Work From Home – Top Options
If you’re like us, you’ve been spending a lot more time on Zoom calls, video chats, and virtual hangouts. Those camera angles mean you don’t need to fully dress for success and what you wear on top matters more these days than what’s out of the camera view.
We’ve put together a lineup of work from home apparel options to help keep you looking professionally styled on top while staying comfy from the waist down.
J. America 9881 and Tultex 1910
Fleece
ITC SS4500 – Midweight Fleece Hoodie
This midweight hoodie from ITC is high quality with heavy gauge drawcord and comfy fleece. Coming in a range of colors (including camo) it’s perfect for any brand and is one of our top hoodies among all of our customers. (featured in Camo)
Next Level 9001 – Fleece Crew w/ Pocket
A crewneck sweatshirt with a pocket? Not just any pocket though. In WFH life this is your official snack pocket!
Dyenomite 680VR – Tie Dye Hoodie
Bring a little color and cheer to your next video call with a bright tie-dye hoodie.
ITC 224500, Next Level 9001, and Dyenomite 680VR
Alternative Apparel 8626F – Lazy Day Pullover
We’re having a lot of lazy days lately which makes this pullover the perfect match to work from home life. Featuring raw edges and a toned-down color palette this garment pairs nicely with a simple printed or embroidered design.
J. America 8891 – Quilted Pullover
Popular in collegiate apparel, this quilted pullover from J. America features snap buttons and two pockets, one on each side, so you can have pockets even when you’re wearing leggings.
Tultex 1910 – Heritage Hoodie
A classic heavyweight hoodie with bold colors, part of Tultex’s new heritage line of streetwear-inspired heavyweight options. Sneak Peek – Coming at the end of the month!
Alternative Apparel 8626F, J. America 8891, and Tultex 1910
French Terry
District DT571 – Featherweight French Terry Hoodie
This French Terry Hoodie from District is incredibly lightweight making it the perfect spring and summer hoodie. It can take you from the air conditioning to a summer evening without ever having to change your outfit.
District DT571
Alternative Apparel 9575CT – Washed Terry Champ Sweatshirt
A classic go-to, this French Terry sweatshirt features a long straight fit and comes in plenty of jewel-tone colors for the perfect transition spring to fall.
District DT571 and Alternative Apparel 9575CT
Cropped Tees
Alternative Apparel 5114E – Eco Headliner Cropped Tee
Not only does it come in cute solid colors like Forest Green and Vintage Pink. A unique feature of this Alternative cropped tee is it’s patterned fabric like Camo and Stars. Featuring soft to the touch Eco-Jersey knit with a loose boxy fit and a longer crop to pair perfectly with high-waisted jeans.
Next Level 7481S – Women’s Cropped L/S Tee Shirt
Crop tops might not be your normal go-to for the office, but when only your upper body can be seen a crop top might be your favorite apparel option.
Next Level 5080 – Women’s Festival Cali Crop
This crop top takes a crew neck t-shirt and makes it feminine, flirty, and fun.
Next Level 7481S and Next Level 5080
Tees
Alternative Apparel 5050B – The Keeper T-Shirt
Featuring a 50/50 cotton-poly blend it’s breathable, cool, and ultra-soft.
Alternative Apparel 1010 – The Outsider Heavy Wash T-shirt
Heavyweight options tend to have a rough and scratchy feel. The Outsider was pre-washed for softness and perfection.
District DT7500 – Flex Tee
A little stretch with a lot of comfort – this tri-blend t-shirt with spandex is perfect to take you from your WFH desk to your Yoga from home class.
Tultex 293 – Unisex Heavyweight Pocket Tee
Tultex created a heavyweight version of a classic pocket tee. Use the pocket as inspiration for a simple design.
Alternative Apparel 5050B and District DT7500
Alternative Apparel 1010, District DT7500, and Tultex 293
Bella + Canvas 3001 – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
It’s classic, it’s 100% ringspun cotton, and with 40 colors we’re sure you’ll find your brand colors.
Bella + Canvas 3001CVC – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
The blended version of the 3001, the 3001CVC is made of 50% cotton and 50% poly to make it even softer than its counterpart.
We might be stuck at home for a while, but your sense of style doesn’t need to “social distance”. Stay comfy and stylish with these options, and let the team here at Threadbird help you find the best way to add your brand’s touch to these garments.
Get your order started here.
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
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Threadbird Apparel Finishing: What are Hem Tags?
A great way to add an extra branded touch to your shirts is by having custom clothing labels sewn onto the shirt. We can put them in the neck of the shirt, but we can also put a hem tag on the sleeve or at the bottom of the shirt. Threadbird does not manufacture these, but if you supply them we will take care of adding them to your shirts. We recommend ordering your tags from www.clothinglabels4u.com.
“Are there different types of hem tags?”
There are two kinds of hem tags, and it’s really just a matter of preference. Both are great options!
- Centerfold – These labels have a centerfold and the edges are heat-sealed, to prevent fraying. You would wrap this label around the bottom hem of your t-shirt/beanie and top sew a tad below the top heat-sealed part.
- Manhattan fold – These labels have a top and bottom fold and a centerfold as well. So you would wrap this label around the bottom hem of your t-shirt/beanie and top sew along the top folded part. Gives a neat finished look.
“What size does my design need to be?”
Hem tags are commonly created in 1” X 1” (25.4mm X 25.4mm) squares (open-label being 1” X 2”). However, most manufacturers can adjust the size to guarantee it works best for your design. NOTE: Be sure to include an extra 1/8 SA on top for sewing when folded.
“What's all this talk about damask labels?”
When discussing hem tags, you might hear the term damask labels referenced. Damask refers to the size of thread used and there are two kinds - 100 denier damask and 50 denier damask. 50 denier damask yarn will be half the size of the 100 denier damask yarn, resulting in finer detail and a softer feel. Damask is made of polyester yarns and comes in hundreds of colors. Now you know!
“How much longer will my order take?”
One thing to note when ordering hem tags is that manufacturing the actual tags can take up to a few weeks, so plenty of time needs to be allowed prior to us receiving tags to add to your garments.
On our end, we estimate roughly 2-5 additional days to the turnaround time per finishing on standard orders. Our team can help to offer better timeline estimates once your order has been placed and all approvals have been made.
“So, how much??”
We've mapped it all out for you. One thing we recommend, however, is that you send us extra hem tags. If you include a buffer of about 10% extra that allows room for loss, error, or manufacturer defects. Again, the pricing below is only for sewing the hem tags on - not the actual manufacturing.
We’re big fans of this finishing option for an extra branded touch on garments. Check out the site if you’re interested in placing an order or have any other questions.
How Lifestyle Brands Use Strategic Branded Merchandise to Build Loyalty
Your Merch Is More Than a Product. It’s a Brand Experience.
For modern lifestyle brands, whether you are a high-end boutique, a rapidly expanding fitness studio, a mission-driven non-profit, or a thriving coffee shop, your merchandise serves a critical function. It is not merely an accessory; it is a physical, tactile, and highly valuable extension of your brand story.
As an Operations Manager, Retail Director, or Shop Owner, you understand that every sale presents an opportunity for a deep customer connection. When a customer wears your perfectly sourced, super-soft apparel, they become an authentic, walking ambassador. This is how genuine brand loyalty is created, transforming casual followers into dedicated, long-term customers.
However, this powerful connection is immediately compromised if the quality is inconsistent, the production is slow, or the fulfillment process is disjointed. If your merchandise looks cheap or arrives late, it doesn't just reflect poorly on the item; it erodes trust in your entire brand. To scale successfully, your merchandise must be a strategic asset, not an operational burden.
Why Most Vendors Can’t Support the Brand You’re Becoming
Most traditional vendors maintain a rigid structure because they are optimized for high-volume, standardized orders. This structure means they are built solely for simple transactions, not for the sophisticated, hands-on partnership that a growing lifestyle brand demands.
The Traditional Printer Trap: High Volume, Low Strategy
Most traditional screen printers excel at one thing: efficiently getting ink onto fabric. However, their scope often ends there. They focus primarily on low minimums or high speed, often overlooking the meticulous retail-ready quality that your brand requires to compete.
- Inconsistent Quality: When production is split across multiple shops or even different machines, quality variance is a common risk, directly eroding customer trust and creating inventory that can't be sold.
- Lack of Essential Finishing Options: True retail quality requires key details, including custom screen-printed neck tags, woven hem labels, and professional retail folding and poly bagging. If a vendor requires you to manage these separately, your product will inevitably feel incomplete and unprofessional.
- Costly Design Uncertainty: Few traditional printers offer the dedicated design guidance needed for complex mockups or technical advice on specialized applications, leading to costly production errors and necessary re-runs. They don't have the bandwidth to advise on the best ink type for the garment or the perfect size for an embroidered logo.
The Rigid 3PL Nightmare: Logistics First, Experience Last
Traditional Third-Party Logistics (3PLs) prioritize a rigid, automated structure that values simple logistics over brand experience, creating major bottlenecks for dynamic lifestyle brands.
- The Surprise Fee Trap: If your product lacks the exact barcode, specific labeling, or required packaging dimensions, you are immediately hit with non-negotiable "handling charges" or "non-compliance penalties." These fees quickly make your margins unpredictable.
- Penalizing SKU Complexity: Managing pre-orders, dozens of sizes and colors, and unique bundles becomes an overwhelming challenge, as any specialized kitting request is either denied outright or incurs massive premium costs.
- Impersonal Support: When operational problems arise, you are frequently routed through an automated ticketing system, leaving operations managers feeling out of control. This lack of personal oversight means issues take longer to resolve and often require constant internal follow-up.
This fragmented approach leads directly to unnecessary risk, delayed drops, inventory risk due to poor forecasting, and the constant feeling of being out of control—a scenario where scaling merchandise feels impossible due to massive internal operational drain. The goal is to operate like a premium brand and build confidence in the merchandise channel as a predictable and scalable revenue stream, which a fragmented approach rarely allows.
When you manage three separate vendor relationships, you accept the hidden cost of paying for time, errors, and missed opportunities.
What Lifestyle Brands Actually Need to Grow
To move past the bottleneck of fragmentation and start using merch as a true growth engine, lifestyle brands need a partner who offers a unified, high-touch solution built for retail success. This partner must understand that production quality and fulfillment flexibility are equally important.
The Power of a Single, Seamless Partner
The most significant competitive advantage in modern retail is simplifying your supply chain down to a single, accountable vendor who manages the product from the moment ink hits the fabric to the moment it ships to the customer.
This unified approach eliminates the friction points of traditional methods—hand-off errors, accountability gaps, and the time-consuming coordination required when managing multiple vendors—freeing up your team to focus on design and brand strategy.
A single partner inherently ensures retail consistency because the same expert team responsible for printing also prepares and packages the item for shipment, guaranteeing that your strict retail standards are consistently met.
This integration also leads to streamlined launches. Seasonal drops or new collection releases are inherently faster and more reliable since there are no communication bottlenecks between the print shop and the warehouse. Furthermore, you benefit from total accountability; with a unified partner, there is only one point of contact for every issue, whether it relates to a misprint, a fulfillment error, or an inventory discrepancy.
Expert, Hands-On Strategy and Guidance
Beyond operational efficiency, you gain a partner who acts as an extension of your creative and operations teams, offering expert, hands-on strategy and guidance specific to your brand's unique needs and audience. This partnership is consultative, not just transactional.
It starts with product selection advice. They guide you on the right blanks, appropriate ink types (such as water-based or discharge), and premium retail finishes (like woven labels or silicone transfers) to ensure the final product truly reflects the quality of your brand.
They also provide data-driven inventory management, offering real-time visibility and consultative recommendations that help you reduce costly overhead. This is achieved by mitigating overstocking and optimizing future product choices based on actual sales data.
Flexibility and Scale
Finally, this partner must possess a fulfillment system built for flexibility and scale. It needs to be sophisticated enough to handle dozens of SKUs, manage complex kitting for bundles, and execute rapid fulfillment for time-sensitive launches. Crucially, it must do all of this without penalizing you for the complexity that drives your brand's unique offering.
The True Cost: Fragmentation Is Always More Expensive
Before committing to a production partner, it's essential to understand the real cost of juggling multiple vendors versus the clear advantage of working with one. In the table below, you will see a direct side-by-side comparison of the problems caused by a fragmented supply chain versus the streamlined efficiency and focus delivered by a single, unified partner.
| Before (Fragmented Vendors) | After (Threadbird Partnership) | Operational Benefit for You |
| Wasted time spent coordinating status updates, shipments, and troubleshooting errors. | Delegating fulfillment and kitting with comprehensive confidence and oversight. | Shifts focus from operational firefighting to strategic brand and revenue growth. |
| Delayed drops caused by fulfillment bottlenecks, inconsistent production, and fee-related hold-ups. | Faster launches are achieved through clean, integrated workflows and dedicated support. | Improves time-to-market and allows you to capitalize quickly on seasonal trends. |
| Inventory risk due to a lack of visibility into what finishes actually sell or poor forecasting guidance. | Data-driven strategy provided through expert product and inventory management recommendations. | Reduces costly overhead by mitigating overstocking and optimizing future product choices. |
| Feeling out of control and unable to scale merchandise without a massive internal operational drain. | Operating like a premium brand with polished, consistent execution and reliable packaging. | Builds confidence in the merchandise channel as a predictable and scalable revenue stream. |
A unified partnership shifts your internal focus from operational firefighting to strategic brand growth. The resulting data-driven efficiency greatly reduces the costly overhead and inventory risks that come with fragmented production.
How Threadbird Helps You Scale With Meaning
Threadbird was founded on the principle that growing brands deserve a sophisticated, unified merchandise solution that combines boutique service with fulfillment horsepower. We are structured specifically to eliminate the fragmentation that plagues most lifestyle brands, allowing you to focus on growth, not logistics.
The Unified Merch Solution: One Partner, End-to-End Control
We provide a single, unified service that covers production, custom finishing, storage, and order fulfillment. By consolidating these crucial steps under one roof, we eliminate the costly coordination, communication errors, and accountability gaps that plague fragmented supply chains. This shift transforms your merchandise operation from a complex logistical burden into a smooth, predictable, and scalable revenue stream.
In-House Production
We manage high-quality screen printing, specialized finishing (including custom screen-printed neck tags, hem tags, and retail folding), and comprehensive quality control all under one roof. This integrated process guarantees absolute consistency across every unit. More importantly, it eliminates the critical risk of production errors being discovered only after the item has been shipped to a separate fulfillment center. Our end-to-end control means quality assurance is built into the workflow, long before the package ever leaves our facility.
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Advanced Fulfillment
Our fulfillment operation is specifically built to handle the complexity and pace of dynamic lifestyle brands. We are equipped to manage your diverse SKU list, offering specialized kitting for unique bundles and subscription boxes. We execute rapid fulfillment for urgent product drops and time-sensitive launches without the rigid rules, slow processes, or surprise fees common with traditional 3PLs. We don't penalize you for having a complex product offering; we streamline it.
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Transparent Pricing
We believe in upfront honesty as the foundation of a true partnership. Our pricing structure is clear, predictable, and designed to help you scale your margins, not generate unexpected profit from opaque "handling" or last-mile charges. You will know exactly what every service costs, allowing for accurate forecasting and profitable growth planning.
Design Guidance and Product Strategy
Unlike transactional printers who simply follow instructions, we partner with you on strategy, ensuring your product selection and execution are always on-brand, premium quality, and optimized for maximum sales. We act as an extension of your creative team, guiding your decisions from concept to execution.
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Dedicated Design Support
Our in-house art team is available to refine or create artwork that prints perfectly and aligns seamlessly with your brand aesthetic. We advise on technical specifics like ink types (such as discharge or water-based), optimal placement, and final finishing options to elevate your product beyond a simple branded tee. This expertise ensures the final item meets the high expectations of your customer base.
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Curated Product Selection
We offer a carefully chosen range of high-quality blanks and accessories—from soft, ring-spun cotton tees and premium hoodies to accessories like pins, stickers, and custom headwear. We actively curate our offerings to align with the premium aesthetic and quality standards that your discerning customers expect, ensuring every product reinforces your brand value.
Real-Time Inventory and Data-Driven Planning
In the modern e-commerce landscape, merchandise is no longer guesswork. Our proprietary system offers real-time visibility, transforming your inventory from a source of operational headaches into a clear, actionable data asset.
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Accurate Forecasting
By having visibility across both production data (what we can make) and sales data (what is selling), we are uniquely positioned to provide highly accurate forecasting recommendations. This capability helps you reduce costly overhead by mitigating overstocking and optimizing future product choices based on what finishes and styles actually sell. Our guidance ensures your cash flow isn't tied up in slow-moving inventory.
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Seamless Integration
Our system integrates smoothly with your existing e-commerce platform (like Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.), ensuring accurate inventory updates and a clean, reliable flow of data from the moment a sale is made to the moment the package ships. This integration eliminates manual entry errors and ensures your customers are never able to purchase an item that is actually out of stock.
The Human Touch: Dedicated Experts, Always Ready
When you are trying to scale your brand, the last thing you need is a system that treats you like a trouble ticket. Your merchandise partner should be a dedicated collaborator, providing the hands-on support necessary to execute your vision flawlessly.
We believe that boutique service does not have to mean limited resources. It means applying fulfillment horsepower with genuine, dedicated, and human support. When you work with us, you are assigned a dedicated team of experts—real people—who are familiar with your brand goals, your product history, and your operational needs. This eliminates the frustrating experience of being passed between departments or stuck in an automated ticketing loop.
Our consultative support ensures that when questions arise about a seasonal drop, a new product finish, or a logistics challenge, you get an immediate, informed answer. We don't just solve problems; we proactively look for ways to optimize your fulfillment speed and retail presentation, helping you operate like the premium brand you are.
Addressing Your Primary Objections Head-On
For brands looking to make the leap to a unified solution, some concerns are common. Here is how Threadbird proactively addresses the primary objections Operations Managers and Retail Directors face:
- Objection 1: "This Sounds Expensive. I’m afraid boutique service means boutique pricing."
- Our Answer: The true cost of a fragmented system, managing three vendors, internal time spent troubleshooting errors, inventory write-offs, and surprise 3PL fees, is always higher than the cost of a unified solution. Threadbird’s combined production and fulfillment eliminates these hidden costs and operational resource drain, ultimately delivering a lower total cost of ownership and higher ROI. Our transparent pricing structure guarantees that the price we quote is the price you pay.
- Objection 2: "We Just Need Fulfillment. We already have a good printer, so we don't need production."
- Our Answer: We offer flexible fulfillment-only services, but we encourage brands to understand the risk of fragmentation. The most common errors—miscounts, quality inconsistencies, and lack of retail-ready finishing—occur when the garment leaves the printer and arrives at the warehouse. By unifying the process, we eliminate that risk. Our team can evaluate your current process and demonstrate how consolidating can save time, money, and stress.
- Objection 3: "We Have Too Many SKUs. I doubt a mid-size partner can handle our complex catalog."
- Our Answer: We are specialists in complexity. Traditional 3PLs penalize complexity; we are built to support it. Whether you have dozens of sizes and colors, complex bundling, kitting for multiple event-specific product drops, or a mix of apparel and accessories (hats, pins, stickers, drinkware), our system is designed to flex. We manage the diverse SKU lists of rapidly growing brands every day, ensuring flexibility is a feature, not a source of fees.
Real-World Wins From Brands Like Yours
Scaling a merchandise channel is about achieving measurable, consistent operational improvements. Here are three examples of how brands found success by moving to a unified, strategic partner.
How a Non-Profit Cut Fulfillment Time by 40%
A large non-profit organization managed multiple fundraising events throughout the year, each with unique, event-specific merchandise alongside their year-round standard apparel and accessories. With five separate inventory loads and countless moving parts, managing production and fulfillment had become overwhelming. Orders were constantly mixed up, inventory tracking was unreliable, and their small team was bogged down by logistics instead of focusing on their mission.
Threadbird stepped in as a true end-to-end partner. Our team produced everything from high-quality screen-printed event shirts and embroidered hats to specialty custom products, all under one roof. We then streamlined their entire process by setting up a single, flexible inventory system that clearly separated seasonal, event-specific, and evergreen SKUs.
Once production was complete, our fulfillment team handled the rapid, precise kitting and shipping for every time-sensitive event drop, ensuring accuracy, speed, and a seamless experience from start to finish.
With Threadbird managing both production and fulfillment, the non-profit reduced their overall fulfillment and kitting time by 40% and virtually eliminated inventory errors. Their Events Coordinator summed it up perfectly: “With one partner handling all the production and the rapid fulfillment for each drop, our team can focus entirely on the mission, not logistics.” And their experience echoes what many of our customers feel: “Everything was perfect. The shirts are beautiful. Customer service was great, so fast with responses and moving the design into production. I couldn’t possibly be any happier.” By taking on the heavy lifting, design, production, and fulfillment, Threadbird gave this mission-driven organization the freedom to do what they do best: make an impact.
How a Coffee Brand Turned Their Merch Into a New Revenue Stream
A fast-growing regional coffee brand with multiple locations wanted their merchandise to match the same warmth, craftsmanship, and intentionality that defined their cafés. But their local print partners couldn’t keep up. The merch they were receiving was fine, but not exceptional.
Rushed production, inconsistent prints, and limited finishing options kept their products from feeling as premium as their brand experience. Their partners were focused on speed and low minimums, not on the brand details that matter, like printed neck tags, custom hem labels, and finishing touches that turn a basic shirt into something customers love to wear.
The brand knew their merchandise could be more than just swag. It could be an extension of their story and a way to strengthen their connection with loyal customers, but they needed the right partner to bring that vision to life.
Threadbird became that partner. Our team worked closely with their marketing and retail staff to reimagine their entire merchandise line from garment selection and design placement to custom finishing details that elevated every piece.
We introduced printed neck tags for a clean, retail-ready look, added custom hem tags that reinforced their brand identity, and used premium inks and materials that matched their aesthetic. Throughout the process, our customer service team guided them step-by-step, answering every question, exploring creative options, and ensuring the finished products exceeded expectations.
The difference was immediate. Their apparel and branded merchandise not only reflected their brand quality but also created a new revenue stream in their cafés. Customers began asking for the new shirts and hats by name and proudly wearing them beyond the coffee shop.
The brand’s founder shared, “I had many questions going into this process, and Threadbird was great at answering all of them and helping me through it. I was very happy with the service and the way the team worked with me. The shirts that I ordered exceeded my expectations.”
By focusing on premium production, creative finishing, and attentive service, Threadbird helped this lifestyle coffee brand transform everyday merch into an extension of their customer experience and brew a stronger connection with their community.
Ready to Elevate Your Merch?
Start Here.
Your merchandise channel should be a reliable revenue engine and a powerful driver of customer loyalty, not a bottleneck to your scaling efforts. If you recognize your own operational challenges in this discussion—frustrated by rigid systems, expensive errors, and a lack of true partnership—it is time to find a solution that scales precisely with your ambition.
Stop wasting valuable time coordinating disparate vendors and troubleshooting logistical issues. Let’s make your merch a core, high-performing part of your brand storytelling.
Download: Checklist | How to Spot (and Fix) Your Production & Fulfillment Gaps
Customer Feature: Filthy Casual
What started as a joke between a couple of friends has blown up into a clothing brand worn by video game players everywhere.
“Filthy Casual” is a gaming-based clothing company started by two friends Jason and Mike in 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. But, where does the term 'Filthy Casual' come from?
“Typically, the phrase is used as a derogatory term towards casual gamers, or newcomers to an existing fanbase. We thought it was a funny phrase, and wanted to poke fun at elitism, while at the same time finding reasons to unite the community rather than divide.”
- Jason
Jason and Mike took a typically negative term and spun it around to make it their own. For the two of them ‘Filthy Casual’ is more than just a brand, it’s a community. “In this day and age it seems as connected as we feel online, we can end up feeling isolated in the real world. Going from convention to convention it feels good to have people come up and feel like they belong to a community. Clothing is just a medium in our opinion.”
Why an apparel company?
Jason and Mike share a passion for video games and the culture surrounding them. The popular RPG (role-playing game) World of Warcraft, better known as WoW, brought these gamer friends together years ago.
When they weren’t working at their 9 to 5 jobs they spent every free moment playing WoW together. Even on the weekends, Mike would bring his laptop over to Jason’s house to play all weekend long.
Eventually, they wanted to take their grind for WoW and put it into something else.
With Jason’s love for apparel and Mike’s knack for design, the two had the perfect formula for an awesome apparel brand.
Filthy Casual has given them the ability to travel to gaming conventions and conferences all over the world and to connect in person with other gamers. Their goal is to bring about a message of inclusivity in gaming for everyone, even if you’re just starting out.
They show that togetherness with their product choices, choosing high-quality garments from Bella + Canvas for their collections and going beyond screen printing to set their products apart. They use custom hem tags on many of their designs, and even offer embroidered items to mix things up.
When we asked the two what their favorite shirt was from their collections they answered:
Mike: Always the OG classic black/white logo.
Jason: Blood Crown scoop hem tee
But at the end of the day, ‘Filthy Casual’ has done something more than just create cool t-shirts. “A shirt is a shirt, whether you spent $5000, or $5 on it. As cliché as it might sound, we feel Filthy Casual is more than just a brand” - Jason
It’s no small feat to develop a t-shirt company into more than just a brand, so how did they level up to a 25K following on Instagram releasing hot new products all the time?
There’s only one you. Find what makes you unique first, and that’s your brand. Live that brand, share that brand, know that brand inside out and people will see you, and love you.
- Mike
Starting a company takes a lot of trial and error, we’ve made tons of mistakes along the way. It’s not an easy job, but it’s the most rewarding one. Every day has it’s ups and downs and as long as you know they are always going to be there you learn to deal with them without burning yourself out.
- Jason
Filthy Casual is a brand that really spawned from just an idea and interest, the way so many other brands do. At Threadbird, we're here for your brand not just at the start but to help you grow into your best brand.
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
Grow Your Brand
When you're walking through the aisles of a grocery store you identify and reach for the brands you know. They have recognizable labels, names, colors, and designs. That familiarity that draws you in is Brand Recognition; a huge driver of retail sales both in stores and online.
Brand Awareness develops over time as a consumer chooses products based on prior knowledge of the item and their own relationship with that brand’s identity.
The Process
Growing a sustainable brand is a process that must be developed consistently. Great brands aren’t grown overnight, they take time.
As you grow your brand, choose specific avenues that you want to promote and keep at those regularly. Here are some tips to help you stay organized and keep your customers satisfied:
- Keep a social media schedule: Post around the same time every day for each platform. This consistency will grow your audience.
- Use SEO and hashtags: Think like your customers. Use terms and phrases they might use to look for your brand.
- Send regular email blasts: Create a weekly or bi-weekly email blast to keep your customers up to date without overwhelming their inboxes.
- Deliver content regularly: Avoid sending your content all at once by releasing it in segments on a regular schedule.
- Schedule Merchandise Releases: Organizing monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual releases will give your customers something to look forward to throughout the year.
- Get out there and try new things: Attend new events, initiate new avenues of communication, and engage in new forms of outreach.
Look at your brand from all angles. Taking care of new customers is just as important as catering to the existing ones. Growing your brand is an ongoing process of building brand awareness among your customers and their peers.
Brand Consistency
We’ve talked a lot about creating a look for your brand, but how do you present that look consistently? Releasing products, branded apparel, content, and information that all sounds and looks the same will ensure customers come back. Brands like Adidas and Nike do this really well, they have a strict logo and present their brand similarly across all channels. Here are some tips on how to help your brand remain consistent:
- Create a Brand Guide. This will house your logo, font, colors, language, and more to ensure you are staying consistent not only with your design but your communication.
- Create content that follows your Brand Guide. Choose a specific photo filter or design layout and continually use those selections.
- Use a woven tag. Personalized items like tags are a great way to make a collection of different shirts feel true to your brand.
- Be clear on your logo guidelines and use your logo often.
- Pay attention to branding in your internal culture to ensure that your employees are living the ‘brand standards’ too!
Here are some tips on how to grow your brand:
- Follow up with your old customers: Generating repeat business is necessary to grow your brand and create a loyal following.
- Stay up to date on the trends: Keeping up with new styles and social media trends will pay off. You might even catch the right trend and go viral!
- Expand your knowledge: Utilize free resources online to learn how to grow your brand. From podcasts to YouTube videos, and even blogs, there are many useful resources online to continue your business education.
- Sponsor an event: Grow some buzz around your brand by hosting an online or local event.
- Create useful resources for your customers. People are not only looking for useful products but useful information.
Use some of the techniques outlined above to improve your company’s Brand Awareness. Give your customers an awesome experience and build their trust with your brand as it expands and evolves over time.
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
New Product: Woven Labels
Hem Tags
The most popular woven clothing label option. Hem tags are typically smaller in size and sewn at the bottom seam of the garment or the edge of a sleeve.
Location Options
- The sleeve edge seam on a short sleeve garment
- The bottom edge seam on the right or left-hand side of a garment
Label Styles
Woven label finishings can be attached in various locations on a garment, depending on which tag style you choose.
Hem Tags
The most popular label option. Hem tags are typically smaller in size and sewn at the bottom seam of the garment or the edge of a sleeve.
Location Options
- The sleeve edge seam on a short sleeve garment
- The bottom edge seam on the right or left-hand side of a garment
- Side pocket of a hoodie
Sizing
- The most common size for hem tags is a 1” x 1” (25.4 mm x 25.4 mm) square, with the open-label measuring about 1” by 2”
- It’s possible to do a larger hem tag, just check with us for guidelines
“These additions elevate even the simplest t-shirt to create a unique garment even without screen printing. ”
Neck Tags
Tags are sewn into the neck of a garment to create a custom look without printed/heat press tags.
Location options
- Sewn over the manufacturer tag in the neck
- Can replace the manufacturer tag in the neck if the required garment information is designed into the tag
Sizing
- Up to 2"x4" (Anything larger is a custom quote
Woven Labels
Flat labels that typically get sewn on two or four sides. These labels allow you to create a larger woven tag with more space for custom branding.
Location Options
- The bottom right front of the garment with all four sides sewn down
- On the sleeve with all four sides sewn down
- Inside neck, below the collar with all four sides sewn down
Sizing
- Up to 2"x4" (Anything larger will require a custom quote)
Recommended Tag Folds
Recommended Folds
Depending on what tag style you choose, you’ll need to consider the type of fold required for attachment. For example, Manhattan Folds work well as hem tags as the sharp edge of the tag is folded in the label. A Center Fold tag creates a crisp look if being sewn into the neck of a shirt.
- Center Fold: Fold is in the middle and usually sewn into a seam (i.e. for sleeve and hem labels).
- Manhattan Fold: Similar to a centerfold, except the top of the label is folded down creating a flap to tuck the bottom fold into.
- Center End Fold: Folded in the middle and ends. Mainly used on the outer hems.
NOTE: If tags do not arrive folded we might either request a new batch of tags be created with a fold or charge up to an additional $2.50 per tag to fold/iron the tags before applying.
Let’s Talk About Design
When it comes to design, keep it simple but recognizable. At Threadbird, the branded hem tags attached to our sample shirts feature our bird logo on one side and our company name on the reverse. It’s a simple detail that stands out and lets you know it’s a Threadbird shirt regardless of what’s printed or embroidered as the design.
When ordering woven labels or tags there are a few additional things to keep in mind:
- You can use up to six colors in your design
- Depending on the size of the label, there will likely be a small area of space to show off your artwork (the common label size is around 1”x1”)
- Completion time for your entire order will increase by one day (at a minimum) when sewn tags are being applied to a garment
- When discussing woven labels you might hear the term damask labels. Damask refers to the size of thread used and there are two common sizes of the thread: 50 deniers and 100 deniers.
- 50 denier damask yarn will be half the thickness of the 100 denier damask yarn, resulting in finer detail and a softer feel
- Damask is made of polyester yarns and comes in hundreds of colors (you can use up to six colors in your design)
Sewn tags are a unique way to add value to the apparel you are creating. Show off your logo or brand on each of your items with a simple hem tag! Click here to see how you can add woven labels to your products now.
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
Beyond the T-shirt
Now that you’ve mastered t-shirt printing, it’s time to explore the other custom items out there. Here at Threadbird, we’ve narrowed down the list to our top picks for diversifying your brand’s offerings.
Benefits of Branching Out
There’s a strategy behind presenting a diverse range of products. It encourages your customers to browse, and the more they browse the more items they might add to their cart. Offering mixed styles and a variety of merchandise can easily take an order from $60 to $100.
One technique many online retailers use to increase additional sales is offering free shipping once an order reaches a minimum dollar amount. Offering smaller products like drinkware, pins, and stickers can encourage customers to add to their carts and hit that minimum. Think of it like the oh-so-tempting items lining the check-out queue at the store.
Consider introducing designs on a range of garments – here are some of our favorites:
Example of our Enamel Pins placed on a Custom Backpack
Hoodies and Sweatshirts
Offering warmer options helps sales stay strong during fall and winter. When the temperature drops, hoodies are a go-to wardrobe essential. With many styles and cuts, there’s a fit for every type of brand.
Long Sleeve Shirts
Besides keeping you warm, long sleeve shirts offer additional print locations that aren’t available with short sleeve t-shirts. The long sleeves provide extra space for printing and can be used with text or a design that aligns with the arm.
Sweatpants and Joggers
The athleisure and streetwear trends have grown significantly in popularity where jeans are being replaced with sweatpants and joggers. Make a comfortable pair of sweatpants your own by adding a screen printed or embroidered design and custom tags. Brands like Champion, ITC, Bella + Canvas, and Alternative Apparel are diversifying their sweatpant options so you can find the perfect fit and feel for your brand.
Tank Tops
When the sun is shining and the weather is warm tank tops are the perfect fashion choice to beat the heat. Tank tops are available in a variety of cuts and lengths, from fashion to classic flowy to cropped and can take your brand from the gym to the music festival and everywhere in between.
Jackets
Rain jackets, bombers, and jean jackets can easily be customized to represent your brand’s style in a “warmer” fashion. With a higher price per item, jackets are a great opportunity to include items with a larger profit margin in your store.
Fashion Pieces
Your favorite brands take inspiration from the latest runway fashions to create garments similar to those found in retail. The Bella + Canvas “Fast Fashion” collection is a good place to look for the latest trends. They release fashion-forward pieces on a monthly basis to keep up with the ever-changing styles of the garment industry.
Custom Knits
Cut & sew garments allow you to fully design and customize each detail of an item. Custom knits are an excellent option for the colder months. If your brand is winter focused or you’re creating a winter collection, a knit sweater, scarf, or hat would make a perfect addition to your store. This could even be your opportunity to create your own Ugly Christmas Sweater.
Sublimation
Sublimation is a unique printing process that allows you to go a step beyond screen printing by creating a fully customized cut and sew a sublimated garment. Using your own pattern, logo or design gives you the ability to make truly unique pieces for your brand.
What about the items your customers can’t wear?
Screen Printed Posters
Using a similar process to printing t-shirts, screen printed posters offer a different way to show off your art. At Threadbird our high-quality posters can be printed with a variety of paper options to complement your design.
Enamel Pins
From Disney to Festivals, pins are a fun product your brand can consider adding to your collection. Pins can be sold individually for a high margin, maximizing profits on these small products.
Drinkware
Whether your customers love coffee, water, or wine, we offer a variety of drinkware options to quench their thirst. Put your brand in front of your customers more frequently as they sip on their favorite drink while looking at your logo.
Bags
Bags come in many shapes and styles: backpacks, fanny packs, totes, duffle bags. Choosing a high-quality bag and adding your own finishings (like a hem tag and patch) can help your customers find that new bag they’ve been missing out on. Not to mention, totes are a great last-minute addition to someone shopping online and a perfect option for a freebie!
Pet Products
Why limit yourself to human customers? Keep those tails wagging by designing custom pet products. Create branded leashes, collars, dog toys, dog bowls, doggie bags, and more!
Setting Apart Your Brand
Thinking beyond the standard t-shirt can lead you to some unique product ideas and ways to expand your store. You’re creating a brand and a lifestyle that your customers will truly connect with, so give them high-quality branded products that will set you apart from the competition. With everything from apparel options to drinkware and dog products, Threadbird is here to partner with your brand and help it grow!
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
Screen Printed Paper Printing
Screen Printing Isn’t Just for T-shirts
Create a high-quality poster or postcard utilizing screen printing on paper. Create beautiful artwork or striking event posters to really make a lasting impression.
Big or Small, Create High-Quality Screen Printed Posters
Screen printing, particularly screen-printed posters, has evolved over the years to become a part of popular culture. Whether it’s a band logo for a concert or personal artwork for an art show, screen-printed paper posters are a great way to take your design to the next level.
Explore Screen Printed Paper Offerings
Use our custom templates to create unique screen printed
paper goods that won't be recreated by your competitors.
Screen Printing Poster Tips
Please keep in mind the following for screen printed posters:
- All prices listed are for our house paper. All specialty paper for screen printed posters will be quoted separately.
- Please submit artwork at 600 dpi (RGB or Grayscale, not CMYK) - Adobe .PSD or .AI preferred.
- To ensure we have the proper design placement, please use the Threadbird Poster Template for poster screen printing.
- Additional Fees May Apply (French Paper, Ink Swaps, Custom Mixes, etc). Your Customer Account Specalist will always let you know if any of these fees apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a quick question? Check out our most commonly asked Paper Screen Printing questions below.
Screen-printed posters have bold colors, a tactile finish, and unique texture layers that add craftsmanship to your artwork.
Yes—Threadbird can screen print custom business cards with vivid inks on thick paper stock for a premium feel.
Threadbird recommends uncoated or matte card stock for best ink absorption and boldness.
Yes—Threadbird offers specialty inks and layered techniques for standout visual effects on posters and business cards.
You can typically use up to 4–6 spot colors per design. Each color is layered separately for bold, clean visuals.
Brand Your Customers Today!
Choose from our extensive range of products, inks, and finishing options and develop high-quality products that are perfect for your customers.
Get Inspired
Screen Printed Posters for concerts, events, or even just your favorite artworks - our customers have created some really killer posters!
