Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $?
Okay, so this is my dilema. I am an artist and am looking for a way to use my talent. I have always had t-shirt ideas and would now like to do something about them. I am simply thinking of T's with designs on them. My dilema is that I don't know how to go about starting all of this. I need a design software, and either my own printing equipment or at least a source to have my shirts printed. And I don't have a whole lot of $ to work with. Can this be done without spending lots and lots of money? Sorry for being almost completely ignorant of the T-shirt business. But I guess that's why I signed up as a member. I read some of the posts made here but ran out of time. Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
Okay, so this is my dilema. I am an artist and am looking for a way to use my talent. I have always had t-shirt ideas and would now like to do something about them. I am simply thinking of T's with designs on them. My dilema is that I don't know how to go about starting all of this. I need a design software, and either my own printing equipment or at least a source to have my shirts printed. And I don't have a whole lot of $ to work with. Can this be done without spending lots and lots of money? Sorry for being almost completely ignorant of the T-shirt business. But I guess that's why I signed up as a member. I read some of the posts made here but ran out of time. Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
Thanks,
Micah
Micah,
Do what you love and you will prosper.
Spending money to save a little on printing your shirts (in my opinion) has a tendency to split your focus, leaving you exhausted with little time for your art - especially in the early days when you have a learning curve.
I tell you this because I see my husband printing and know that he is leaving his most valuable gifts on the table right now.
We print for several people that want to have clothing lines but do not have a lot of funds. We do short runs on our Brother printer or screen print them. This allows them to see what they like, what sells, etc.
You can always get into printing at some point but you can't buy back the time you have lost to do your art.
Perhaps you can find someone that is getting into the printing business and work a deal with them???
Okay, so this is my dilema. I am an artist and am looking for a way to use my talent. I have always had t-shirt ideas and would now like to do something about them. I am simply thinking of T's with designs on them. My dilema is that I don't know how to go about starting all of this. I need a design software, and either my own printing equipment or at least a source to have my shirts printed. And I don't have a whole lot of $ to work with. Can this be done without spending lots and lots of money? Sorry for being almost completely ignorant of the T-shirt business. But I guess that's why I signed up as a member. I read some of the posts made here but ran out of time. Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
Thanks,
Micah
Basically... we can't answer your question without knowing what "not much $" means. So you just need to contact some printers and get some quotes, and then you'll know whether you can afford it or not.
Last edited by Solmu; July 30th, 2008 at 11:11 PM.
Reason: thread cleanup
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
Yes you can, Heck i started with less than $1,000 with the cheapy stuff though,made enough cash and upgraded. You can even start with less than $400 bucks screen printing 1 color designs and then upgrade to a 4 or 6 color press. Check out the 1 color ryonet kit from Silk Screening Supplies .com, screen printing equipment, silk screen printing kits it has everything to start printing.
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
i started with one of the silkscreeningsupplies packages to start my clothing line but soon i didn't have time to do the art work for the shirts so had to bring in a partner ( close Cousin) now is running smother he does that art and I print. you will lose time in the art department and or your juice wont flow Depending on what you buy and how much free time you have. silk screen can take a big part of your life
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
Make your art designs and use Photoshop to compose a picture of the shirts with your art on them.
When customers are interested in a shirt, that is the moment to go to a screen printer to have them printed.
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
Learn the craft as you make your start. That will make you understand what you can do easily and what is just too difficult to get printed in a price range to be affordable. Start with a single color/station press, even if you have to use a home made one(look for plans on the internet and this forum). If you really like the business, you will be more able to do it with the full knowledge of what it takes to do the finished product. A lot of "artist" have talent but their "taste" aren't really marketable. Learning the craft will let you make money, gain knowledge, acquire contacts, learn humility and people skills. There are just too many benefits to learning from the bottom of the trade all the way to the top. Remember, it's not just the destination that makes getting somewhere a good thing, but also the trip so you can keep the trip going. Not be a one hit wonder. Sorry I'm not good at expressing my thoughts but I hope you get the message despite my bumbling efforts to explain myself.
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my T-shirt business with a small amount of $?
You can start with a tight budget and expand as time allows.I suggest you look into a used name brand heat press and have some design made with plastisol transfers made. This will allow you to print then as needed and you need to carry a large inventory. ... JB
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $?
I am in your same situation right now. It's hard... real hard. I haven't even ALMOST printed my first design yet but had my equipment for a month.
Also, if you're new to using computer programs to do art it is going to be even more hard. A lot of people use Photoshop, but that only gets you so far. I recommend Adobe Illustrator it really makes things A LOT easier but the learning curve is huge and you get stressed out too many times. But you have to stick to it and realize your dream of making that line and everything will soon turn out good for ya.
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $?
Wow, thank you so much for all your words of wisdom and advice. I wasn't expecting so much. I will take everything that was given to me and utilize it to the best of my ability. Thanks!
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $?
Heat press and Silk screening is two different things.
If you want to know how to screen print, I suggest looking at this VERY helpful movie. It really gives you a lot of information in a short amount of time.
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $?
Thanks Nolan, I'll check the movie out. Choosing between the two, is it just a preference or are they different techniques for different kinds of shirts, or products?
This is a discussion about Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $? that was posted in the General T-Shirt Selling Discussion section of the forums.
Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $? 
Re: Things I wish I'd known from the start. 
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $? 
Re: Basic question: Can I start up my clothing line with a small amount of $? 
