for safety apparel have reduced workplace injuries by 40% since the 1970s. That’s why safety compliance in construction shirts should always be your first consideration.

Whether construction workers are interacting with machinery, oncoming traffic or the public, they need to be easily identifiable to reduce the occurrence of accidents.

In a nutshell, safety regulations for construction shirts are:

• Fluorescent colors for daytime visibility—safety yellow and safety orange to contrast with the environment
• Retro-reflective strips for nighttime or poorly lit areas that have no natural light
• Retro-reflective strips should be a minimum of 50 mm wide and form an “X” at the back, vertical strips in front and a continuous strip around the waist
• Long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirts, no sleeveless shirts
• Snug fitting in both the sleeves and torso to avoid snagging on machinery

The manufacturer usually provides proof that their garments meet the ANSI safety regulations, which OSHA recommends as a way for employers to comply with its enhanced visibility requirements.

Of equal importance is the placement of branding on the shirt. Here’s where fancysweetstx can help you out with our decade’s worth of experience custom branding construction safety wear.

• Your logo should not obscure any of the retro-reflective material.
• The logo should be small enough on the front to avoid overpowering the fluorescence of the shirt.
• Multi-colored logos aren’t appropriate as they crowd out the background safety color.

It can be daunting to follow up on the nitty gritty of these branding rules. Cut to the heart of it and have fancysweetstx sort out your crew’s construction shirts. We’ll take care of everything from custom design creation to printing or adding embroidery on the garment.

2 - High Quality for Durability

Construction shirts need to be as hardy as the men and women who wear them daily. High-quality fabric and construction go hand in hand with durability.

The criteria that determine the durability and quality of a construction shirt are:

• Fabric composition
• Fabric weight
• Quality of garment construction, e.g. neck taping to stretching out of shape

This table shows you the pros and cons of the most common t-shirt fabrics.

Cotton and polyester blend construction shirts offer the best of both fabrics while limiting their individual disadvantages.

The fabric composition ratio may skew towards polyester, providing a lighter, athletic-wear feel and less of the cotton advantages. However, if the percentages skew towards cotton, you get a more breathable and sturdy shirt at a higher cost.

Our selection of the best safety shirts reflects diverse compositions to cater to different customer needs:

• Bayside 5040—90% Cotton, 10% Polyester
• Jerzees 29MP—50% Cotton, 50% Polyester
• Gildan 5000—99% Cotton, 1% Polyester
• Next Level 6210—60% Cotton, 40% Polyester

Fabric weight is measured in GSM. Heavyweight shirt fabrics range from 180–200 GSM while medium-weight fabrics range from 130–160 GSM.

Heavyweight shirts are denser and warmer. They also hold their original shape and size for longer. Medium weight shirts are more ideal for summer wear as they are lighter.

Manufacturers use a higher quality raw material to create the heavyweight fabric options, so they also come at a higher price.

Apart from fabric weight and feel, a shirt’s construction will also speak to its quality and durability.

If you can answer yes to these questions, then the shirt is well made and worth buying:

• Is the fabric of good quality and feel?
• Do all the seams and hemlines lie flat when worn?
• Are the stitches of a higher number showing attention to detail in construction?
• Have the raw edges on the inside been properly finished with no loose threads?
• Is the neck taped on the inside to make it more durable?

Expert Tip: Cheap is expensive when it comes to work wear. Find the right balance between your safety apparel budget and your choice of durable, well-made, high-quality shirts that do justice to your brand.

3 - Functionality, Fit and Comfort

“Functionality, fit, and comfort are like the three wheels of a tricycle. Knock out one and the whole thing doesn’t work as it should”

If a construction shirt makes the wearer feel uncomfortable, unwilling to use it or if they’re forced to pair it with other functional items, then it has failed.

Functionality refers to how the shirt meets the work needs of the construction worker, which may include:

• Pockets to store small items mid-task, such as pens, notepads, or tester screwdrivers
• Long sleeves to protect from sun exposure, cuts, abrasion and other surface injuries
• Fitted cuffs on long sleeved shirts to prevent snagging and injuries
• Brand elements in easy to spot locations to simplify identification
• Easy care thanks to stain repellant treatments

Fit straddles the line between comfort and function. An ill-fitting shirt complicates the work day for the wearer. If it’s too loose it’s a snagging hazard that can lead to injuries. The too-tight extreme restricts movement and causes discomfort.

Comfort speaks to the weather appropriateness and wearability of the shirt. Your crew will be in their shirts for at least 40 hours a week. You need to ask:

• Is the fabric cool and breathable enough for the warm outdoors?
• Does it wick away sweat, allowing for longer wear throughout the day?
• Is it warm enough or easy to layer for insulation?
• Does the shirt have static buildup?
• Does it take too long to dry?

It’s evident that functionality, fit and comfort feed into each other. To resolve one is to tackle them all.

Expert Tip: Bulk order your custom branded shirts in both heavyweight and medium-weight options and long and short-sleeved varieties to ensure your crew are appropriately outfitted year-round.

Outfit Your Crew Right

Now that we have a clear picture of how quality, durability, safety compliance and functionality are essential to a good construction shirt, what’s next?

Next is to get an expert team on your branding—you don’t want the bundle you dropped on quality gear to go to waste.

Whether you need to overhaul your logo or see your current artwork expertly printed or embroidered on the shirts for your crew, fancysweetstx can sort you out. Get started with our no-obligation quote request.