Pocket tees, polos, henleys, v-necks… How do you pick the right t-shirt?
Here’s a little secret about tees: the quality of the cut and cotton blend matter way more than the style! If you want to create custom printed t-shirts that people actually want to wear, getting the basics right should come before logos and printing.
Custom-branded merch isn’t just about a logo in the top corner of a shirt anymore. At Imprint Engine, we help bring your creative ideas to life using whatever method works best —whether that’s laser carving, custom embroidery, or something else entirely.
Need to Skim? Key Takeaways:
- Start simple. Focus on finding a quality base shirt first. This will simplify the t-shirt printing process and result in stylish, long-lasting shirts people will actually wear.
- High-quality cotton blends are the best choice for custom t-shirts—durable, comfortable, and sustainably crafted.
- At Imprint Engine, we’ve built strong relationships with top suppliers and manufacturers. This means you get access to better products, wholesale pricing, and faster turnaround—without the hassle of managing it yourself.
Table of Contents
1. Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee Shirt
Our partners at Bella+Canvas know t-shirts. Their basics provide the perfect foundation for custom printing—whether you’re going for a simple logo or a more intricate design (both will transfer beautifully).
To keep everything on brand, you can choose from 86 different colors, all made from soft, breathable cotton with just the right touch of polyester for a perfect fit. Oh, snap!
2. Unisex CVC Jersey T-shirt
For a colorful cotton blend crew neck tee, we love the CVC Jersey shirt from our partners at Next Level Apparel.
This past year, we saw clients leaning into retro and vintage designs, organic shapes, and brands handwriting their own text. We also love how size-inclusive these shirts are, ranging all the way from XS to 6XL. Give your custom t-shirt design the proper canvas to shine on!
3. AS Colour Classic Cotton Tee
Relaxed fit, put-together style. Our partners at AS Colour nailed it with their classic tee. Available in cuts for both men and women, this tee comes in 54 colors with endless personalization options.
You can’t beat natural, 100% cotton. It’s durable enough to handle frequent washing while keeping its shape and color intact. Perfect for embroidered designs, direct-to-garment prints, and whatever your creative vision can imagine.
4. American Grown Supima 100% Cotton 6oz Short Sleeve T-Shirts
If American-made quality is what you’re after, our partners at Original Favorites have the tee you’re looking for. These 100% cotton tees use only top-quality Supima cotton grown in California, colored with natural dyes, and free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde.
The curated color choices and expertly designed cuts make this shirt one of the sharpest options you can get. Combine that with the buttery soft texture and it’s a win-win for you and anyone who gets to wear your custom logo shirts!
5. Garment Dye Crew Neck Tee
Our partners at Los Angeles Apparel make an incredibly durable, comfortable high-neck t-shirt that’s great for custom printing!
It’s got a heavier, sturdier feel and a generous fit—perfect for when you just want a little extra room to breathe. If it’s a shirt they want to grab again and again, it’s great if your design is on it.
What Do The Best Custom T-Shirts Have in Common?
- High-quality materials: T-shirts live and die by the material they’re made of. Cotton is the gold standard, with cotton and polyester blends being a popular way to make shirts that are both super strong and soft.
- Comfortable fit: The best custom t-shirts will be a comfortable length with a nice neckline and a matching sleeve length. You can’t always get the fit right if you’re ordering a broad range, but a well-cut unisex tee is going to work for most people and make your custom design pop.
- Custom color options: Quality and cut are great, but how about getting a tee in your company colors? Great suppliers offer either a wide stock color range or custom colors for bulk orders.
- Durability: T-shirts should be strong enough to not only hold up for years on their own but also to keep their custom printed design for as long as possible. Ideally, you want the design to be vivid and attractive for the lifetime of the shirt, instead of having it turn into a painting shirt.
- Sustainability: It’s easy to throw away sustainability to save a few bucks, but sustainable practices are a high priority for many employees. What separates a good t-shirt from a great one often comes down to how sustainably they run their operation, in terms of materials they use, labor practices, and environmental impact.
Let’s Make Merch They’ll Actually Use
The best custom t-shirts are the ones people can’t help but wear constantly. They’re soft but tough, tailored but casual. The designs you put on these top-notch tees are just the icing on the cake.
If you don’t want your merch to end up at the bottom of a forgotten dresser drawer, leave it up to the experts at Imprint Engine. We’re ready to supercharge your merch into top-shelf material that embodies everything great about your brand.
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We can’t wait to connect with you.