Once we’ve moved house I’m going to have a lot more space to work in, and one of the things I’m planning to expand into is t-shirts.
Production is still several months away, so I’m not working on specific design ideas yet, but I’m starting to think about the various options. I want to make something that will please as many people as possible so I would love to hear any thoughts you have about things like shirt colour preferences; which sizes to offer (mens/unisex, womens, childrens, toddlers, babies); what price you would expect to pay for a good quality shirt; or anything else that might be relevant!
There are lots of factors I have to work around, so I can’t always do everything that is requested, but I consider and appreciate all suggestions :)
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Well Threadless may be a good place to explore for some ideas. I don’t shop online much but it’s always been a fairly reasonable experience over there when it comes to logistics. I hope that helps :)
Posted by PixelHazard on June 24th, 2009.
I found out about nut and bee through shirt.woot.com. I have recently developed an almost obsessive love of tshirts…and I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with, but from what I see on shirt.woot & teefury & threadless most of these tshirts are on American apparel tees. You may want to consider them as your shirt supplier as they seem to be something of a standard. Love your work!
Posted by TshirtFiend on June 24th, 2009.
This is something I had really been hoping that you’d do, especially since I missed out on the narwhal shirt. :(
My personal preference in regards to shirts for women are those that AREN’T those horrendous babydoll shirts. I believe those to be the saddest invention ever.
I agree with checking out Threadless. I’m sure they used to print all their stuff on American Apparel shirts, but I think they’re using different ones now, which is quite sad as I loved those shirts. The last ones I ordered were different type anyway.
I realise this comment doesn’t really help a great deal, but I’d just like you to know that I am REALLY EXCITED about this! :D
Posted by Rachel on June 24th, 2009.
stocking lots of sizes is a pain, but if you stock plus size women’s shirts, you will do well. anytime i have sold them, ladies have been grateful to have something that fits a fuller figure nicely. american apparel may make inexpensive shirts, but they are cut for…let’s say…a less…voluptuous…chestal area and not every girl loves the tight fitted look, but also not every girl wants a man’s shirt.
for myself, i always look for 100% cotton as well. it just works better for me. babies and toddler sizes are a really good idea. i would suggest not bothering with the smallest 0-3 size or doing a very limited run, since it seems most babies grow out of them so quickly they rarely get used (poor preemies don’t get the cool shirts though).
and i would pay up to (and possibly a little bit higher) $25 (US) for a shirt with one of your designs, without thinking twice about it.
Posted by ren on June 24th, 2009.
Threadless is a good place to start but depending on how many different kinds of shirts you want to sell you could also consider to get your own shop that works like spreadshirt (which is for Europe only I think). That means you design the shirts and when people buy them they print and send them. That way it’s less work for you plus you don’t have to bother with sizes.
My favourite T-shirt colour is black by the way ;)
Posted by TheFridge on June 24th, 2009.
Your designs would make THE cutests kids tees!
Posted by Millie on June 24th, 2009.
I’m agreeing with ren on most points here. But! $25 (US) seems a bit steep to me (in Australia). Maybe I’m a cheapo??
And do black, if you can. People like black shirts :)
Posted by Sarah on June 24th, 2009.
Yeah, black for the win.
I’d pay $25 + even though I get paid tuppence an hour at my crumby job.
Posted by Rachel on June 24th, 2009.
I echo the other commenters in suggesting black. Anything but pastels! It’s terribly depressing when a cute design goes on baby yellow or light mint. Bright colors are so much better.
Pricing-wise, I would say around $20 is pretty standard for a t-shirt. And American Apparel shirts are pretty much the best, because they aren’t super bulky, and they’re long (as to better avoid awkwardness when reaching for things on high shelves).
Posted by Quin on June 24th, 2009.
I would second the call for plus-size women’s shirts. Giant men’s ts are not the same! I would also love if if you would do raglan sleeve tshirts (like Bonds shirts) – I think they’re more flattering, as long as they’re the right size. I happily pay $65 for the Thunderpants raglan styles, so $25 US is not an issue for cute shirts that fit properly. But I can’t actually point you to a wholesaler for the raglan sleeves, sorry.
Posted by Joanna on June 24th, 2009.
Yes, yes yes on plus sized women’s shirts – and longer rather than shorter in the body would be fabulous. And kids shirts too (Crispin still LOVES his cupcakeosaur top). I’m not so worried about colour so long as the print looks good against the background colour (though I think it’s hard to get white to look classy). I’d probably pay up to NZ$50 for one of your designs printed onto a decent ordinary cotton t-shirt and a bit more for a fancier shirt (organic, bamboo, long sleeves etc) or a limited run design.
Posted by Isabel on June 24th, 2009.
I third the motion for women’s shirts that aren’t itsy bitsy babydolls. I wear a unisex L in terms of size (but dislike men’s cut), and even the XXL American Apparel girly tee is too small for me. Good options for women’s shirts are:
*Hanes Her Way
*American Apparel if you can purchase one of their women’s shirts as opposed to the juniors ones (they do make them, just few places sell them)
*Whoever your previous supplier was. I got the bespectacled octopus shirt you made in women’s XL and it just barely fits :)
Whatever you print on, if you tell people what brand it is then they’ll know better what to expect in terms of sizing since there is so much variation between brands.
And toddler shirts would be very cute.
Favorite colors: earth tones (burgundy, olive, chocolate), dark grey, and navy.
Posted by AKB on June 24th, 2009.
This makes me so excited that you want to do T-shirts!! I have bought all the shirts you have done for Shirt.woot since the Robot and Yeti one! That is how I found your site, and as for the prices people were discussing…honestly, i would be willing to pay $25…maybe if I loved it a lot!
Posted by MacKenzie on June 24th, 2009.
Loving the idea of shirts :)
I think that your designs would look best on black, white, slate grey and navy shirts – as they would be a contrast.
I would be willing to pay $25-35ish AUD, because people are also aware of postage costs.
Looking forward to the prospect of nut and bee tees!
Posted by Sabrina on June 24th, 2009.
Oooh I’d also be interested and would be after a plus size that’s well shaped for a lady. Although I don’t mind pastel colours myself!! :)
I could see myself paying about $25US, but if you made them cheaper, I would buy more.
Good luck with it!
Posted by Jamie on June 24th, 2009.
I also found you through shirt.woot. I’ve always liked American Apparel shirts. As long as there’s 3xl mens shirts i’ll be happy. $20-25 seems to be the going rate for the more artistic shirts.
Posted by Nick on June 25th, 2009.
Please do not have a shirt were it is stiff and boxy, I find a shirt like Gildan brand (no offence) is like that. Kid’s shirts are usually like that, too. If you would find them like that, I would apreciate a junior’s size ALOT. American Apparel seems like it would not be stiff and boxy, but I have not tried one. I am just a kid, so I would pay about $15 for a t-shirt kids/juniors, but maybe $25 for a long-sleeve one. Slate gray does seem like a good idea. White could stain… Raglan is the three-quarter sleeve one, right? That would also be GREAT. Would you sell them through nutandbee.com or somewhere else?
Posted by Miri on June 26th, 2009.
:D
As an alternative to the abundance of shirts with just one large image on the chest, I would absolutely love to see a shirt in a similar vein as your gift wrap design; lots of small line drawings on a solid background (lots of scope for wicked colour combinations, too!).
I think your drawings would be great for that since they’d work equally well as themes (llama shirts, food shirts…) or as a full on nut and bee menagerie :)
Also, I must agree that babydoll shirts are horrific.
Posted by Sarah on June 26th, 2009.
Yep – comfy yet flattering t-shirts for those of us who are, er, slightly more well endowed. Also, not sure what the likelihood is of this, but having a v-neck option in ladies’ styles would be good – again, much more flattering for larger busts.
But yep, I would love, love, love your designs on shirts. There is nothing else as charming out there, in my opinion!
Posted by Bec on June 26th, 2009.
I am quite excited about the idea of T-shirts.
I think you should have them be hemp or 100% organic cotton or something else ecological.
Also, it would be great if they could be Fair Trade Certified or generally non-sweatshop.
However, these would make them rather pricey compared to an average non-ecological and sweatshop-made tee, but they would be BETTER than your average tee, and hence the higher price would be justified.
Plus, just by having nut and bee designs on them would already make them better than the average tee.
I love Sarah’s idea of “a shirt in a similar vein as your gift wrap design; lots of small line drawings on a solid background.”
That would be really nifty.
Posted by Risa on June 27th, 2009.
Cool! I’m looking forward to these!
If you decide to go into men’s sizes, PLEASE make them slim fit/fitted (but not that super-tight look)
American Apparel does a nice organic cotton t-shirt in nice neutral colours; I think the friendliness of organic cotton would go well with the friendliness of your pictures.
As colour goes, go for the same palette that you use for your images, that’d look more harmonious and ‘suitable’ (for lack of a better word). Include guys colours too in this palette! Like sage green and coffee-with-milk :P
Posted by George on July 3rd, 2009.