loosethoughts

I've started this clothing line named Korrupt Kouture. I've finished registering it, and have worked on a few designs, two of which I have chosen to go forward with.

I would like to have a finished product, complete with tags. I would like a few pieces, in order to show other interested parties who I would like to go into business with. So the more impressive the better.

A few things I would like your opinion on.

Printing method - Silk screen or Embroidered? Vinyl or Iron on? Which one supports the most colors and looks the best?

Tags (neck) - Do I go with the Haynes method, and print it? Or do I get actual tags stitched in to make it look more official?

Tags (Additional) - I have motto's, beliefs and ideas. I wish to express them in my clothing designs, as well on a little insert to be poked in and held by plastic. What is the best, most cost effective way?

Sizing - What sizes are most popular? Should I stick to mens only, or dip into women tees? Does it really cost much more to design bigger sizes?

These are just some of the questions I need answered before I can get this ship off the ground. Any help, whatsoever, is greatly appreciated. I hope to use my clothing line to stand out and bring some interesting issues by utilizing witty slogans and clever designs. Who knows, this might be my launching pad for the career I have planned in my head.

As always, I am a student, as therefore, on a budget. But I realize I need to put my best foot forward, and it takes money to make money (and ideas too).

Thanks for your time in advance...LT

 

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kimura-mma

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Printing method - Silk screen or Embroidered? Vinyl or Iron on? Which one supports the most colors and looks the best?

Well, embroidery is not a print method, so I wouldn't suggest that. Vinyl doesn't support multi color graphics that well. So you're down to screenprinting and transfer. It's a matter of opinion based on what you like best for your brand. In my opinion, screenprinting is the most professional and will give you the best added value at retail.

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Tags (neck) - Do I go with the Haynes method, and print it? Or do I get actual tags stitched in to make it look more official?

Again, it's really a matter of what you like best for your brand. Having your own brand name in the label does look more professional and can add value at retail, but it does cost extra production dollars. So you need to find a balance between professional and practical. My opinion would be, if you are using a basic brand t-shirt, like Hanes or Gildan, you should change the label in an effort to add value to your brand. If you are using a premium brand t-shirt, like American Apparel, then it may be ok to leave the AA labels in since their brand means something. If you are gonna pay extra for their blanks, you may as well benefit from using their label.

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Tags (Additional) - I have motto's, beliefs and ideas. I wish to express them in my clothing designs, as well on a little insert to be poked in and held by plastic. What is the best, most cost effective way?

These are called HangTags. They definitely add a nice touch to your clothing brand. I would suggest spending the money on HangTags rather than changing the neck labels if you needed to decide between the two. Check out the Preferred Vendors list on the left side of the site, there are some companies listed that do HangTags and Labels.

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Sizing - What sizes are most popular? Should I stick to mens only, or dip into women tees?

Depends on the type of brand you are doing. Is your target a young crowd? Older crowd? Men and women, or just men?

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Does it really cost much more to design bigger sizes?

Typically, you would design one size artwork for all t-shirt sizes. Otherwise, you would need separate film, screens, etc for each size. And that will drive up your costs. So when you design your artwork, size it up to your smallest t-shirt size, and that will be the artwork size for all sizes of t-shirts.

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muneca

Hey, good post loosethoughts. and jim, thanks for the tips!

 

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loosethoughts

Tim thanks for the tips...It really did clarify a lot.

I will post whatever direction I decide to take with the specs of the clothing.

As for the designs itself, I've noticed people posting designs without fear of it being stolen. Is it safe to say there are easy steps to be taken to make sure it stays yours? Perhaps emailing the designs to yourself? On a website?

Thanks for all the help so far!

 

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kimura-mma

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Is it safe to say there are easy steps to be taken to make sure it stays yours?

Well, yes and no. You can apply for federal registrations... Copyright for your designs, and Trademark for your brand name or logo.

However, simply registering does not automatically prevent anyone from infringing on your copyright or trademark. You would need to actively enforce your legal right to your registration by sending cease and desist letters and/or suing those who infringe on your copyright or trademark.

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts Perhaps emailing the designs to yourself?

That's pretty much a myth, called Fool's Copyright. It doesn't hold up in court in the USA, but i have read it could work in the UK. So you'll have to see what the law says in Canada.

But if protecting your designs is what you are after, then you may as well just submit copyright applications.

When copyrighting a design, you can only protect the exact design, not the idea or concept behind it. So it doesn't preclude someone from taking the idea, designing it differently, and using it. You wouldn't be able to prevent this in any way.

Quote: Originally Posted by loosethoughts On a website?

Designs are actually copyrighted the moment they are in fixed form. You can put your designs on your website, and add a copyright notice to inform people you claim ownership of your designs, but the only way to establish legal ownership is through federal registrations.

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