Wearing Who You Are: How To Start A Clothing Business in 2023

Author: Irene Floridia

Our clothing doesn’t just cover us up, it showcases who we are. For many of us, the brands we choose to support align directly with our personalities. Clothing brands aren’t just started to make money, they’re founded on the idea of self-expression. For many of us, what we wear is an essential part of our identity. It’s the brands that are able to tap into that identity who stand the test of time.

In the fast-paced, internet-driven world we live in today; starting a successful clothing brand has become more challenging than ever, but it’s also the most exciting time to jump into the game. That’s why we’re here to help you in your quest to bring your new clothing brand to life.

5 Essential Steps Before Starting your Business

Besides the obvious actions you will need to take when contemplating starting your own business, there are preliminary steps you should take before spending money on merchandise or other services such as screen printing t-shirts. When starting your own brand, you will want to follow these steps as a guide to ensuring you have a successful launch.

1. Do your research

   Market research is important when looking for the right product or the right look for your brand. You will want to ask yourself if there is enough of a demand for the product you would like to sell and identify who you want to market to. How to evaluate a business idea before taking the plunge.

2. Design

   A well-thought-out design with unique elements that will best set you apart from the competition is critical. Having a brand identity can help you set yourself apart and the more creative the better! Check out 5 Steps to Building a Strong Brand Identity.

3. Create A Mockup

   As you narrow down your design and create a brand identity, you will want to make sure that your design looks good on clothing. T-shirt mock-ups allow you to see what the finished product will look like and it also allows you to edit your work before you submit it to a printer. Plan out your design with these 19 Ready-To-Use Online T-Shirt Templates and Mockups.

4. Source Your Products

   From personalized thank you notes to branded packaging, you will want to source the best materials to create trust with your customer. Sourcing the best materials will not only ensure quality but will ensure that the buyer will come back for more. At Family Industries we work with the best apparel brands to bring quality to your apparel. We also provide finishing services such as tags, packaging, and stickers.

5. Fulfillment

   Packaging and shipping can be a stressful task, that’s why most businesses implement a shipping software like ShipStation to help them print labels and automate some of those tedious steps when shipping a product. If the time and labor required to get this done is too much, Family Industries also provides a fulfillment option for those that don’t have the time for manual labor and want to focus on the big stuff.

… but why work with Family Industries?

Family Industries does not only guarantee quality prints, we also offer branding services which include a team of graphic designers to help you with your logo or t-shirt design. We also offer white-labeling fulfillment which includes branded packaging, branded garment tags, stickers, tote bags… you name it, we print it! At Family Industries, we treat your brand as our own; quality assurance and A-to-Z guided support to help you succeed.

• Quality

  Because Family Industries takes such pride in the work that we do, we guarantee top-notch quality prints. We offer top of the line apparel along with inks such as plastisol, discharge, and waterbased inks as well as foils and metallics. We also use the latest printing, embroidery, and heat press equipment to get the job done and ensure customer satisfaction.

• Options

  Because we are a full-service print shop, we have several options for applications such as screen printing, DTG, sublimation, embroidery, heatpress, transfers, and vinyl. Our wide variety of application techniques allow us to also offer high-quality merchandise such as t-shirts, flat stock, hats, tote bags, stickers, and other promotional items.

• Branding

  Branding is everything - When starting your own clothing brand you need your tags to have your logo or your tag line, at Family Industries we understand the importance of branding and this is why we offer custom hang tags, woven hem, and neck tags as well as branded packaging.

• Fulfillment

  Because sorting through orders, packing, and driving to the post office to drop off your packages can be so time-consuming we also offer fulfillment options that include your product with branded tags, branded shipping labels, and packaging.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

Do you have a lot of ideas for your own clothing brand but don’t know where to start? Our team of graphic designers would love to help you get started. Send us a message!

Apparel Branding Checklist

Starting an apparel brand may seem easy but there are a lot of legal and practical logistics to take into consideration if you’re looking to do things the right way. In this blog, we’ll take you through the basics of how to launch a legit apparel business with insight into the details that most people miss when they are just starting out. Additionally, we’ll give you examples of what not to do.

Image and Clothing by Never Made

1. Artwork & Designs

Oftentimes people have great ideas for what graphics they want on their clothing but don’t have the proper copyrights to use those images. It’s imperative that any design created for your brand is owned by you and that it is not in the likeness of any other popular brand.

Copyright is a form of legal protection provided to those who create original works. the copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce, adapt, distribute, publicly perform and publicly display the work.

Any or all of these rights can be licensed, sold, or donated to another party.

When planning your aesthetic and working with a graphic designer, it is advised that you draft a contract to ensure you have the rights to the graphics and this way, protect yourself from any legal issues that may arise in the future.

Check out - How To Copyright a graphic design

Many make the mistake of changing the colors on artwork and think they can get away with it but it’s not recommended if you’re looking to have a legitimate apparel brand.

Make sure you also trademark your brand name. Here is how!

2. Fonts

Fonts come in all shapes and sizes, if your design requires a cool font that fits the vibe of your apparel line, it is important that purchase licensing for them. We advise you to select 2 or 3 fonts to use throughout your items and so that you have a variety to chose from.

To learn more about licensing check out The Law on Fonts and Typefaces in Design and Marketing: Frequently Asked Questions (about commercial and non-commercial use)

3. Details

Clothing tags are not only an opportunity to print your logo on but they’re required when selling apparel. Many new brands make the mistake of buying t-shirts in bulk that have a generic tag of the manufacturer and don’t bother to add their logo.

However, we’ve found that having your company information printed on the inside of the neck increases brand recognition and adds to the overall value of your brand.

Regulations compliance is another reason why you should have neck tags. These regulations required the fabric content, country of origin, and RN number.

Check out - Brand and Clothing Labels: The Definitive Guide

4. Website

Have your website ready to go before you begin promoting your product.

Take the time to build a website with a checkout cart that is linked to your email or a processing system to avoid all the manual work that comes with fulfillment.

A common mistake a lot of new brands make is launching their brand on Instagram or other social media platforms such as Facebook and this could cause issues with fulfillment, as it is important to have a centralized system to manage order information.

Do I need a small business website in 2021?

If fulfillment is too much of a challenge for you, a company like Family Industries which is a local print shop in Los Angeles does fulfillment for many of their clients all around the US.

Check out Family Industries fulfillment information

5. Apparel Photography

They say we eat through our eyes and it’s the same concept when shopping. Having well-lit and consistent product photography not only looks nice but it’s extremely important.

Product photography is just as essential as lifestyle images, but keep the lifestyle images to dress up your website and social media channels; while using your nice and clean product photographs for your catalog view.

Check out Clothing & Apparel: 7 Common Mistakes

Product photography generally refers to photographing a specific item (a piece of clothing) without any other distracting objects. For clothing, we recommend you have a model and you have the images shot with a white or single color background. Additional images should show the material and the seams.

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Conclusion

Check and double-check that you have copyrights to your artwork and that if you’re using fonts, that you have the correct licensing to use it. Protect yourself from any potential legal issues and provide the correct information about your garment on the tags and don’t forget to add your brand tags.

Make test purchases on your website to make sure your check-out process is smooth and it works to avoid any potential technical issues when you launch.

And always make sure you have high-quality product images, show as much detail as possible for your buyers to feel confident in their purchase.

Additionally, check on your competitors, not only can you get inspiration but you can look for ways to set yourself apart, and come up with your own style that is better, and also offer things your competitors are not already offering.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

A Guide To Streetwear Design

Designing artwork for a t-shirt or a hat may seem like a simple task, but when it comes to the technical application of the design; things may get complicated. The road to starting your own streetwear brand does not have to be bumpy! we encourage you to inform yourself before investing time and money, and we will help you by taking you through the different steps to consider when creating and designing your own apparel brand.

In this article, we will walk you through efficient and economical ways to begin a streetwear clothing line as well as the technical part of apparel printing to help you avoid having to re-design your logo or any other artwork you would like to print on t-shirts, hats, or pants.

Photo and T-Shirt Design By NEVER MADE

What Is Streetwear?

Streetwear is a casual fashion style that became popular in the 1990s. It includes comfortable yet trendy clothing such as graphic tees, hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers. Streetwear brands are inspired by both hip-hop culture and skater style. Followers of the latest trends in streetwear are known as hypebeasts, and many go to great lengths to acquire limited-edition designer hats, hoodies, sneakers, and more.

The first streetwear brands emerged in Southern California in the 1980s, when surfers sold screen printed T-shirts to promote their hand-shaped surfboards. Inspired by the street style of LA skateboarders and surfers as well as hip-hop fashion, small skateboarding shops in NYC started creating their own designs in the 1990s.

In the 2000s, sneaker culture influenced streetwear fashion. Hypebeasts paired their graphic tees with athletic sneakers, and collaborations flourished.

In the 2010s, luxury streetwear was born. As young people and social influencers made streetwear an important part of pop culture, and the fashion industry noticed, from mainstream sportswear brands to high fashion brands, got in on the action.

The Basics

Comfort

As mentioned, streetwear takes inspiration from the hip-hop culture as well as the skater style. When figuring out the fit of your apparel, you will first want to think about whether you’re looking to design loose and comfortable pieces or have more of a tapered look.

Streetwear is generally defined by breaking the rules of proportion by using oversize t-shirts with skinny jeans or dropped-crotch sweatpants, but as the style evolves, it is encouraged to just make cool and interesting apparel regardless of fit.

Ripped pants and distressed jeans are also part of the streetwear style, these details are important to the overall look. Considering what type of fit and style gives you brand identity and consolidates your audience to a specific group, which in turn, will help you narrow down your marketing efforts in the future.

Fabrics & Design

Because t-shirts are one in a million, and cool graphics are being designed and printed daily; good high-quality fabrics will set you apart from the competition and give your brand an edge. If this is something you can afford, we highly recommend going with higher quality cotton.

Cotton fabrics are premium options and ideal for long-lasting apparel. Additionally, the thicker the fabric, the better the graphics will be. The thicker fabric allows for a cleaner and nicer print, whether you’re screen printing the design or opting for a DTG print (direct to garment), a nice cotton blend is what you will need.

The design will depend on what your brand is about. Considering the name and the inspiration behind your brand as well as finding a compelling way to translate your passion for the brand into a cool graphic is key, and that same sentiment should show throughout each article of clothing and each collection thereafter.

We recommend that you stick to one logo and that logo be visible enough on all articles of clothing offered by your brand. The graphic design should be easy to read and recognizable. When designing the graphics, seek inspiration from your life, your surroundings, or the culture within your community. Having a design that directly connects to a certain lifestyle is what makes a streetwear brand successful.

Versatility

When creating your own apparel brand, especially in the streetwear category, you want each piece to be versatile. Versatility means that you can wear that article of clothing with many other pieces to allow the buyer to create their own unique look and keep their originality.

You can achieve versatility by including basic colors such as white, black, or grey. Minimal designs such as your logo embroidered small on the chest or your logo screen printed on the back of a t-shirt.

The Details

Accessories are essential to completing a look. There are simple accessories you can offer, such as hats, beanies, and bandanas to complete a unique outfit.

Screen printing a hat or a bandana is fairly easy and affordable, and are a good way to add accessories to your clothing line. Additionally, embroidering a logo on a hat or a cross-body bag is a good alternative that provides an added touch of customization and quality.

Focusing on the smaller details can make all of the difference in setting your brand apart from others, such as printing on unconventional spots like the sleeves or adding an embroidered element to the design.

Screen Print or Direct To Garment?

There are many differences and similarities between these two methods of printing, and there are a number of criteria to be taken into consideration when making your decision. The following points will help you decide on which print method is better for your brand and more specifically what type of print method is best for your designs such as logo and other artwork you wish to display on the apparel.

1. Quantity: Digital printing allows for a smaller quantity to be printed while screen printing will usually require a minimum.

2. Apparel: Screen printing has more versatility when choosing your fabric. For digital printing, it is advised to print on 100% cotton or other select cotton blends and only certain colors.

3. Design: Photographs or hyper-detailed images with a lot of colors are usually better printed digitally. However, if you have a large number of shirts you would like to print, screen printing may still be an option but it may cost you a little bit more or may require some adapting to make the design work best.

If cost is your main concern, the following criteria will dictate the best print method:

1. Apparel: The type of apparel can range from value to premium options and depends on the style and brand.

2. Print Locations: There is the option for 1 or 2 locations, which would be the front and/or the back (for a t-shirt or sweatshirt).

3. Fabric Color: For screen printing on darker color fabrics, a white layer before your print is necessary and may cost a little bit more.

4. Number of Colors: The more colors your print requires the higher the cost is for screen printing, however, if you have a large quantity, this cost may be a lot lower as you can have access to deeper discounts.

5. Quantity: With screen printing, the number of pieces will dictate the majority of your cost. This is the most important factor that will most likely dictate the right method for you.

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Streetwear Brand Spotlight:

Never Made is a Los Angeles based streetwear / lifestyle brand created by artist Francisco Reyes, Jr.

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Remember!

When people look at you as a “high-quality” streetwear brand, you’ll not only be able to charge more money, but you’ll be much more reputable in the process. Reputation can take you a long way in the fashion industry, especially when it comes to something as urban as streetwear.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

The Process of Printmaking

When looking at the history of printmaking, we see evidence of this artform going back thousands of years and in many different cultures. The art of printmaking has evolved in the types of techniques used to achieve prints, and not only on paper but on other surfaces such as wood, metal, and glass. In this article, we will take you through the different techniques and applications as well as a little bit of the history behind this art form.

What is Printmaking?

Printmaking is an art form consisting of the production of images, usually on paper but occasionally on fabric, parchment, plastic, or other support, by various techniques of multiplication, under the direct supervision of or by the hand of the artist.

5 Types Of Printmaking

Woodcut

Woodcut Print by WoodcutEmporium

Woodcut printmaking was first used as a means to print books and create repeating patterns for textiles, and it eventually turned into an art form. The process of creating a woodcut print is by carving out negative space from a surface, leaving only the lines and shapes that you want to appear in the print, and then coat the remaining surface with ink. The next step is to place the inked surface on a piece of paper, and finally, create a print by placing pressure on the back of the block - with a roller, printing press, or other tools – to transfer the ink onto the page.

Engraving

St. Jerome in His Study (1514), an engraving by Northern Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer

Engraving is the oldest and most difficult form of printmaking. Unlike relief printmaking (where ink is placed onto a surface) engraving involves making incisions or grooves in a plate, covering the plate with ink, and wiping the surface, so that the ink remains in the grooves. Then, the plate is placed in a printing press, which forces the paper into the plate’s grooves to pick up the ink. When the paper and plate are peeled apart, you’ll see that the ink has adhered to the paper.
The incisions in an engraving are entirely produced by carving into the plate by hand, which is why it’s one of the most challenging printmaking methods to master. The technique typically calls for the use of a burin - a steel rod with a sharp, oblique tip attached to a rounded top for the hand to firmly grasp onto – to draw into a metal plate.

Etching

Graphic Etching “Surfeit” by DariaSobieskaGrafika

Etching is an intaglio printmaking process in which lines or areas are incised using acid into a metal plate in order to hold the ink. In etching, the plate can be made of iron, copper, or zinc.

The etching process involves incising marks into a plate through a process called biting. First, you cover a metal plate with a wax-like layer called the “ground.” Then, you draw your design onto the plate with a needle; no pressure is needed as you only need to scratch through the surface of the ground. When the drawing is finished, you coat the back of the plate with a varnish, then immerse the plate into acid. As the plate lays in the acid bath, the acid will eat away at the marks you made, creating fine incisions.

Lithography

Lithography Print “Tea stall” by Chetanartindia

Lithographs, which were created in 1798 in Munich, are made with a large slab of limestone or metal plate and require an intensive process of developing an image on the stone or plate.

To begin making a lithograph first you need to prep the surface of the stone with grit, a sand-like dust, and a levigator, which is a heavy circle of steel that is attached to a handle. With some force, you start spinning the steel across the surface to grind it down a millimeter at a time. This is a crucial step for leveling the stone, which will provide an even print.

Next, the stone needs to be sensitized by dampening it and applying an acidic liquid across the entire surface. Then, the solution is rinsed off, and when dry, you apply a substance called “gum arabic” around the edges to create a border for the print area. Now you draw your image onto the stone with greasy tools such as a lithographic crayon or ink.

Once complete, you begin the transfer of the image onto the stone by an intensive process that involves layering talcum powder, resin, liquid-etch solution, gum arabic, and mineral spirits. Finally, you will ink the stone and print the image with help of a press.

All of these steps play a role in transforming the surface of the stone so that whenever a mark with a greasy material was made, the ink would stick to the surface of the stone.

Screen Print

Screen Print - “Her” Illustration by Raphael Kelly Printed by Family Industries

Screen printmaking originated in China as a way of transferring designs onto fabrics, following this, the Japanese began using simple stenciling techniques as a way to create imagery. They would cut stencils out of paper and mesh was woven from human hair. They used stiff brushes to force ink through the mesh onto the fabric.

In the 1930s in New York, a group of artists began experimenting with screenprinting as an artistic medium by applying it onto paper. They coined the term ‘serigraphy’. Later in the 1960s Pop artists such as Peter Blake and Andy Warhol used screen printing as an essential element to creating their artwork. These artists established screen printmaking as a medium for creating contemporary art by popularising the method.

What is the process of Printmaking?

Screen Printing, also known as silkscreen printing is unique in the sense that the print isn’t made directly from the surface of the block or plate; instead, the image is printed through a screen mesh using stencils, and within this medium, there are a few techniques used to achieve specific prints. People new to screen printing often first learn how to create hand-cut stencils. In this method, you use an X-acto blade to cut out a design from a sheet of self-adhesive plastic film. Then, the shapes are positioned on the film to the bottom of a mesh screen and place on top of the paper.

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At Family Industries we practice the art of screen printmaking, using stencils and exclusively on French Paper, the gold standard for screen printed posters. Screen printmaking is ideal for high-quality posters, art prints, and other types of flatstock. Screen printed posters are always a hit and are a great way to make small or large runs of your custom artwork. Whether you’re a band who needs tour posters or an artist looking for a premium-quality replication, the team at Family Industries takes great pride in our poster printing department.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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For questions, send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Best Eco-Friendly Branded Merch

Modern society has become accustomed to consuming without awareness, however, in the recent decade, environmental causes have come front and center of the global conversation. More and more brands are moving towards a more sustainable way of conducting business, that be with their product packaging or their product sourcing. In this article, we’ll suggest some of the most popular eco-friendly products you can offer promotional merch for events or special giveaways.

What Makes a Product Sustainable?

The sustainability of a product is not only defined by the capability for repeated use or recyclability, it’s also defined by the materials used to make the item and the source from which those materials were procured.

For a product to be sustainable, it must be possible to produce and/or consume it in a way that doesn’t result in harm or destruction. If the production of a product requires nonrenewable resources, damages the environment, or results in harm to individuals or society, it is unlikely to be considered sustainable.

Sustainable Processes vs. Actions

Through process and resource optimization, some companies choose vendors, materials, production methods, hiring options, and make other business decisions specifically because they lend themselves to sustainability. This often requires extensive due diligence and may result in higher initial production costs.

Companies may also strive to improve their sustainability through actions that are separate from the manufacture of their product or the delivery of their service.

Why choose an eco-friendly product?

• Price - In many cases, eco-friendly items are no more expensive than their non-eco-friendly counterparts, so why not?

• Branding - If you're trying to send a message to your customers that your company cares about the environment, this is a great way to reinforce that message.

• Doing Good - When you give away items that can be reused (like the water bottles and totes below), you're helping to make a difference.

Swag Made From Renewable Materials

Natural materials that can replenish themselves after use are called renewable resources. To avoid company swag that is not eco-friendly, you should avoid buying merchandise made from plastic. Plastic is made of oil, coal, and gas, which are all non-renewable sources. It means that many types of very popular branded merch is not eco-friendly — plastic pens, water bottles, PopSockets, etc.

Read 5 Ways Plastic Harms The Environment

Cork - Is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees and can be re-harvested over and over again.

Bamboo - is a great alternative to plastic and is considered a highly sustainable material. Bamboo is grass and not a tree; it’s fast-growing and self-regenerates from its own roots. It doesn’t require large amounts of water, pesticides, or labor.

Felt - This is a biodegradable by-product of the textile industry. Its raw material is wool and it is renewable.

Upcycled Materials - This is the use of existing materials that would otherwise be discarded or used inefficiently. Such products use less energy and have a smaller environmental impact than products made from raw materials.

Read A Guide To The Most Eco-Friendly Materials

Packaging

In order to offer a fully eco-friendly product, ensuring that the packaging is recyclable materials. it’s a good idea to make sure the product you buy isn’t using an excessive amount of packaging, and the packaging it uses favors paper and cardboard over plastic or foam plastic.

Check Out Guide To Product Packaging and Labeling

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Top Eco-Friendly Merch

As a brand, you may be looking into offering branded merch or promotional items with your logo for events or as gifts for clients. We’ll list the top best-selling eco-friendly merch for any occasion or brand.

Canvas Tote Bag

Tote bags are reusable and purposeful, a canvas material can be recycled but there are also other options such as hemp, which can also be printed on using the screen printing technique.

Reusable Metal Straw Kit

This is a popular product because metal straws take the place of plastic straws, which are made with the worst form of plastic: single-use plastic. Single-use plastics have a short lifespan and are usually used once before being disposed of.

Sustainable Fabric T-Shirts

Ethically made fabrics are becoming more widely available with brands such as The Classic T-Shirt Company which manufactures soft simple tees ethically manufactured in California that guarantee fair wages, reasonable hours, and excellent working conditions. The Good Tee is another brand whose B-Corp certification and fairtrade certification elevates the brand to the top popular eco-friendly apparel companies.

Aluminum Reusable Water Bottle

Reusable water bottles are perhaps the most common eco-friendly promotional product. The popularity of aluminum bottles has increased in recent years as more and more of us move towards more sustainable ways to consume water. Reusable bottles appeal to all audiences and it makes for a great canvas for a company logo.

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Increase the chances for the swag to be used

Ending up in the trash too quickly is probably the biggest problem with branded merch today. To maximize the chances for your product to be used, gift something everybody needs regardless of their design preferences, gender, age, etc.

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Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

How To Tie Dye: A Guide in Techniques

Summer is almost here and with 90’s fashion becoming more popular among TikTok’s Gen Zs’ creators, tie-dye is all the rage. If you’re like us and love to scroll on TikTok for hours, you’ve probably come across a couple of tutorials on how to get the perfect tie-dye t-shirt or even sneakers! In this post we’ll take you through the different techniques to get the right result for what you’re trying to achieve.

How To Tie-Dye

We’ll show you different tie-dye techniques on this article that show you how to tie dye like a pro, but here are some tie-dye basics to help set you up for success! Whether you are wondering how to tie dye a T-shirt, how to dye socks or pretty much anything else, here are the basics to get you started.

Supply List:

• Plastic Gloves

• Rubber Bands

• Easy-squeeze bottles with dye powder

• Sealable plastic bad or wrap (for storing your t-shirt while the dye sets)

• Disposable surface cover (like a large trash bag)

• Wire Rack (to avoid your creating from sitting in a pool of dye)

Step 1: Pick your Item

There’s a long list of items you can tie dye, from t-shirts, socks, and sweats to bed sheets, or even shoes! We advise your select an item that is made from 100% natural fibers such as cotton, rayon, or silk. Synthetic fibers like polyester have different fibers that are not as absorbent and this can prevent the dye from dying your items completely.

It is recommended that you wash the item before starting the tie-dying process, especially if the item is new. Some dyes will require you to presoak the fabric in soda ash but with products such as Tulip’s One-Step Dyes, which already has the soda ash mixed into it.

Pro Tip: Do not use fabric softener when pre-washing your fabric. The chemicals in fabric softeners can block dye absorption.

Step 2: Prep the Dye

Some products such as Tulip’s One-Step Dye bottles already have the powder inside, but if you’re using another type of dye, now is the time to set up. Put the powder inside of your easy-squeeze bottles, then add tap water, ensure your nozzle is tightly screwed in and that the cap is on. Shape each bottle thoroughly until the dye powder has dissolved. Wait to mix your dyes until you are ready to apply them.

Pro Tip: Dye left in bottles for more than 72 hours might lose their concentration and may not appear as vibrant after dying.

Step 3: Bind the Item

Lay your damp item or t-shirt out onto a flat surface, make sure the surface has been covered with plastic. We’ll use a t-shirt and the spiral technique as an example, you will find the center of the tee which would be down the middle of the collar, and the section directly under the sleeves. That is your center point for your spiral.

Pinch the fabric in the center and twist the fabric towards the right until the entire shirt is bunched, making a perfect swirl. Use rubber bands to hold the spiraled t-shirt in place by crisscrossing them and creating 6 wedge shapes.

Step 4: Apply the Dye

Using the metal rack, place the t-shirt on to it above a covered surface to avoid making a mess. Wearing your gloves, proceed to apply the dye colors to each wedge created by the rubber bands. Turn the t-shirt and apply the same colors on the back to match the same colors as the other side.

Pro Tip: There’s no wrong way to tie-dye!

Step 5: Let Set

This is the longest step because you will need to let your creation sit for many hours. Place your project into a sealable plastic bag or plastic wrap to keep it damp and let the dye settle. Let your project sit 6 to 8 hours or overnight if you would like to give it some extra time. It’s important for the fabric stays damp while the dye sets, so make sure it’s stored in a cool area.

Step 6: Rinse and Wash

After it has been at least 6 hours and the dye has fully processed, remove the rubber bands and rinse, wash and dry. We recommend you air dry it or follow the instructions on the t-shirt tag.

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7 Best Tie-Dye Techniques & Patterns

Besides this being a fun activity to do with your kids or your friends over some beers, it can also be highly technical with many steps, that if missed, can throw off your design completely.

The Spiral Tie Dye Pattern

This technique is one of the most commonly used and if you’re just getting started this is a good introduction to tie-dying. This technique is simple, pinch the center of the fabric and twist to create folds and then tie with rubber bands strategically then add the dye.

The Reverse Techniques (a.k.a Bleach Tie Dye)

This technique is called reverse or bleach because you’ll need a 100% cotton black fabric and bleach. For this technique, you’ll need to leave your shirt dry and crumple into a tight mound with the rubber bands. There’s no specific pattern to follow, this method is a little looser. Then, mix the bleach in an easy-squeeze bottle to then apply to your fabric. Rotate the fabric as needed while squeezing the bleach into it. Watch as the bleach begins to strip the color of the fabric and gradually remove the rubber bands to then immediately rinse and wash according to instructions.

Once the fabric has been washed, leave it damp and lay it flat on your workstation which should be covered with plastic to avoid making a mess. Then apply the chosen dye colors randomly over the fabric, especially in the lightened sections that were created from the bleach. Once done, put the fabric into a resealable plastic bag and leave it in a cool dry place for 6 to 8 hours. Then rinse and dry.

The Shibori Tie Dye Pattern

This technique is all in the way the fabric is folded. For this technique, we will use a t-shirt as an example. Accordion fold the t-shirt from the bottom edge up towards the collar of the shirt in even folds. Once folded up, starting on the end of the folded shirt, accordion fold it again towards the opposite direction until you reach the other end. Wrap the rubber bands tightly around the folded shirt in each direction, crisscrossing the rubber bands.

Place the folded t-shirt on the rack and begin to squeeze the dye into the fabric on each side. For this technique, indigo blue color dye is usually used. Place the shirt in a sealable plastic bag for 6 to 8 hours or overnight. Once the dye is fully processed, cut away the rubber bands and rinse, wash and dry according to your instruction guide.

The Ice Dye Technique

This technique requires literal ice. The pattern from this technique is very recognizable as it’s one of the most popular. The first step is to damp your fabric in soda ash or the Tulip One-Step tie-dye, then lay your damp fabric out flat on your covered work surface. For this technique, the crumple tie-dye pattern is the most commonly used and worst great, but you can experiment with other patterns you want. After using the rubber bands to bind the fabric, place it on a rack (over a bucket or a bowl is recommended to catch the dye as the ice melts). Then cover the fabric with ice, make sure all of it is covered, the more the better.

After covering the project in ice, sprinkle the dye powder randomly over the ice. The ice will melt and help the dye absorb into the fabric. Depending on where you live and the weather temperature, it could take a while for the ice to melt or not much time at all. If the ice melts quickly, you can then place your project into a sealable bag and allow the dye to set for 6 to 8 hours. If it takes about this long for the ice to melt, it’s time to skip the bag and move on to the next tie-dye step which is rinsing and drying.

The Spider Tie Dye Pattern

For this technique, you will start with a damp fabric and then fold it in half. Pinch the fabric where you would like the center of the spiral to be, then twist until the entire fabric is spiraled. Bind the spiral with three intersecting rubber bands to create six wedge shapes. Apply a different color of dye onto each wedge shape and then carefully flip spiral over and apply the same colors on that side.

Apply black dye to one side of the spiral, completely covering the other colors. Cover with a plastic wrap to keep damp and let it sit for 6 to 8 hours. Then rinse thoroughly and wash separately.

The Kaleidoscope Technique

For this kaleidoscope pattern, you will start with a damp fabric and fold it in half, if using a t-shirt, fold it in half lengthwise and press flat on a tabletop. Pinch the fabric where you would like the center of your first spiral to be, then twist the fabric a few times to create a small spiral.

Maintain the first spiral while pinching another section of the fabric and twist several times to create a second spiral. Then crumble the remaining fabric towards the spirals. Bind the fabric with rubber bands to hold securely. Then make a paper ring to fit around the bound fabric and this will help keep the ice in place when dying.

Instead of adding water to dye bottles to mix, squeeze dye powder of a few colors on top of the ice, then let the ice melt and remove the paper ring. Flip the shirt over and repeat the process on the backside with additional dye powders. Once the backside has been dyed, cut off the rubber bands, then launder according to instructions.

The Firecracker Pattern

Scrunch damp fabric into a tube shape and wrap a rubber band around it at about a third of the way down from the top. Repeat on the bottom third. Add the dye to the top third of the fabric above the rubber bands. Then add Blue dye onto the bottom third of the fabric below the rubber band. Then wrap with plastic and let sit, then rinse and wash accordingly.

The Dip-Dye

Dip-dye (also known as tip dyeing) is a technique that involves dipping the ends of the fabric into dye. Dampen the fabric in preparation for dying then mix the dye of your choice and pour into separate plastic bins of bowls. Dip one side of the fabric into the first color, then squeeze out any excess dye back into the container. Dip the other side of the fabric into the second dye color making sure both dyes don’t touch. Lay the fabric flat on a rack and cover it in plastic wrap. Then let it sit for 6 to 8 hours. Rinse, wash, and dry.

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Brand Spotlight:

LXIX Apparel

While we at Family Industries do not do this type of customization, we have done projects with tie-dye by having help from LXIX Apparel which is a tie-dye haus located in Los Angeles and run by Brian Robert Jones, who is the guitarist for the band Vampire Weekend.

LXIX Apparel focuses on creating vibrant tie-dyed apparel from hoodies, and t-shirt, to full sweatsuits. LXIX has helped us with projects for Urban Farms LA and we have printed for their own brand as well.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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