T-shirts: The Ultimate Guide

T-shirts: The Ultimate Guide

The Ul t imate Guide To Buy ing T- shi r t s

WHY T-SHIRTS?

A Lasting Impact

• T-shirts have evolved from underwear, that’s right, underwear. Today, t-shirts are one of the most common forms of clothing around the world. • For our purposes, we want to take a look at how t-shirts become an effective piece of a marketing strategy. Branded t-shirts are not only effective but are an affordable means to build brand engagement, recognition and exposure. Putting your brand on a t-shirt is essentially like creating a walking billboard, that is, if it gets worn.

Versatility Here are a variety of simple ways businesses use branded t-shirts. • Lead Generation – Incentive for signing- up for newsletter • Customer or Partner Thank-You Quality = Results • Choosing a quality t-shirt maximizes ROI by accomplishing two things: 1. Boosts satisfaction and comfort of the recipient. 2. Increases the number of impressions your brand receives.

• Brand Activation/Re-branding • Employee Uniforms • Branded Retail Merchandise • Reward for engagement on Social Media

• Hand-out at tradeshow/sales meeting • Special events/initiatives – Company Picnics, 5K’s, Mergers, etc.

CHOOSING CAREFULLY

How to choose the best custom T-shirts Branded T-shirts can be a remarkable, cost-effective marketing vehicle. When done right, branded tees will boost brand recognition, exposure, and engage- ment. However, not all t-shirts are created equal. Below are five key factors to help you navigate the endless sea of T-shirt options. STYLE & MATERIAL

FUNCTIONALITY

FIT

DESIGN

EXPERT PARTNER

STYLE & MATERIAL • Ask yourself, will people actually want to wear this shirt? Is it comfortable? If the answer is no, you need to re-evalu- ate your t-shirt selection. Style starts with the fabric the tee is made from. • You want a material that is soft and comfortable to wear. Accomplish this with a 100% combed and ring spun cotton or Triblend tee. Triblends are a great way to accomplish comfort, style and durability. Remember, a good tee Isn’t always the cheapest, but it will have the longest life and get the most use.

Combed & Ring spun Triblends Material Terminology: Know The Difference

Smoother and longer than open end yarn. The term “ring spun” means that the yarn goes through an innovative spinning process that’s designed to thoroughly soften and straighten each fiber. The result? Softer, more refined fibers (aka pieces you want to wear). Ring spun cotton

This means that cotton fibers are spun, then combed through to remove impurities while ensuring it stays soft to the touch. Fewer impurities mean a smoother surface to print on.

A blended shirt simply means that the fabric is made-up of multiple types of yarn. Triblends vary in percentages and types of cotton but a typical triblend will consist of 50% polyester, 25% cotton and 25% rayon. The result of a triblend tee is durability, comfort and great fit. These blends are now available in a wide variety of colors and style options.

Women’s Favorite T. Combed & Ring- spun cotton.

Men’s heavyweight ring-spun cotton T-shirt

Unisex, black heather triblend. Cotton, poly, Rayon.

FUNCTIONALITY

• Choose a t-shirt that matches your application. • If the branded tee is part of a uniform program, consider the number of washes the t-shirt is rated for. If the tee is for a corporate fitness program, you’ll want some degree of moisture wicking properties. • Promotional t-shirts should be of reasonable comfort and quality, to be sure you are getting the most for your investment. • Be sure your Sales Professional knows exactly what the shirts will be used for so they can provide the best recommendation.

FIT

• It’s simple, if the shirt doesn’t fit, it won’t get worn. Take ten minutes to think about who will actually be wearing the piece. • A “good fit” for one demographic may be a nightmare for another . A poorly fitting shirt will land your marketing dollars (and the shirt) in the trash, ROI=0. The following are some things to consider when thinking about the fit of your tee. • Contact your sales professional to order samples and learn more about selecting the right fit for your campaign.

Some Types of T-shirt Fits

FIT Men’s & Unisex

• Men’s and unisex tees are often-times considered the same in style. The reason for this is that ladies can fit into men’s tees, but men can’t fit in to ladies’ tees (for the most part). So if a company wants to make one tee, they create a unisex that is designed for men, and women have made due (more on this to follow). • So, what makes a good fitting men’s tee? Here are some things to consider:

• Tubular Vs. Side-seamed The first thing to consider is the construction, tubular or side-seamed. Tubular tees are cheaper to construct because they require less sewing. While this process may shave pennies off the price, tubular tees don’t fit right on people because our bodies aren’t tubes. • The second option is side-seamed construction. This option creates a more tailored structure. Although more expensive to make, these are the only type of tees you’ll find in a retail store, so selecting a side- seamed tee is a no-brainer. • Boxy Vs. Tailored – After selecting a side-seamed tee, you’ll want to choose between boxy fit and a more tailored, modern fit. Personal preference and application will play an important role here. Men’s fashion has swung the in the direction of a slim-fit look, but there is a resurgence in oversized styles as well. We highly recommend ordering samples to test-out your style options.

FIT Ladies’ Fit Tees • 20 Years ago, a women’s market did not exist in the wholesale or promo industry. Our friends at Bella + Canvas designed the first Ladies specific t-shirt available in the industry. • Ladies’ styles today have exploded. Originally, a more slim and tailored fit was preferred but preferences have evolved. Women now seem to desire a more relaxed fit that is a bit looser and doesn’t accentuate every curve. • Ladies’ style and fit continues to expand into styles such as “slouchy”& “flowy” that drape and hang away from the body.

DESIGN • People should be excited to wear your shirt. Create or choose a design that is eye-catching using creative placement and imprint methods. • The color and style of the shirt should be considered and how it works to create an overall cohesive design. Technical details such the material (100% cotton vs. a blend) can affect what imprint methods can be used. Standard screen-printing is most common, but new technologies allow for DTG (Direct to Garment) and Dye-Sublimation that can greatly increase the overall look of the shirt. • With good design practices, your tee can go from just a plain t-shirt to an all-time favorite. Your sales professional has an arsenal of designers and an abundance of expertise to help make your shirt stand-out amongst the crowd.

EXPERT PARTNER

• Choosing the right t-shirt can be an overwhelming process. Choosing the right partner is key to a successful campaign and making your tee one that people will love. • Side-seamed or tubular? Triblend or 100% jersey cotton? Screen print or DTG? These are questions you don’t have to answer alone. Your Proforma Albrecht & Co. Sales Professional is an expert on almost all branded apparel. • We are happy to answer questions, provide ideas and suggestions, and send samples before you order. The sooner you involve your expert sales professional, the more help they can provide. Our goal is to make your t-shirt one with lasting impact.

READY TO GET STARTED? CONTACT YOUR PROFORMA ALBRECHT & CO. SALES PROFESSIONAL TODAY.

Proforma Albrecht & Co. 1040 Techne Center Drive Milford, OH 45150