How to Use the Best T-Shirt Design Software to Create Stunning Clothing

Using the latest and best t-shirt design software can save you time and money when creating clothing for your business. Whether you’re launching a clothing brand or creating tees for your staff, the design process is crucial. 

Arvin’s design tool enables you to harness the best of AI to create stunning t-shirts for any purpose. In this article, I show you precisely how to use it for exceptional results. 

But more than that, I explain the three key stages of t-shirt design and how to plan, design, and produce bespoke t-shirts. This article will help you if you want to create a new uniform for your staff or if you plan to launch a new clothing brand. 

So, read on as I explain how to create custom tees and introduce you to the best t-shirt design software in the business.

Planning, designing, and producing: The three stages of t-shirt design

There are three key steps to t-shirt design: 

1. Planning: The first step is to plan your t-shirt range. Why do you need bespoke t-shirts? Which options are best? What should your design look like? This is crucial, as there are so many options out there. 
2. Designing: Next, you need to design your t-shirts. Ideally, you will use the best t-shirt design software for this process. I introduce you to Arvin’s AI t-shirt design tool, which you can use to design and mockup various tees for free. More on this shortly. 
3. Producing: Finally, you need to produce and order your custom t-shirts. Again, there are several options available. I introduce you to four of the best companies for custom t-shirt printing. 

Read on as I take you through each step and introduce you to everything you need to know about designing your own t-shirts.

Step 1 – Planning your custom t-shirts

It’s always a good idea to start with the why. Why do you want or need custom t-shirts? This is key because the reason will influence each stage of the supply chain. 

I see two primary reasons why you might want to create custom t-shirts with advanced software:

1. You want to create merch or uniforms for your employees, volunteers, customers, or supporters. 
2. You’re planning to launch a t-shirt or clothing brand. 

The types of t-shirts you create and the process you should follow will differ, depending on which category you fall into. Let me explain in more detail.

Reason 1: Creating t-shirts as merch for your company

Whether you run a non-profit, a gym, or a landscaping company, creating bespoke t-shirts is a smart move. It can significantly help with branding and marketing. When people see others wearing tees with your logo, it can help with brand recognition. It may also help you to win business. 

You will likely give these t-shirts to your employees for free, and you might make them available for sale at your online store or within your brick-and-mortar shop. 

Either way, you probably won’t need to produce thousands of t-shirts. More likely, you will need between 10 and 50 t-shirts in the initial run, and you can always increase the number you order in the future, depending onyour need. 

With this in mind, t-shirts might just be one type of branded merchandise that you create. You might also want to create hats, mouse mats, coffee cups, and bags, which you can offer to your supporters, customers, or employees. 

Therefore, when creating your branded shirts, it helps to use a tool that can create mockups of your logo on various merchandise, as I explain in the next section. If you can design all your branded merch at once, you can save both time and money. 

If you’re going down this route, learn more about branding guidelines to find out how to create merch that helps your company grow and thrive.

Reason 2: Launching a clothing brand

Alternatively, you might be starting a clothing brand as an online business. If this is the case, you will probably need a higher quantity of t-shirts and may benefit from being able to print t-shirts on demand. 

You will also need to pay close attention to the quality of the shirts, ensuring that you select the best materials that are durable and soft to the touch. 

If you’re selling your shirts as part of a clothing brand, selling cheap, low-quality tees won’t get you very far. You will also need to design more than one t-shirt. After all, you probably can’t succeed as a clothing brand with a solitary t-shirt design.

So, you will need to spend much more time experimenting throughout the design phase. You can put together a range of t-shirts and launch them at different times on your social media platforms.

Planning the best bespoke t-shirts for your business

Whichever category you fall into, you must plan your bespoke t-shirts carefully. Consider each of the following before using t-shirt design software to create your design:

Size

Begin by considering which sizes you will need. You will probably need everything from XS to XXXL. However, medium and large tend to be the most popular sizes. So, when planning your inventory, stock up on M & L and keep a smaller stock of the extreme sizes at both ends of the spectrum. 

You should also think about whether to offer oversize or kids’ clothing options. This depends on who your target market is, but covering all size bases means you don’t have to turn down orders.

Type

You will quickly realize that there are so many types of t-shirts out there. For instance, you will need to choose from the following: 

• Men’s, women’s or unisex tees. 
• Heavyweight or lightweight tees. 
• Sleeveless, standard, or long-sleeve tees. 
• Cropped tees. 
• Branded tees. 
• Sportswear tees. 
• Mineral wash tees. 
• V-neck tees. 
• Round-neck tees. 
• Polo tees. 
• Recycled tees.
• Organic tees. 

At the outset, it makes sense to focus on one or two types. Offering numerous options can make it really difficult to manage your inventory, and you will find that it’s difficult to keep everything in stock. 

You can always add to your offering at a later stage, but from the start, keep things simple.

Materials

Another thing to consider during the planning stage is what material you want your t-shirts to be. You need to consider quality, wearability, and cost. For instance, if your staff work outside and you’re ordering t-shirts as a uniform, they should be breathable and durable. 

Below are just some of the materials that you could choose for your bespoke tees: 

• Cotton: Natural material that’s comfortable, durable, and absorbent.  
• Polyester: Petroleum-based synthetic material that’s lightweight and durable.
• Linen: Natural fabric that’s well suited to summer garments as it’s lightweight and breathable. 

To complicate matters, you will often see blended materials used in t-shirt manufacturing. For instance, a shirt might be 70% cotton and 30% polyester. This can be a cost-saving exercise, but it may also be to mix the benefits of each type of fabric. 

If you plan to operate an organic or environmentally-sustainable business, avoid polyester tees. Sure, this will make your products more expensive, but it’s a handy marketing tool and will help you to appeal to those looking for sustainable clothing options. 

After planning your initial tees, you will have a good idea of why you need t-shirts for your business and which type of shirts to create. You can then move on to stage two, which involves conceptualizing your tees with the best t-shirt design software, as I explain below.

Step 2 – The design process: The best t-shirt design software for beginners & experienced business owners

Historically, the t-shirt design process included various people. You’d need to start with a graphic designer who would be in charge of creating the design and logo. 

Then, you’d need to partner with a printing firm to create the t-shirts. You would also need to think carefully about distribution and other key aspects relating to the design and production of your tees. 

Today, the whole process is streamlined and incredibly simple, thanks to the latest AI design tools. 

You can use Arvin’s Logo Design Tool, the best t-shirt design software for your company. Whether you’re launching a t-shirt brand or looking to produce merch for your startup, our advanced AI tool makes t-shirt design accessible to all.

Try it for free today to get exceptional logos with no design experience. Simply prompt our AI tool to create a logo that fits your company’s values, ethos, and branding guidelines, and receive a logo in seconds. 

When you’re happy with your logo, you can explore various high-quality mockups, from t-shirts to hoodies and caps to posters and business cards. Prompt our Mockup Tool and click “Apparel” to see exactly how your expertly designed logo will look on your company’s t-shirts. 

Here’s a step-by-step run-through of exactly how you can use Arvin’s t-shirt design software to create stunning merch for your company:

Step 1: Access our design tool

Navigate to our design tool using the link provided above. Begin by playing around with our logo tool by prompting Arvin to create a logo that fits your company’s likeness. Enter your brand name and other key features of your brand to get started.

Step 2: Navigate to our mockup generator

Next, visit our mockup generator to see how your logo will look on a t-shirt. We also show you how your logo will look on various apparel, including hoodies, caps, bags, and hats. You can even see what your company logo will look like on coffee cups, phone apps, and packaging.

Step 3: Edit your design

Our mockup generator enables you to edit your t-shirt design with AI help. Play around with colors and positioning, and add other images that you would like to be included. Make sure your t-shirt is precisely how you want it, and repeat the process for all other merchandise for your company.

Step 4: Download your creation

The final step is to download the design you have created with our advanced t-shirt design software. You can then use this as a template before ordering your t-shirts. Don’t forget you can also use Arvin’s design tool to create business cards, posters, and other marketing materials for your business.

Why trust Arvin as your chosen t-shirt design software?

As there are numerous options out there, why should you trust Arvin as your chosen t-shirt design software? Here are just a few of the reasons that help our tool stand out from the crowd:

Easy to use

Our logo maker and design tools are extremely easy to use. You don’t need any design experience, and as long as you have access to the Internet, you can use them. The main challenge is knowing how to prompt our AI tool to create something that’s well-suited to your business values, goals, and aspirations.

If you’re new to using AI, check out the best AI prompts for different situations. Use the search bar to guide you and consider different ways to put our AI tool to the best use for your business.

Cheaper than hiring a designer

Graphic designers for t-shirts typically charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to create logos for your merchandise. It’s not risk-free, either. If you’re not happy with the logo, are you sure the designer will put it right? There’s the hassle of finding someone you trust, too, and agreeing on a rate for their design skills. 

When you use our t-shirt design software, you can get started completely for free. You can access all of our design features and create three different logos without spending a dime. Experiment with Arvin for free, play around with mockups and see if you’re happy with your design. 

Then, when you’re ready to download your design and put it to use, get started from as little as $4.92 per month for unlimited logo generation and a commercial license to use your logo however you like. 

As a result, using our AI t-shirt design software is cheaper and less risky than using a designer.

Many design options

We understand that creating a design for your t-shirts can be challenging. There’s so much to think about and so many designs and styles to choose from. We give you access to various design options, enabling you to choose styles like minimalist, abstract, geometric, vintage, or modern. 

This is a great starting point and makes it easier to create a design that’s aligned with your company’s branding guidelines. Our tool can create designs to suit all companies and design preferences, so feel free to explore the different options before making a decision.

Step 3: Producing t-shirts with your unique design

After designing your t-shirt with the help of the best t-shirt design software, it’s time to print your shirts. There are numerous great options out there for t-shirt printing, and I run through them in this section. I also present some of the pros and cons of each company and offer insight into which might be best suited to your company’s needs and goals:

Custom Ink: Best for no-minimum order t-shirts

One of the best companies for printing high-quality t-shirts is Custom Ink. You can choose from numerous tees, including performance shirts, short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and sleeveless options. 

I love Custom Ink because you can even order shirts with no minimum required, which is ideal if you don’t want to order a huge number of t-shirts from the outset (some companies require a mininum of 100 orders or more, for instance). 

I was also impressed with the quality of customer support at Custom Ink. So, if you encounter any issues when uploading your design or placing your order, you can resolve it with limited hassle. 

Order t-shirts from Custom Ink today with your unique design and logo.

Printify: Best for print-on-demand t-shirts

If you’re looking to create a t-shirt design business, Printify is perhaps your best option. I love that you can print high quantities of tees on demand, and the prices and delivery times are favorable to business owners. 

Like Custom Ink, some t-shirts are available with no order minimum, so you can fulfill online orders without breaking the bank. 

Another great thing about Printify is that you can choose your print provider from a list of trusted partners. This is a differential that can significantly help your business. After all, you could choose a company in your state or with the fastest shipping times, depending on what’s important to you.

Order t-shirts from Printify today.

Printo: Best for all branded merch

Printo offers a wide range of t-shirts and other merchandise. You can order hats, stationery, corporate gifts, marketing, and promotional banners all from the same place. 

So, if you’re looking to create more than just bespoke t-shirts for your business, Printo is a great place to start. You can add your specially designed logo to all manner of merchandise to promote your business. 

I was also impressed with the variety and quality of the options available at Printo. For instance, choose from round neck, v-neck, or polos, depending on how you want your t-shirts to look. 

Spreadshirt: Best for high-volume orders

Another awesome option for printing your unique t-shirts is Spreadshirt. Choose from men’s, women’s, or even kids’ t-shirts. Then, upload your logo or design features and decide which shirts to buy for your business. 

One of my favorite things about Spreadshirt is that the company offers significant discounts for bulk orders. For instance, when you order in bulk, you can lock in up to 60% in savings. So, if you’re planning a big run of t-shirts, Spreadshirt is one of your best options. 

I also like that Spreadshirt offers a 90-day return policy, which gives you peace of mind if you’re unhappy with your t-shirts when they arrive.

Final thoughts on the best t-shirt design software

Designing bespoke t-shirts is so much easier than it used to be. After thinking carefully about why you need bespoke tees and which products you want to create, you can put our excellent t-shirt design software to good use. 

Our design tool saves time, effort, and money. You can mockup tees and other merchandise for your company to see what it looks like before spending a dime. When you’re happy with the design, you can then create and print t-shirts for your business. 

The whole process is streamlined and simplified, and you don’t need to involve an expensive outsider designer. Feel free to also check out our t-shirt design software FAQs below before diving into the creation process.

T-shirt design software FAQ

What program is best for t-shirt design?

Whether you’re keen to launch a clothing company or are looking for top-quality merch for your business, Arvin is the best AI-backed t-shirt design software. It’s free to use initially, and you can prompt our tool to create various designs and mockups. Then, you can download your logo or design and send it off to your chosen printer to create stunning t-shirts for your business.

Is there an AI that can create shirt designs?

Arvin is one of the best AI tools for creating t-shirt designs. You can use our free design tool to experiment before switching to our mockup tool to see how your t-shirts will look with the design in position. Pick from various themes and styles and create a t-shirt design that’s bespoke to your company with our advanced AI tool today.

Can I sell merchandise created with t-shirt design software?

As long as you have the commercial rights to use the logo and design, you can sell any merchandise that you create with t-shirt design software. Make sure you remove any watermarks and read the fine print to enusre that you own the logo or design that you have created.

Is t-shirt design a profitable business?

Working as a t-shirt designer can be a profitable business, particularly if you use advanced AI to your advantage. You can market your services as a freelancer, taking control of the entire design process for your clients. Though anyone can use AI tools like Arvin to design t-shirts, you can also use them as the basis for your business, which you can then sell to companies looking for bespoke merch for their team.