Choosing the Right T-Shirt for Your Brand

The classic t-shirt is a time-honored way of promoting brands, products and services. Even in today’s increasingly digital world, custom tees are an effective way to increase brand awareness by getting your logo or brand in front of potential customers.

You might not think of t-shirts as a major part of your marketing plan, but they’re more valuable than you might think. A t-shirt can continue to represent your business long after an ad disappears or a social media post is forgotten. When someone wears your shirt, they carry your brand into the world. That’s why it’s important to choose the right shirt to convey your message.

Think About Your Brand Image

What does your brand and logo represent? It goes beyond a simple symbol of your business name. It reflects your organization’s mission, values, and promise to customers. It answers questions about your business before anyone asks them. When you put your brand on a t-shirt, you’re sending a physical expression of who you are as a business into the world. It influences how people feel about your business.

T-Shirts’ Role In Branding

What makes t-shirts effective tools for business branding? Visibility. Unlike pens, mugs and other products, t-shirts get seen by large numbers of potential customers. People wear them out in public. If it’s a good-looking, comfortable shirt, people wear them regularly. Every wearing is another opportunity for potential buyers to discover your brand.

T-shirts also build connections within your business as well. Employees feel more united when they wear branded apparel.

Remember, customers who wear your t-shirts are happy about your product or service. They feel included when they receive a shirt that looks and feels good. Your logo gives them an opportunity to talk to others about your brand. Over time, those impressions add up, and strengthen brand awareness in a natural way. 

The Right Shirt Matters

To reap the marketing benefits of t-shirts, it’s important to give the wearers something they’ll appreciate, not just any cheap knockoff. You need to consider materials, fit, colors and more before ordering shirts. Let’s take a look at some of those factors.

Choosing The Right T-Shirt Material

The material(s) you choose for your branded t-shirt affects comfort, durability, and how often people wear your shirt. The classic cotton shirt is soft and breathable. If you want a premium style, ringspun cotton offers an even smoother feel.

Cotton-poly blends are popular because they offer greater wrinkle resistance and durability. They also hold their shape longer, and often cost less in bulk. Tri-blends mix cotton, polyester, and rayon for a lightweight, breathable, moisture wicking shirt that’s extra soft.

Your choice of material comes down to price and who your intended recipients are. For event giveaways, you might prefer durable blends, while reserving softer fabrics for retail or employee wear.

The Importance of Fit

The fit of your custom tees is the key to getting your brand seen. A flattering, comfortable fit will get worn often, increasing your brand visibility to a broad audience. A cheap shirt that doesn’t fit properly likely will end up forgotten in the bottom of a dresser drawer.

While unisex fits work fine for many audiences, they might not suit everyone. Think about offering multiple fits, such as men’s, women’s, and relaxed options. Pay attention to size ranges too. Inclusive sizing helps more people feel comfortable representing your brand.

A winning combination of comfortable material and a good fit turns your shirt into a favorite, not just a freebie. And that gets your brand on the street more often.

Picking The Right Colors For Your Brand

The color of your custom t-shirts should align with your brand colors and logo. Match the logo colors with contrasting shirt colors. For wearability, many people prefer neutral colors such as traditional white, navy, gray or black to coordinate with other clothing.

Bold colors can stand out, especially for events or campaigns, but they need balance. Be sure your logo remains readable and visually appealing against the shirt color.

Also watch out for color fads. Trendy colors may look great now, but classic shades often age better. It’s ok to go for bold, funky colors for special campaigns (neon lime green, anyone?) but it pays to keep your logo looking consistent over the long run.

Printing Methods 

The method you choose for printing your custom t-shirts will affect both appearance and durability.

Screen printing is ideal for large orders. It produces vibrant colors and holds up well over time, especially on cotton shirts. It offers the highest durability of any printing method.

Digital printing is well-suited for complex designs or smaller runs. It allows for detailed artwork and color gradients, but may feel lighter on the fabric. Heat transfer offers flexibility and fast turnaround, but won’t last as long as other methods with frequent washing.

A trusted t-shirt supplier can help you select the right printing method for your design, order size and budget, based on the pros and cons of each method. At TJM Promos, our experienced staff will be glad to help you create the perfect design, properly printed, for your exact needs.

Creating The Right Design 

Designing custom tees to fit your brand doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with your existing logo or imprint. Decide what you want people to remember when they see your t-shirt, and stay on your brand message. Unless it’s a major special event or you want to do a complete rebranding (not likely, but it happens), stick with that original logo. Even if you are rebranding, it pays to keep the original look in place at least through a transition period.

Typography matters too. Fonts should match your brand tone and remain readable from a distance. Graphics should support the message rather than overwhelm it.

Consider logo placement as well. Chest prints are the classic look, while back prints offer more space for storytelling.

Always view mockups before printing. Seeing the design on the actual shirt color and fit helps catch issues early.

Cost 

All of the factors above can affect the price of your t-shirt order, as will the quantity you order. Keep your budget in mind, and TJM Promos can help you balance the competing factors to give you the best value possible when you order.

The Total Picture

Choosing the right t-shirt for brand promotion requires thought, creativity, and intention. Material, fit, design, color, and printing method all work together to shape how people experience your brand. With the right choices, your shirts become a walking introduction to your business and a powerful aspect of brand recognition. A well-chosen t-shirt invites people to wear your story, share your message, and represent your brand with confidence.

Your Reliable T-Shirt Provider

At TJM, we’ll work with you to ensure your custom t-shirts are the most effective promotional tools you can get. We’re here to answer your questions about materials, colors, price, order quantity and any other issues you might be wondering about. Call us today at (800) 423-0449, or email us to find out more.