T-Shirt Design Opportunities

Making and selling T-shirts

Description:

Make t-shirts with personalized pictures and sayings for classmates during high school using your home computer, wal-mart shirts, and iron-on decals (also from Wal-mart.)

How I got the idea / found the employment:

We had a running joke in my biology class my freshman year about a mythical animal called a marfweasel, I kept telling everyone I owned a marfweasel named marvin so I made a t-shirt with a picture of an otter and the words Marvin the Marfweasel. The whole school caught the spirit and soon people were asking for their own marfweasle shirts with different names and soon I was making random shirts for people that had nothing to do with marfweasels using my computer and iron on’s. I would buy the shirts from wal-mart and then mark up the price accoding to the prices of my esxpenses providing me with a nice little profit.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

The quality wasn’t very good because it was done on a home computer, but because the shirts were unique they were still in demand. It also took a lot of time, I ultimately stopped doing it because I was in soccer and didn't have the management skills to juggle both shirt making and the soccer team.

What I learned:

How to run a small business, how stressful it can be to live a life and run a business, but how rewarding and how fun it is at the same time.

T-shirt Design

Description:

A friend of mine started a t-shirt company in Hawaii called Insaniteez. He partnered with another friend who was good at graphic design.

The company began by landing several small orders for printed shirts, mostly company logos and the sort. They designed them, and sent the image to a company that did the actual printing. They eventually had enough to buy their own printer, and then only needed to order plain t-shirts. Eventually they came up with their own logo and designs, and began printing their own private shirts which they sold online. The shirts were originally targeted towards the “Thug Life,” and were dubbed “Soulja” wear. They eventually branched out by appealing to all young people. They raised enough money to buy a digital printing press which made their production quicker and easier.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

The idea came from one of his friends in Canada who had started a small company that sold mascot t-shirts to local high schools.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

The biggest challenge they faced was getting the capital to begin their business. They did this by saving from their full time jobs. Mike, my friend, worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

What I learned:

He has told me that he would not do business with someone that he barely knew again. He wishes he had someone who he could really trust as a partner.

T-Shirt Design & Selling

Description:

Creatively designed, unique shirts. Started out to work mainly by himself, but then reached out and got the help from others to both come up with designs as well as putting the designs on the shirts. This includes picking out the color wanted for the shirts, what type of fabric or design to use, and where to put the design. Then putting on the design by either sewing, iron-on, painting, or drawing. Once it started to get going, he had to keep track of how many of what to make along with the size, and any other extras that were going to be made if it was for a special person. He also had to keep track of money, how much he was owed from pre-sales, how much he had made from all sales combined together, and how much he was spending to make his products. He kept an eye out from deals and stocked up on shirts and other materials needed as they went on sale.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

He wanted to have some unique shirts that would be fun. Knowing how to sow, unlike most guys, he decided to put his idea onto some of his plain shirts. Realizing how much cheaper it was to make his own shirts with plain colored shirts, pieces of fabric, sewing, and a little bit of time, he ended up making most of his shirts. For birthday gifts, he would make a shirt specifically unique for that certain person. Friends loved the gifts, and all his self designed and made shirts. They would ask him repeatedly to make some for them. That is how the idea came. He would make shirts and sell them to others, making a turn of profit, but still keeping them cheap enough that they would easily sell.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

Time was a big challenge that was faced in making shirts. When making them for himself, it was easy and usually just on some free time here and there. When making many more for shirts for family and friends, it seemed overwhelming to set aside time when it seemed like there was even less then there was before. Learning how to balance between designing and making shirts, homework and schooling, sports, friends, church, etc. was a hard thing to do - especially at first. When getting further into making his shirts, it was hard to decide who to please and where to draw the line. When making many t-shirts that are the same for multiple people, there are always questions as to if a small little thing can be changed - wanting it on the opposite side, different color, etc. It is hard, since many of these people have been there to help him start and be productive, but at the same time to balance the way in which things get done quickly and efficiently.

What I learned:

The person who started to do this when he was in high school is currently on his mission. It is not like what it was before, but his friends have started to make their own t-shirts, but nothing like what he used to do (quantity, and also his unique style and twist on certain designs). It takes creativity for a person to do this. Not all people are very creative on their own. I know that I am not, but for those who are, it is a good and fun way to make a little profit and put your creativity to use. It is a way to expand your creativity even more, and make your own mark on things. It is wonderful to see how your work is being worn and enjoyed by others, especially of our peers since they can be our worst judges.

For the most part, he was able to use his mother’s sewing machine, but mentioned that if he were to continue this longer than just high school, that he would probably invest in a sewing machine of his own - nothing new and high tech to start out with, but a well working used one. Not everything can be the best when first starting out, and can later be upgraded. There are definitely some things that do have to be very good quality as they are the finished products. Even though an old sewing machine might not be top notch, it still need to be good enough to have stitching that won’t unravel.

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