Branded apparel serves dual purposes: team unity and marketing. When your team wears branded clothing, they represent your company professionally. When customers wear your merchandise, they advertise for you.
Design Tips for Wearable Merchandise
- Keep designs simple: Your logo, a clever tagline, or a clean graphic. Complex designs look busy on clothing.
- Consider placement: Left chest for professional (embroidered logo), full front or back for casual (screen-printed graphic).
- Choose quality blanks: People wear comfortable shirts. Cheap blanks end up as rags. Invest in Bella+Canvas, Next Level, or equivalent quality.
- Design for the garment color: Light designs on dark shirts, dark designs on light shirts. Test the combination before ordering.
Print Methods
- Screen printing: Best for large orders with 1-4 colors. Durable and cost-effective at scale. $5-$15 per shirt depending on color count and quantity.
- Direct-to-garment (DTG): Full-color printing with no minimums. Best for complex designs, photographs, or small quantities. $15-$25 per shirt.
- Embroidery: Stitched designs for a premium look. Best for polos, hats, and corporate wear. $8-$20 per item depending on stitch count.
- Heat transfer/vinyl: Good for names, numbers, and simple designs. Best for small quantities and personalization. $5-$12 per item.
Merchandise as Marketing
Give branded items at events, as customer gifts, or sell them if your brand has a following. The cost per impression for branded apparel is among the lowest in marketing -- a $15 t-shirt worn 50 times costs $0.30 per impression.
Need custom apparel design? See our t-shirt design service for print-ready artwork, or contact us.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order for custom apparel?
Screen printing minimums are typically 24-48 pieces per design. Direct-to-garment (DTG) and heat transfer have no minimum -- you can order one shirt. Embroidery minimums are usually 12-24 pieces. Costs decrease significantly with larger orders.
Screen printing vs embroidery: which is better?
Screen printing is best for t-shirts, hoodies, and designs with bold graphics or multiple colors. Embroidery is best for polo shirts, hats, jackets, and professional/corporate apparel. Embroidery looks more premium but costs more per unit.
How much does custom apparel cost?
The print shop sets the price per garment, and bulk orders significantly reduce it. The design is separate: $197-$497 depending on complexity, delivered as print-ready files your shop can use.
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