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The Ultimate Guide to Custom T-Shirts: What You Need to Know
For companies of all sizes, custom t-shirts are an effective tool for team unity, brand marketing, and creating promotional or retail items. Custom t-shirts offer your business a unique chance to leave a lasting impression, whether they are used for events, workwear, or retail sales.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to choose, design, and order the perfect custom t-shirts for your business needs.
- Page Contents
- Choosing the Right T-Shirt for Your Business Needs
- Printing Methods: Screen Print vs. Transfer Print
- Customisation Options for Maximum Brand Impact
- Ensuring Comfort (and Compliance)
- Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Choices
- Why Choose XAMAX® for Custom T-Shirts?
- Ordering and Lead Times: What to Expect
- Conclusion
Choosing the Right T-Shirt
Types of T-Shirts Available
There’s a variety of t-shirt types to suit different requirements. Short-sleeved t-shirts are popular and versatile, ideal for general use, while long-sleeved options offer extra protection for cooler or outdoor conditions.
Speaking of sleeves, there are 2 main types: Drop sleeve (AKA: Set-In) or Raglan sleeves. Chances are you'll recognise both, but raglans are much less common than a drop sleeve.
Hi Vis (High Visibility) t-shirts are essential in industries where safety is a priority, featuring fluorescent colours and reflective strips to increase visibility of the wearer. You'll also find female-fit options, which are tailored for a more contoured shape, giving a professional and comfortable look for every member of your team.
Materials and Fabrics
The choice of fabric will affect how comfortable, durable, and suitable a t-shirt is for different uses. Common fabrics include:
- Cotton – Known for being soft and breathable, making it a popular choice for comfort. However, it can shrink if not pre-shrunk.
- Polyester – This synthetic material resists wrinkles and wicks away moisture, making it a good option for active or outdoor work.
- Blends – Combining cotton and polyester, blends offer both comfort and durability, plus a little extra stretch. For eco-conscious businesses, sustainable options are available, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. These options offer an environmentally friendly choice without sacrificing quality.
Styles and Fits
Choosing the right style and fit is essential to ensure comfort and reflect your brand's image. Standard crew necks offer a classic, versatile look that’s suitable for most settings, while V-necks and scoop necks give a modern touch.
A relaxed fit provides comfort and flexibility, but a more tailored fit creates a sharper, professional look for customer-facing roles or retail.
XAMAX® offers a range of fits, including female fits, which provide a more tailored shape for added comfort and style. These options ensure that all team members, regardless of their body type, feel comfortable and well-represented in their branded clothing.
When everyone feels good in what they’re wearing, it shows in their confidence and attitude.
Printing Methods: Screen Print vs. Transfer Print
At XAMAX®, we offer two reliable printing methods for custom t-shirts: screen printing and transfer printing (although there are different types of transfer printing). Both methods produce high-quality results, each with unique advantages.
Screen Printing T-Shirts
Screen printing is a popular choice for bold designs and large orders. This method uses a stencil on a mesh screen to apply ink to the fabric, resulting in vibrant, long-lasting prints. Screen printing is ideal for large run retail t-shirts that will be washed frequently. It works best with solid colours and thicker fabrics, bringing high-impact designs to life in a durable way.
There is a limit on the number of colours you can use in your design. Simple 1, 2 or 3 colour designs are perfect for screen printing and can be done with the minimum of fuss. Anything over 4 colours, and you start really multiplying the cost of print.
We'll help you make the right decisions though. Due to the costs of the screen printing process, XAMAX® has a minimum run rule of 100 garments. Anything lower than that is not cost-effective for us or for you.
Transfer Printing T-Shirts
Transfer printing is ideal for smaller orders and intricate designs, including artwork with multiple colours or detailed elements.
Transfers are created in different ways: it could be a printed vinyl, a plotted cut coloured vinyl or (our favourite) the new fangled Direct To Film (DTF) process where your design is printed onto a film that is then coated in adhesive ready for the next part of the process
Regardless of how the design is created, the next step is the same. Using heat and pressure, the design is transferred onto the fabric. This method works well on many different fabrics, including polyester, and is perfect for promotional t-shirts, detailed logos or simple 1 colour designs.
If you’re looking for a way to achieve a complex, crisp, vibrant design, transfer printing is an excellent choice.
Customisation Options for Maximum Brand Impact
Design Placement and Options
The placement of your design plays a big role in how noticeable and effective it is. Common placements include the front, back, and sleeves, with some businesses opting for unique placements like the nape of the neck.
Most retail t-shirts feature a large front print - you'll have some in your wardrobe. Other placements such as sleeves, can be difficult (if not impossible) to screen print, so placement choice really does go hand in hand with your design and print choices.
For Hi Vis and workwear t-shirts, it’s important to consider the design’s position to keep safety features, like reflective strips, visible.
Usually, our workwear t-shirt customers opt for a Left Breast placement and a large back print. This design placement not only ensures visibility but also reinforces your brand’s identity.
Colour and Design Considerations
Your t-shirt’s colour is key to making a strong impression.
Choosing colours that match or complement your logo enhances brand recognition and creates a cohesive look. Consider the work environment as well - lighter colours work well for summer or outdoor use, while darker shades are practical for industrial settings, as they show less dirt - especially important if you're looking for printed t-shirts as a work uniform.
Making smart colour and design choices helps create a professional image while keeping the t-shirts practical for everyday use.
For retail sales, white, black or navy t-shirts are the obvious choice and you'll see mostly white or black t-shirts out and about. But there are literally thousands of different colours to choose from, so why limit yourself?
Ensuring Comfort (and Compliance)
Size and Fit Options for Improved Sales
The only thing we all have in common is that we are all different - and that's ok.
Most t-shirt manufacturers offer a vast range of sizes and shapes. Some t-shirt ranges offer a Unisex fit from extra-small to 6XL, with a 6-20+ female-fit and even child size equivalents.
Some don't, and you're stuck with Small to Extra Large. Your choice of stock t-shirt could impact your overall customer base if you're looking to sell your designed t-shirts as a product.
As with all products going to market, it's important to consider your customers before you start investing cold, hard cash.
Size and Fit Options for Diverse Teams
When it comes to workwear, offering a range of sizes and fits allows every team member to feel comfortable and included.
Female fits provide a contoured shape, which some employees may prefer, while a standard fit (read: Unisex) works well for broader body types. Long-sleeved options add extra coverage, ideal for teams working outdoors or in cooler conditions.
Ensuring each person has a well-fitting, comfortable t-shirt helps create a unified and confident team.
Hi Vis and Safety Compliance
Hi Vis t-shirts are essential in industries where safety and visibility are a priority, such as construction or transportation. Available in bright, fluorescent colours, Hi Vis t-shirts help ensure team members are seen in low-light conditions, adding a layer of safety while still allowing for your custom branding.
These t-shirts meet UK safety standards and are designed to be highly visible, making them a smart choice for compliance and brand exposure, especially in the summer months.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Choices
XAMAX® offers sustainable options for businesses prioritising the environment. Our eco-friendly choices include organic cotton, recycled polyester, and water-based inks, all of which reduce environmental impact.
Choosing sustainable options shows customers and partners that your business cares about the planet. For more details, see our article on Sustainable T-Shirt Printing: Eco-Friendly Options for Modern Businesses.
Why Choose XAMAX® for Custom T-Shirts?
Expertise and Quality
XAMAX® has years of experience producing high-quality custom t-shirts for a wide range of businesses.
Our team knows how to deliver durable, vibrant prints that maintain their quality over time, whether they’re worn as workwear, sold for retail, or used at events. Each t-shirt is carefully crafted to meet the high standards we’ve set, ensuring customer satisfaction with every order.
And they are VERY high standards when it comes to our prints... Boss-man is super keen on our print quality!
Flexibility and Customisation
We understand that every business has unique needs. At XAMAX®, we offer various printing options, sizes, fabrics, and styles to help you create the perfect t-shirt for your brand.
Our flexible approach means we can customise your order to your exact needs, giving you a product that truly represents your brand.
Fast Turnaround and Reliable Service
When you’re working to a deadline, reliability is crucial.
XAMAX® provides fast(ish*) production and delivery times, so you can count on receiving your t-shirts when you need them. Our efficient processes make sure your order arrives on time without sacrificing quality.
*It still takes time. Don't expect next day from your order - there are so many variables to consider at our end that you need to give us at least a week (if not 2) to get everything set up, tested, run, dried, checked, packed, dispatched, and delivered.
Transfers are generally much faster than screen prints though.
Trusted by UK Businesses
XAMAX® is a trusted name in custom clothing across the UK.
We’ve worked with small businesses, large corporations, and everything in between. Our reputation for quality and reliability means our customers can count on us for every order, large or small.
Ordering and Lead Times: What to Expect
Bulk Orders and Cost Efficiency
Ordering in bulk not only saves (a ton of) money but also keeps branding consistent across your team.
Bulk orders allow us to offer competitive pricing, so you get high-quality, branded t-shirts at an affordable cost. This is ideal for businesses needing t-shirts for large teams or events, providing a professional, unified look.
And if you're looking to sell the t-shirts on, you'd want the best price possible. Our Tiered/volume pricing ensures the costs we save are passed directly on to you.
Production and Delivery Timelines
Production and delivery times vary based on the order size and customisation requirements. Screen printing may take a little longer for setup and production, while transfer printing can be quicker for small, detailed orders.
Contact us to discuss your timeline, so we can make sure your order arrives when you need it.
Conclusion
Custom t-shirts give businesses a unique way to showcase their brand, whether as workwear, promotional items, or retail products.
By choosing the right style, fabric, and printing method, you can create t-shirts that represent your brand and serve your team well.
Contact XAMAX® today to learn more about our custom t-shirt options and let us help bring your brand vision to life.