fancysweetstx - Midwest, Ohio, Michigan, and Great Lakes Clothing Updates and News

How to Print the USA Flag on T-Shirts [With Examples]

2022-11-01T11:30:00-04:00

We get the request to print the United States flag on shirts on a regular basis (want shirts printed with the U.S. flag on it? Order custom shirts here).

When we first started printing, we didn’t think much of this request. However, after we hired a veteran of the Navy, we learned there is more to printing the flag than we had originally thought.

If you search online, there are a lot of guidelines for flag usage.

Using the American Flag correctly on apparel is important because it's a sign of respect and admiration for former and current members of the military.

We're going to help explain and simplify the guidelines for you. In this article you'll learn:

Which direction the American flag should face when printed on a shirt sleeve
The true colors of the American flag

The Two Important Rules for Printing the American Flag on Shirts

Some of them are a bit vague, others don't account for all current and potential uses, but there are two really important guidelines for screen printing the American flag on shirts - ‘stars before bars’ and the official colors.

The most common placement for the U.S. flag on a shirt is a sleeve. You can print the flag on either sleeve. The right or left are both fine and you commonly see the flag on either.

However, the direction the flag faces is important.

As our Navy vet was fond of saying, ‘stars before bars’. Once we heard this phrase, we never had an issue with it again. What he means is that the stars on the flag should be towards the front of the body and the "bars" or stripes on the flag follow behind.

It is meant to mimic the way the flag would be positioned as it was held aloft and carried into battle.

If the flag is not printed on the sleeve, the direction it points is up to the discretion of the customer.

What are the Official Pantone Colors in the Flag?

Everyone knows that the American flag is red, white, and blue. That's easy.

But it gets complicated when you acknowledge that colors are subjective. Red to one person is different than another.

Blue can be interpreted as royal blue, light blue, navy, or any other variation.

Additionally, people interpret colors differently and lighting can change. This can lead to varying expectations for a print.

That's where Pantone colors come into play. Using Pantone colors helps us establish consistent expectations and values for colors.

For the U.S. flag, there are specific Pantone colors for the red and blue.

The red in the flag is PMS 193
The blue in the flag is PMS 282

The red is pretty traditional, but the blue is a bit surprising for some people because it is navy, not royal.

Now that you know these colors, you'll never have to worry about using the correct colors again.

Other Uses for the American Flag and Colors

In addition to printing the U.S. flag on shirts, we often get the request to use the red, white, and blue colors and stars and stripes in non-traditional ways.

In these instances, when a business is trying to emulate the look of the flag or identify as proudly American, we follow the same rules and guidelines we explained above.

This is a very common request in safety apparel for construction companies and contractors.

You can see in the above photo that while their logo is not the U.S. flag, it has the same elements - stars, stripes, and red, white, and blue colors.

When we print a design like this, we talk to the customer about the appropriate colors to use and why we recommend them.

When we get a request to print the U.S. flag, these are the two standards that guide us and we make sure our customer understands before we print.

And if you're looking for an American made shirt blank to use for your order, check out our five recommendations for best American made shirts to use for custom orders and 4 Really Good Reasons You Should Buy American-Made Shirts.

Order Custom Screen Printed Shirts for Your Organization

Here’s what Michael had to say after ordering custom 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."

Custom screen printed shirts can make a big impression for your business, school, or event.

We print shirts for landscaping companies, non-profits, schools, sports teams, restaurants, and manufacturing companies on a weekly basis.

At fancysweetstx we have the experience, design skills, and equipment to provide high-quality branded merchfor your business.

If you need custom shirts printed with or without the American flag, reach out to fancysweetstx today!

4 Really Good Reasons You Should Buy American Made Shirts

2022-08-15T08:26:47-04:00

The benefits of purchasing American-made shirts traverse as wide as an eagle’s wings. From showcasing American pride to promoting a better environment, it’s no wonder most American consumers have resorted to purchasing locally made products instead of imports.

But if you’re still sitting on the fence, the following statistics will convince you why American-made shirts are a worthwhile investment:

Local manufacturers provide jobs to millions of Americans every year. In 2018, the sector employed 11.9 million workers.
Local manufacturers contribute at least $2.77 trillion annually to the US economy. Buying American-made shirts boosts the country’s economy.
For every $1 billion worth of goods imported, the US economy loses 4,500 jobs. Buying American-made products reverses this cycle and creates job opportunities.

fancysweetstx has remained steadfast in its love and pride for America. Since kicking off in 2006, we’ve dedicated ourselves to making the highest quality shirts, with everything sourced locally, from fabrics to labor.

Purchasing American-made shirts has several environmental, ethical, financial, and aesthetic benefits, as we shall see below.

1 - You Are Guaranteed Higher Quality Shirts

Nothing beats American-made when it comes to quality. Anytime there’s a “Made in the USA” label on a shirt, three elements come to mind: high quality, superior product, and excellent craftsmanship.

With a long history of manufacturing, the US has managed to pass down skills and experience to younger generations. This has promoted the production of clothes with the highest level of craftsmanship.

Manufacturing companies in the US must pass rigorous tests before releasing their apparel to the public. This is done to ensure the clothes they produce are fit for consumers, and the planet. The usage of cheap fabrics and toxic dyes that can cause skin allergies and irritations is prohibited.

Instead, American brands are required to work with the superior quality fabrics like cotton and rayon to abide by the safety and quality standards.

In turn, consumers end up purchasing shirts that are:

Durable: A fabric like cotton has a high tensile strength, which makes it strong and unlikely to tear or rip.
Comfortable: Fabrics like fleece and cotton are breathable and exclusively soft, providing maximum comfort.
Great fit: Quality fabrics maintain their shape, giving you a nice fit even after several washes.

”Shirt is very soft and fits like a medium should. Excited to wear it to my friends’ Euchre party this weekend!”
— Michael W, ★★★★★ fancysweetstx Verified Buyer, Pick It Up Euchre Shirt

Some countries overseas are not subjected to thorough quality and safety tests, which compromises the quality of the shirts they produce.

2 - American Made Products Provide Jobs for Americans

Promoting US-based brands creates more jobs and opportunities for American residents.

The more money invested in American made shirts, the more money will be put back into manufacturing them. This, in turn, leads to growth in the manufacturing sector.

And as the sector grows, more jobs are created, pushing more money back into the economy … and the cycle continues.

Relying on clothes made by foreign manufacturers, on the other hand, has resulted in fewer jobs for Americans.

A 2018 article published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the manufacturing sector had lost about 7.5 million jobs since 1980. The primary reason for this decline was the rising trade with foreign countries like China, resulting in most consumers purchasing foreign products.

Luckily, we can reverse this cycle and create more job opportunities for the future generations. If each American spent as little as $3.33 on American made shirts per year, close to 10,000 new jobs would be created.

Not only that. A 2021 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average American family spends $1,833 on clothes every year. If only half of these purchases were made on USA-made apparel, millions of jobs would be created.

So whenever you buy American made shirts, know that you’re increasing the jobs available to future generations and growing the economy.

fancysweetstx offers a wide variety of American made shirts to cater to your individual needs and preferences. Whether you want a shirt with an imprinted USA flag or one to match your green embroidered sweatpants, there’s something for you.

3 - Buying USA Made Shirts Reduces Carbon Footprint

Did you know that most foreign products are actually shipped from the US as raw materials, manufactured, then shipped back as finished goods for sale?

That’s a lot of fuel!

The back and forth shipment of the goods creates unnecessary fossil fuel emissions and production of greenhouse gasses.

The resultant effects on the environment are hazardous:

Fossil fuels release harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain, damages crops, and harms wildlife.
When oil spills into water bodies during shipping, toxic chemicals like mercury and lead are released into the water. These substances contaminate groundwater, rendering it unsafe for consumption.
Fossil fuels are non-renewable. When burned, they release greenhouse gasses unlike their renewable counterparts, such as wind energy and geothermal.

By purchasing shirts made by local businesses, you’ll be contributing to a cleaner planet. Since these shirts are manufactured locally, no overseas shipping is needed, immensely reducing their carbon footprint.

Most international sea shipping also takes way longer, sometimes up to 30 days. And while air shipping may be quicker, it is ridiculously expensive.

But with USA-made shirts, you have a more reliable supply chain. When a product is made domestically, manufacturers can respond to demand faster and fill inventory holes in a reasonable time frame.

While it can take up to 10 business days to deliver shirts for custom branded merch or those out of stock, your shirts will most likely arrive sooner.

”I am super impressed…The shirts were delivered quicker than I expected and the quality of the finished product was excellent.”
— Steve M, fancysweetstx Verified Buyer

4 - Fast and Convenient Communication

If you’ve ever purchased an item overseas, you understand that several challenges may arise during the entire process due to miscommunication.

These challenges can be attributed to factors such as:

Delayed communication: The huge difference in time zones often results in late responses.
Language barriers: Some countries speak foreign languages like German and French, which makes communication difficult.
Poor customer service: Unresponsiveness from foreign companies and failure to provide solutions to consumers’ needs is a major challenge of purchasing products overseas.

Working with a local company, on the other hand, guarantees you a fast response. You can also pick your phone and reach out whenever you want because of the similar time zones.

At fancysweetstx, we value quality customer service as much as the quality of our apparel. Our FAQ page will give you fast answers to the commonly asked questions regarding our products and services.

To check your order status, use the lookup order tool. And if you need to make changes on your order, just get in touch, and our highly experienced customer service team will attend to you.

fancysweetstx Makes Custom Shirts That Are Made in the USA

According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, 8 in 10 Americans would rather buy locally-made products than imported goods. When we buy American-made shirts, we’re not only boosting the country’s economy but also creating more job opportunities and promoting a sustainable environment.

Domestic shipping is fast and affordable, ensuring you receive your order conveniently, and in the shortest time possible.

These, together with the excellent customer service and high quality products produced, makes purchasing locally made shirts worthwhile.

fancysweetstx regularaly prints custom shirts are made in the USA using the highest quality fabrics. With endless styles and sizes to choose from, you’ll indeed find something for you, whether you’re looking for a custom vintage or a safety shirt.

Check out the entire collection of our shirts here.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for further inquiries or if you’d like to make a custom order. We’ll get back to you in no time.

”fancysweetstx is very professional, very responsive and a pleasure to work with. We will be back again!”
— Don C, fancysweetstx Verified Buyer

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