The Right to Tee Speech

Credit: RollingStone.com

Say What You Mean

Recently, new DTG Awareness reader, Dustin Devos commented,

"Not only are consumers becoming design-savvy but they also are realizing that the Tee-Shirt is more than a fashion statement or a cheap piece of apparel. In this new age of social media and technological communication the founding right and principle of free speech is now in full swing when it comes to custom designed tees. Now you can convey a message without even speaking to a person and they know your serious because you are willing to wear it on your body. Yep, I'd say DTG aware is the tip of the ice burg!"

Dustin, I'd say you nailed it. In my previous post, "T-Shirts: 100 Years of Awesomeness" I made a similar point.

"The t-shirt, like a billboard you wear, can be an advertisement for what you think. In an age where everywhere we go, there is an ad telling us what to believe about this or that, the t-shirt is a way of expressing our personal view. It allows a way of communicating without opening your mouth."

DTG differentiates itself from other forms of t-shirt printing in that it is easily customizable down to a single article of clothing, and it allows for high quality design and feel. The wearer is not relegated to the words and ideas of another thinker, nor inferior or amateur looking style.

The fact that a t-shirt can have an impact has been the topic of many news stories. The recent case of an eighth grader in West Virginia is a poignant example of this. ABC News reports, "The shirt included the logo of the National Rifle Association, an image of a rifle, and words 'protect your right.'” Police were called to the boys school when he refused to turn his shirt inside out.

The effect of wearing a t-shirt with an idea on it can be profound. In a sense, the wearer becomes the message. To reiterate Dustin's point, if you are willing to wear it, people get the sense that you can back it up too.

Making Use of a Billboard

Hollywoodlife.com picked up on what Taylor Swift was going for when she wore a t-shirt with a message at the most recent Billboard Music Awards.

"The star was cool and confident at the show, where she sent a very strong message to all of the haters who were trying to bring her down, sporting a shirt that sent a very powerful saying.... While her tee seemed so playful it was actually quite bold — it read, ‘Haters Gonna Hate.’ If Taylor’s haters were, in fact, hating the singer could care less!"

Being that Ms. Swift took home eight Billboard awards, the casual observer could note that whoever these "haters" are, they likely got her point. Of course, it's long been a hallmark of the famous that they speak their mind. Agree with them or not, you pay attention to them.

So, can DTG make you a rock star? Wrong question.
Are you a rock star? You can prove it by wearing what you believe. DTG makes that easy.

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/junkfoodclothing

Breaking news.... Taylor Swift is now dating her famous t-shirt. Sources say the songstress is scheduled to record the breakup song at the end of June.

"The Right to Tee Speech" is a trademark of the DTG Awareness blog and it's writer.

Digital Passion

Credit: Tumblr

Good advice from the blog of Lara Warmwinter, at Digital Art: 

  "If the T-shirt design related to your colors and photorealistic images, then digital printing should be your primary choice [sic]."

Digital direct to garment printing is the best way to get high quality images, and a high quality feel with gradients. Not to mention the fact that digital DTG is fast. People that have tried DTG are passionate about it. I remember when I was younger and I wanted to get a couple of custom t-shirts made. I had the ideas, but when I went to my friend who owned a t-shirt printing shop to ask about getting them done, I was disappointed. He told me that in order to be affordable on a per shirt basis, I would have to order a large quantity of shirts. The time he would have to invest in making screens, just to do four colors, would be cost prohibitive for only two or three shirts. That was 16 years ago. Today, I can walk in to many shops, and walk out that same day with a custom printed, high quality shirt with gradients, and thousands of colors. And, all for around $20. There are also many online custom DTG printing shops. I can design a shirt from the comfort of my living room, and have it sent to me. When people finally realize the awesome power they have with DTG, the clothing industry is going to be radically changed. Big name corporate clothing designers, meet the Indy artists of the world.

A Digital Artist Finds DTG

A reader recently posted:

"bless my stars I found your blog in the sources section on the Wikipedia page for DTG printing, if you'd be so kind as to answer a question that's really troubling me I would be grateful.

I'm an illustrator I create high resolution digital paintings on photoshop and someone recently told me I should look into printing and selling some of these designs on t-shirts so I've been looking into t-shirt printing and what is the best method for me to get my paintings onto t-shirts with high quality prints, I'm planning to have low quantities and high pricing, so a high printing cost for a high quality print on 100% cotton can be absorbed. so could you please help me out with this? Thank You Sir"

People are becoming aware of DTG! This is great. Now we must educate. Here is the response I gave:

"Great question. There are several options for getting your images on to clothing. Heat transfers will get your print on to the shirt, but this method does not attain the high quality you are going for. Based on your comments, you will want to go with a process that can attain not just high quality look, but also a high quality feel. The best way to do this is digital direct-to-garment. Another consideration is whether the company you purchase your machine from is able to ship their product to your country, and give the support needed to help you get up and running. If you are based in the United States, you will have many companies to choose from. Pricing can vary greatly from company to company. Things you will want to consider are machine cost, ink cost, maintenance cost, and head replacement cost. Some companies also offer financing options, and this can be very helpful if you need to keep your cash flow free. Be very careful about used or homemade printers, as they probably won't come with a warranty, and you need to make sure that you can get support for your product. I recommend checking out the forums too. Here are a couple of addresses:

https://plus.google.com/b/117973706207801271116/communities/101204742741581995959

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/

DTG printing is a great way to profit from your art! I hope it goes well for you!"

Another one comes to the light of DTG, and a dream has been born. When will you make your Mona Lisa?

The DIY Mona Lisa

It Started with a Whimper

The "Maker Movement" is getting it's legs and starting to run. At a time when most Americans have become very comfortable being able to find anything and everything they want at a big box store, some are turning back to their own creativity as a means for self expression and gratification. And now, with the availability of smart technology at increasingly lower prices, some "Do it Yourselfers" are turning their initiative into profitable business. What this means for the big picture is that the term "DIY" is broadening to include small businesses that are able to accomplish big things with the right technology. The beauty of this change is that where it may be difficult to find a job working for a large corporation in a given industry, people will instead be able to compete with those corporations by starting their own businesses doing nearly the same things.

 

Exhibit A: The Record Business

A prime example of this can be found in the music industry. The digitization of music and availability of cheap, but high quality recording gear made it possible for virtually anyone with some musical talent to make their own record with a sound that rivals what can be produced in expensive recording studios. Quickly, people found means of distributing their music through online stores, and various music sites. Producing hard copies with beautiful artwork, and impressive packaging also became available through internet companies that sprang up to accommodate the market demand, and this was very popular for a time. Networking to get gigs was also easy, thanks to social networking sites that allowed people to connect and get heard without leaving their living room. The "Indy" genre, meaning "independent" became a force to be reckoned with.

From The University of New Hampshire Law Review, Vol. 10, No 2: "Today...modern consumers share, purchase, and discover new music instantly through the Internet, rather than CDs. In this Digital Age, more independent artists are able to thrive because of decreased market-entry barriers, namely lower costs, fostered by digital music production and distribution." So thorough has this transformation been that the aforementioned review states of the once behemoth record companies "the traditional recording industry dominated by the major labels, is under increased pressure and on the verge of collapse." There is more music available in more styles now than at any other point in history. The marketplace is flooded with sound, and  people are making money from it. The digitization trend does not mean that more people are able to get rich because of the technology, but instead, that more people are able to make a comfortable living doing what they enjoy.

 

Here Comes the Bang

Credit: AnnArbor.com

The book industry is quickly changing as well. Chain bookstores are closing down and one of the pressures placed on them is the digital book market. The introduction of products like the "nook" from Barnes & Noble is a testament to this. It is now even possible to self publish with ease, and distribute one's work without the need of a physical store. The digital side of the Maker Movement is already revolutionizing many markets.

But, there are still some things which presently require physical representation in a way in which books and music do not. T-shirts have this attribute. It is not likely that anyone will be wearing hologram clothing in the very near future. There is, however, a way in which the digital trend is catching up with the clothing market: customization. With the advent of digital direct printing, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their own ability to create designs and have them printed at an affordable price. Where at one time a local screen printer might be limited to printing a four color design in large quantities, today's print shop can accommodate any number of prints, down to one shirt, and with literally thousands of colors at no additional cost. This allows for print shops to compete with large clothing companies and designers in a way that was not possible just 10 years ago. By offering the coolest designs, and the ability for the consumers to customize, small businesses are able to reach the growing DIY community easily. But, just as iTunes attracts both Indy musical artists, as well as big labels, large clothing companies are also taking advantage of the digital direct-to-garment technology. The high-tech/low cost machine's availability means that a new competitive market has been birthed, one where the local designer has a chance to make his mark without relying on the good graces of big investors. This is the time of the unleashing of creativity onto the marketplace. Which begs the question, "When will you make your Mona Lisa?"

Shaving for Tomorrow: Barbasol Introduces Clothing Line

Credit: vintageads.com

Barbasol is Looking For a Few Good Men... to Wear Their Shirts

Getting in on a multi-billion dollar industry is a smart move. Barbasol shaving cream has decided to capitalize on their iconic brand by adding a t-shirt line to their sales offerings. In a Bizjournal.com article, Barbasol Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Jill Crumbacher states, "We thought, ‘Hey, there might be people passionate enough about our brand that they may want to wear it".

Undoubtedly, Barbasol will sell some shirts. Their status as a household name and their appeal to manliness will generate a certain interest among their many faithful. Their history of splashy ads, and recent foray into the "Shave Like A Man" commercial spots reveal an interesting and creative marketing vision, and at least part of the reason for their incredible success. Unfortunately, a glimpse into their shirt line uncovers a sort of lackluster approach to design. Assuming that the shirts are being screen printed, this is not surprising; actually it makes perfect sense. With screen printing, there are automatic limitations to design. This is because for each color, a screen must be prepared, which takes time. It is also very difficult to achieve gradients, which means that the image has a flatter look. Customization is also out of the question, since just adding something like a name in one color to the shirt would require making a new screen.

Get Close and Comfortable with the Future  

 

The advantage of screen printing is that very large orders of the exact same print are cheap. The profit margin goes up, as the number of shirts ordered goes up. But market demand is catching up with the digital age. The "Maker Movement" is a prime example of this trend. Companies like GE are recognizing the shift toward customization and are helping their customers put a bit of themselves into their products. This development could bode very well for marketers who are always looking for ways to get consumer buy-in. While it may still be possible to create a simple product and count on iconic status to move merchandise, with the increasing public availability of smarter technology, companies that offer products that allow for the "personal touch" can be among the early adopters, and by getting to the consumers first, secure a better market position in the future when customization is inevitably commonplace.

Barbasol has the opportunity to make a show of their status as a company for all generations. Shaving cream may not change much over time. But by adding the digital touch to their already incredible marketing, their shirt offerings could actually add a type of modern relevancy to their brand and a new way to connect with consumers as co-branders.

DTG, That's What I Meme

Do you frequently find yourself in the midst of a conversation where you bring up DTG, and your friends look at you like you are from Mars? That is because they are not yet aware of the wonders of Direct-to-Garment technology. What you should do in these situations:

1. Make fun of them.
2. Facebook bomb them with memes, like these:

A Mother's Day Poem

This poem, by Joanna Fuchs, is from poemsource.com
  Super Mom
Mom, you're a wonderful mother,
So gentle, yet so strong.
The many ways you show you care
Always make me feel I belong. You're patient when I'm foolish;
You give guidance when I ask;
It seems you can do most anything;
You're the master of every task. You're a dependable source of comfort;
You're my cushion when I fall.
You help in times of trouble;
You support me whenever I call. I love you more than you know;
You have my total respect.
If I had my choice of mothers,
You'd be the one I'd select! By Joanna Fuchs  
Want to give your mom something that she can show off of on Mother's Day? Write her a poem, and put it on a new shirt. DTG will make you the best kid in the family!

GO MOM!

Direct-to-Garment Extravaganza

I had an interesting conversation with someone today about all of the things that a Direct-to-Garment printer can print on. DTG is for more than T-Shirts. Don't get me wrong, t-shirts give you the most surface to play with, and to say with. When your whole upper body is wearing the canvas, you can get a lot of art seen. But sometimes, you may want to change it up.

Ever seen 30 Rock?

Trucker cap enthusiasm unchecked. Say what you want, on the hat you want... everyday if you want. Yep, you can do it with DTG.


Say it on a sweatband.

If your team is looking for something to make you stand out, or if you just want to keep the sweat out of your eyes in style, you can get your image or logo printed on sweatbands with DTG.

Other things you can print on:
Socks
Canvas bags

Wood

Glass

Leather

Jeans

Towels

Cotton koozies (no rubber lining)

Pre-stretched canvas for pictures

There are so many possibilities! Are you starting to become aware yet?

Without DTG, You Might Be Naked.

Raising DTG awareness is everybody's job. When people don't talk about DTG, other people won't know that they can put anything they want on a garment. If people don't know that they can put anything they want on a garment, they might not be able to find the right clothes for the occasion. If they can't find the right clothes, they might get so frustrated, they just decide to wear nothing.
This is just a guess, but I'm going to say that approximately 42.05683% of nudists are just people who couldn't find the right clothes. Direct-to-Garment can help. So, when your friend suddenly decides to become a nudist, ask yourself, "are they aware of Direct-to-Garment?" Then, ask them the same question.

DTG Made Me a Man

Some people think that it doesn't matter what you put on your t-shirt, until you hear about a story like this. It comes to us from a "DTG Awareness" reader in Fort Worth, Texas.

"DTG Made Me a Man"

Dear DTG Awareness,
I am sure you hear stories like this all of the time, but after reading your first post, I felt compelled to share my story about my experience with undecorated apparel. It was July 4th, of 2011 and my entire family was at my brother-in-laws house for a barbeque. I had worn a plain white t-shirt that day, as I did every day, because up until that point, I saw no advantage to wearing any particular saying or picture on my chest. Soon after we arrived at the party, the food was served and I began sinking my teeth into the delicious barbeque ribs my brother-law-had prepared. Suddenly, a flying object struck me in the back of the head! "What the bottle rocket?" I queried. It turns out, it was a bottle rocket. One of the neighbors had been launching fireworks, but had apparently failed to properly set the correct coordinates for the exploding craft, which caused it to blast my cabeça, instead of innocently exploding in midair. I turned and ran toward the neighbor's house to warn them not to set off another, for fear they may strike a less resilient person than I. As I closed in on my unwitting assailants, I could not help but notice the lack of fluidity with which my body moved. It was at this moment that it dawned in my imagination that if I had a t-shirt with a muscular chest printed on it, I could appear much more intimidating, as, from a certain distance, one could perhaps mistake the printed muscles for my real muscles, which, in these sort of situations carries a certain gravitas.
Minus the printed muscular shirt, I was left to acknowledge that my muscles, though impressive in their power to move heavy objects, do not hold their shape in a way that relates the type of strength they contain. So, while inside I felt like I should boldly demand that the neighbors continue their 4th of July celebration in another location far from our cook-out, I was instead forced to resort to the same tactic I had used so many other times in my life, which it turns out, is not quite as manly as I had imagined I would be in my muscle shirt. When I neared the neighbors', half smiling, I sheepishly stated, "you guys hit me in the head. Huh, huh!" The guys looked at each other, laughed, said "sorry man", and set off another bottle rocket, which whizzed past my face. 
I determined that if I could ever find a way to make my own shirts, I would have one made with muscles. Not only that, but I would also have ones made with cool and tough sayings. Sayings, that I have had in my head, that I know would be awesome and intimidating. DTG awareness has come to my life, and now I walk around with confidence. My wife loves me more, my kids respect me, and those neighbors... well let's just say there will be no bottle rockets hitting anybody in the head on that block for a long, long time.

-Phil S. 
 Fort Worth, TX

First Post- DTG is Real

Why do so many people go around today wearing boring, plain shirts? In a time when everyone personalizes their music playlists, their cell phone apps, and their computer wallpaper, why would people still go around with a plain white t-shirt everyday? For that matter, why do people continue to walk into stores, day after day, and buy shirts that have the exact same print on them as the ones next to them? I mean, how many times have you walked into a room and thought, "dang, that loser is wearing the same shirt as me." Why in the digital age that has brought us "social networking", where people record every single action they take from going to Disneyland to scratching their nose, and grown men post their thoughts about baseball and Justin Beiber all in the same day, would people continue to wear shirts that have the words and thoughts of others? Are we not INDIVIDUALS? Do we not have SOULS? Are not DIGITALLY PRINTED THOUGHTS available for our clothes?
The answer I have found is DTG, or Direct-to-Garment printing. BelQuette, Inc makes the Mod1, with the Edge Pretreament system. I just wish more shops had them. The next time a thought comes to your head, don't just put it on Facebook,  Google+, or Twitter. Put it on a shirt. Contact your local screen printer, and ask if they have a Mod1 DTG printer. Think about it, what if you put that thought  on a shirt, how many more "friends" could you get? Maybe other people like Key Lime Pie just as much as you! What a great conversation starter! But it won't happen if we don't put our thoughts on our shirts people! DTG is real, so let's put that social network to good use and get the word out!
Direct-to-Garment Awareness on Facebook