The global t-shirt market will top $5.53 billion in 2025 and continue annual expansion of 3.2%, according to research firm Statista. That’s proof there’s room for new t-shirt brands to enter the market.
With low start-up costs, huge creative freedom, and healthy profit margins, launching a t-shirt line is one of the easiest ways to break into ecommerce.
Shopify has already helped thousands of founders, like Ryan McCarthy of anime label Imouri, turn niche ideas into a bestselling t-shirt businessusing Shopify’s built-in design, production, and marketing tools.
Ahead, you’ll learn a nine-step process for how to design a shirt, from choosing your styles to creating graphics and selling online.
How to design a t-shirt
Follow these steps to start designing a t-shirt:
- Identify your target market
- Understand different shirt styles and fits
- Research design trends
- Select the material
- Incorporate patterns and textures
- Create your graphic design
- Get feedback
- Choose a printing option
- Prototype and create mock-ups
1. Identify your target market
Finding a niche is key to launching a successful online business. It can help you stay focused as you expand your operation.
Ask yourself these five questions to identify your own niche target market:
What age group am I speaking to?
Pinpointing the age range of your target market helps you create designs and messaging that speak directly to their life stage, interests, and sense of humor.
For example, if you’re targeting Gen Z, consider designs that play on nostalgia from the ’90s or early 2000s. Y2K graphics from that period, like metallics and stickers paired with simple sans serif fonts have come back with a vengeance among a cohort that was slightly too young to experience it the first time around.
What are their passions and hobbies?
When you know what your audience cares about, you can design t-shirts they’ll love to wear. It’s about making something that resonates on a personal level. This helps identify a more specific target audience.
Where do they hang out online?
Knowing where your audience spends their time helps you focus your marketing efforts in the right spot. Are they on Instagram? TikTok? Reddit? Meet them where they are.
For example, you might focus your marketing efforts on TikTok if your audience is primarily Gen Z, where short, engaging videos can showcase your designs.
How do they shop?
Understanding your audience’s purchasing habits allows you to tailor your promotions and sales strategies to match their buying style. For example, your strategy will likely be different based on if your potential customers are impulse buyers or prefer thoughtful, planned purchases.
Once you get a sense of your audience’s preferred social platforms, you also have the opportunity to sell directly to them on social media through tools like TikTok Shop or Instagram Shopping.
What problem are they trying to solve, or what needs do they have?
If you can identify a specific need or pain point your audience faces, you can position your t-shirts as their go-to wardrobe basics. For example, if your target audience is hikers, you might consider a design where sleeves are removable so hikers can attach them when it’s cold without having to carry additional layers.
Define your buyer personas based on factors like age range, profession, personal values, and income level. Consider your audience’s lifestyle as well. When and where might they wear this shirt? These aspects can help inform your design, cut, and materials.
2. Understand different shirt styles and fits
When designing a t-shirt, you need to understand all of the possible styles and fits to meet your audience’s preferences. Each style offers its own look and feel and helps you create different wardrobes for different seasons. Refer to the following chart for a breakdown of common t-shirt styles and their use cases.
| Shirt style | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Crew neck | A classic round neckline that sits close to the neck. It’s the most common t-shirt style, offering a timeless and versatile look. | Casual wear, layering, unisex designs |
| V-neck | Features a V-shaped neckline that elongates the neck and offers a slightly more dressed-up look compared to a crew neck. | Fashion-forward designs, casual chic outfits |
| Scoop neck | A wider, more relaxed neckline that often sits lower on the chest. It offers a more feminine and trendy appearance. | Women’s designs, summer wear, relaxed styles |
| Ringer tee | Characterized by a contrasting color on the collar and sleeve hems. It gives a retro or sporty vibe to the t-shirt design. | Vintage-inspired designs, casual sportswear |
| Longline | A longer length t-shirt that often extends past the hips, offering a modern and edgy look. | Streetwear, tall individuals, layering |
| Muscle fit | A tighter fit around the chest and arms, designed to highlight the wearer’s physique. | Athletic or body-conscious designs, fitness apparel |
| Relaxed fit | A looser cut that offers more comfort and a laid-back style. It’s often chosen for its ease of wear and casual vibe. | Everyday wear, plus-size designs, relaxed aesthetics |
| Slim fit | Tapered to fit closer to the body without being too tight. It provides a sleek and modern silhouette. | Trendy designs, young adult fashion, minimalistic looks |
| Pocket tee | A t-shirt with a small pocket on the chest, adding a functional and decorative element. | Casual wear, utility-inspired designs |
| Henley | Features a buttoned placket below the neckline, offering a mix between a t-shirt and a polo. | Casual chic outfits, transitional wear |
3. Research design trends
Incorporating current design trends into your shirts can help you differentiate your products from those of your competitors. The biggest trends in 2025 include minimal typography shirts, doodle t-shirt design, cherry red colorways, and sustainable messaging. If you use sustainable messaging, make sure you truly have a sustainable t-shirt design, too, to avoid greenwashing.
Zazzle and SnorgTees are two online stores that offer insight into custom t-shirt designs. You can review their bestseller categories to see what people are buying. Also consider reviewing general design blogs like It’s Nice That for a sense of broader aesthetic trends that can inform your designs.
Where else does your target audience buy from? Review competitor t-shirt designs and take note of common themes like darker colors, bold graphics, small logos, and other small details to determine which trends to weave into your design, and where to make them your own.
4. Select the material
Consider some of the most common t-shirt materials:
- 100% cotton: Cotton fabrics are soft, breathable, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive. But cotton isn’t the most sustainable choice, because it requires a lot of water to produce. Consider organic cotton instead. It also requires significant water use, but does not use harmful chemicals or pesticides.
- 100% linen: Linen fabrics are lightweight, breathable, and great for hotter temperatures. They’re a more sustainable t-shirt design option, because they require less water. If you go the sustainability route, make sure the fabrics you choose are fair-trade and global organic textile standard (GOTS) certified. It’s important to also communicate your product’s sustainable sourcing in the product listing.
- 100% polyester: A synthetic fabric, polyester is durable, resistant to wrinkles and shrinking, and relatively inexpensive, making it a popular choice for athletic wear. This is inexpensive to make but not a sustainable t-shirt design choice, because they don’t biodegrade like cotton, bamboo, or linen, require chemicals to make, or come from fossil fuels.
- Polyester and cotton blends: These blends offer the best of cotton and polyester fabrics, which is why they tend to be more expensive than 100% cotton or polyester fabrics. This isn’t the most sustainable option, but not the least sustainable, either.
- Tri-blend: A blend of cotton, polyester, and rayon, tri-blends are soft and comfortable. Like other blends, tri-blend fabrics are more expensive than pure cotton or polyester.
- Hemp: Made from the fibers of hemp plants, pure hemp fabric can be more eco-friendly and durable than other options, but also more expensive.
- Bamboo: Similar to hemp fabric, pure bamboo fabric is a more eco-friendly option. But it still involves a chemical-heavy product process, and comes with a steeper price tag.
Material products account for 91% of the fashion sector’s total emissions due to their extraction, processing, and production, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group. Sustainability is one of the biggest design trends of 2025, so be sure to consider how you can source your materials responsibly and sustainably.
5. Incorporate patterns and textures
Whether you’re aiming for something subtle or a design that really pops, patterns and textures add depth and interest that plain prints just can’t achieve. Think of them as the extra oomph that can make your design memorable and wearable.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Subtle textures: Start with something simple, like a heathered fabric or a slight distressing effect. These textures add a layer of complexity without overwhelming the design. They’re perfect for adding a vintage or worn-in look to your t-shirt.
- Bold patterns: If you want your t-shirt to be a statement piece, go for a bold pattern. Stripes, polka dots, or even geometric shapes can add a lot of character. Just make sure the pattern complements your overall design and doesn’t compete with other elements.
- Layering patterns: Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, but do it strategically. Layering a small, repetitive pattern under a larger, more prominent design can create a dynamic look that draws the eye in. Consider combining a subtle background pattern with a striking graphic or text overlay.
- Textures with purpose: Use textures that enhance the theme of your design. For example, a rough, grunge texture can give a rock-band tee an edgy feel, while a soft, watercolor texture might be better suited for a nature-inspired design.
Incorporating patterns and textures isn’t just about making a shirt look cool—it’s about adding complexity and personality to your designs, making them more appealing and unique to your audience.
6. Create your graphic design
Decide whether you’d like to produce the design yourself or hire a designer. If you’re going the DIY route, you can opt for user-friendly, free design tools like Canva to design your shirt.
More advanced tools, like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, come with a price tag but provide more capabilities. You can also find designers of varying skill sets, rates, and experience on freelance talent networks like Behance and Dribbble.
Using AI design tools for t-shirts
AI design tools are now more sophisticated than ever. Utilize AI image generation tools like ChatGPT or Gemini 2.5 by inputting your specifications in a prompt, like colors, image size, and style and image descriptions. You can then edit the result, or refine it by inputting edits in a follow-up prompt for the AI t-shirt design tool to respond to.
Free vs. paid design software options
There are a lot of design software options out there. Consider both free and paid software based on your needs.
- No-to-low cost, browser-based software. Canva, Inkscape, and Kittl offer free templates and drag-and-drop editors.
- AI-assisted tools. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and similar AI technology can also generate artwork or refine your ideas.
- Shopify-friendly apps. T-shirt design software like Printful, Printify, and Gelato are all print-on-demand services that let you design, publish, and take orders without leaving Shopify admin.
If you want a more technical platform, Adobe Express offers both free and paid versions. It’s a design software that offers robust design capabilities and even templates and AI t-shirt design tools to create your custom design.
7. Get feedback
Before your design hits the printer, get feedback to gauge the potential response to your design and validate if it will connect with your target audience.
Ask trusted friends, family, or peers to check your work for spelling errors, confusing design elements, or anything else that strikes them as off. Honest feedback like this is crucial for any stage in your ecommerce business, but it is particularly useful at the start.
8. Choose a printing option
All of the following printing options can produce a high-quality shirt, but they each have different price points and unique processes.
Depending on how you screen print your shirts, pricing can be measured by shirt or spot color (or each color required to print your design). This can range from $5 to $20 per shirt, or $10 to $30 per spot color. Some printing shops will match specific Pantone colors, like the 2025 Pantone color of the year Mocha Mouse, for instance.
Screen printing
Also known as silk screen printing, this method involves pushing ink through a stencil, or screen, onto the fabric. Screen printing is a high-quality method that’s popular and relatively cost-effective compared to other techniques.
Plastisol transfers
Plastisol transfers use heat and pressure to transfer your design from a carrier sheet onto a t-shirt. You can use this method with a wide range of fabrics, and it makes for a durable shirt. However, it tends to be more expensive than screen printing.
Dye sublimation
Somewhat similar to plastisol transfers, dye sublimation involves using heat and pressure to transfer your design onto a shirt. However, the ink is absorbed into the fabric instead of sitting on top. Dye sublimation is typically more expensive than other options, but it’s ideal for producing high-quality, full-color prints on polyester fabrics.
Direct to garment (DTG)
DTG printing is a cutting-edge method to print directly on textiles, making it the most expensive option. It works particularly well with lighter colors and intricate designs.
This method is also called digital printing, and it has the greatest growth in 2025 according to firm Grandview Research.
Print on demand
Use print on demand services for your t-shirts to stay ahead in 2025. It’s a fulfillment model that makes the manufacturing, printing, packaging, and shipping of t-shirts possible without holding your inventory.
Shopify’s print-on-demand services allow you to sell shirts without keeping, organizing, and monitoring inventory or worrying about shipping. Create designs and an online store all in one place with print-on-demand partners like Printful or Printify.
Eco-friendly printing methods
To truly create a sustainable t-shirt design, you also need to use eco-friendly printing methods.
- Use biodegradable inks. Water-based inks, soy-based inks, or even algae ink rather than chemical-based screen printing inks, which include plasticizers. Permaset Aqua and Screen Print Direct®’s Rapid Cure inks are two options without phthalates, which include plasticizers.
- Reduce waste. Minimize water usage by using a spray bottle instead of a hose. You can also use a dip tank, which re-uses the same water rather than new water from a tap with each screen cleaning. Reuse misprinted t-shirts as clean-up rags.
- Maintain efficient processes. Re-use screens by properly cleaning and storing them to extend their lifespan. Only mix what you need to avoid producing too much ink and creating waste.
9. Prototype and create mock-ups
Before you go full throttle into production, take a step back and prototype your designs. Creating mock-ups helps you see what your t-shirt will look like in real life and catch potential issues before they become expensive mistakes.
A prototype helps you test everything: the fit, the colors, the design placement, and even the fabric choice. Don’t skip this step, especially if you’re planning to sell your t-shirts online, where customers can’t physically touch or try on your product.
Taking the time to prototype and create mockups ensures that what you see on the screen translates perfectly to what your customers will receive. It’s all about delivering a product that exceeds customer expectations—building trust and loyalty from the get-go.
💡Use high-quality mockup templates that reflect the style and fit of your final product. For example, if you’re selling to a fitness crowd, a mockup on an athletic-fit tee can give customers a better sense of the final look.
T-shirt design trends for 2025
The most popular t-shirt design trends for 2025 include:
Minimal typography
This refers to typographic shirts with few decorative elements and minimalist typefaces. Sans serifs like Helvetica and Futura are common choices for this t-shirt design style.
Even if your overall shirt design isn’t minimalist, it helps to take a clean, minimalist approach to the typographic elements within your design. For example, if you elevate the negative space in your design, that can help draw more focus to the design’s key takeaways, which helps people understand your shirt at a glance.
Doodle t-shirt design
This refers to freeform illustrations that look like something a person might doodle. They have a sketchy, human touch. The designs are unpolished, imperfect, friendly, and approachable. Timothy Goodman is an example of an illustrator that works in this style.
Cherry red colorways
2025 is for the bold, and what’s brighter and bolder than cherry red? Bring this macro fashion trend into your design as a ground color for your t-shirt, or as a pop of color in an overall graphic colorway.
Sustainable messaging
Sustainability has been important to consumers for years now, and that’s not slowing down. Capture the interest of this audience by communicating the benefits and backstory of your sustainable t-shirt design. Include information about things like materials sourcing, supply chain, and your production process, through the lens of behind-the-scenes copy and product photography.
Over 70% of consumers say they are concerned about sustainable ecommerce when buying clothing, according to a 2024 report from Statista. You have an opportunity to capture the majority of consumers through sustainable practices and clear messaging—don’t leave that opportunity on the table.
T-shirt design tips
Ultimately, your design is what persuades people to purchase your shirt. Consider these tips to guide your creative process for how to design a t-shirt.
Keep it simple
A cluttered design can overwhelm the eye and detract from your message. Think about iconic t-shirts that have stood the test of time—most of them feature straightforward, clean designs that communicate a clear idea. For example, a single, bold graphic or a short, impactful phrase can often be more powerful than a complex image with lots of text.
💡Before finalizing your design, do the “five-second test”—show it to someone for just five seconds and then ask them to describe it. If they can easily identify the main idea, you’re on the right track. If not, go back to the drawing board with some fresh feedback.
Limit colors
Using a limited color palette isn’t just about keeping costs down—it’s also about making sure your design is clear and memorable. Too many colors can make a design look busy and may obscure your message. Also, each additional color can increase printing costs, which can eat into your profit margins, especially for ecommerce businesses.
“We stick to one color for each design, we don’t saturate,” says Yung Trybez, co-founder of hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids. “We don’t put a red, a green, a white. … We save costs there and it just makes it easier for us on tour. When we’re selling it and people are looking at it, like at the merch tables, it saves a lot of time, having to try it in another color.”
💡 If you have a strict budget, stick to two or three colors that complement each other. For example, a simple black-and-white design can be striking and versatile, while a carefully chosen accent color can add just the right pop.
Employ color theory
Color theory, or color psychology, is the idea that certain colors can influence moods. The same goes for t-shirt colors. For example, blue is often associated with trust and calm, making it ideal for designs that aim to convey reliability. On the other hand, red is attention-grabbing and can create a sense of urgency or excitement.
Use Pantone colors
Consistency is key in t-shirt printing, and that’s where Pantone colors come in. Pantone offers a standardized color-matching system that ensures your design looks the same across different printing methods and materials. This system will help you maintain brand consistency, especially if you plan to produce large quantities or use multiple printers.
Focus on image quality
In most cases, images should be 200 dpi (dots per inch) or higher at full size for custom t-shirt designs.
Whenever possible, use vector graphics instead of raster images. Vector graphics scale infinitely without losing quality, making them ideal for t-shirt designs. Whether you’re printing a small logo on the chest or a large graphic on the back, your design will remain sharp and detailed.
Consider contrast
Contrast is the visual difference between the dark and light parts of images. Choose high-contrasting colors—like black ink on a white shirt or light ink colors on a dark shirt—if you want a shirt that’s easy to read and aesthetically pleasing.
💡If your design includes text, ensure there’s enough contrast between the text color and the shirt color to make the words easily readable from a distance. High-contrast colors are an accessibility principle that improves legibility and makes your design stand out more in a crowd.
Design for your production method
It’s important to create a design that won’t be difficult to produce. So choose your production method first, then create your t-shirt design from there.
If you’re screen printing, your design should be kept simple and minimalist, as the process requires distinct, separate colors, which are then layered in the printing process. If you’re using DTG, you have more flexibility to create a complex design with full-color. So assess your production method and budget, first, then design within that scope.
How to start a t-shirt design business in 2025
Starting a t-shirt design business is not easy—the market is saturated, and the competition is fierce. So, how do you carve out a space for your brand? It all comes down to nailing the essentials, understanding your niche, and leveraging smart strategies to get your designs in front of the right audience.
Here’s how to get started with your own t-shirt design business:
1. Find your niche
Before you even think about printing your first design, you need to define your niche. The t-shirt market is huge, and without a clear focus, your brand will get lost in the noise.
Are you targeting fitness enthusiasts, eco-conscious consumers, or maybe fans of a specific subculture? The more specific you can get, the better. A well-defined niche not only helps you create designs that resonate with your audience but also makes your marketing efforts more effective.
When you’re launching a t-shirt brand, specificity pays off. It helps you build a dedicated following without needing mass-market recognition. Entrepreneurial expert and investor Chris Dixon of One Day Entertainment explains, “The riches are in the niches because I think you can build a massive audience and you can build a really cult following in a particular niche, and most of the world has no idea who you are. And I think that’s kind of where the puck is moving right now."
2. Choose the right ecommerce platform
Once you’ve identified your niche, choose a platform to launch your business. Shopify is an excellent choice for t-shirt businesses because it’s user-friendly and scalable. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re ready to grow, Shopify provides all the tools you need to set up your store, manage inventory, and process payments. Plus, with Shopify’s business integration options, you can easily connect with print-on-demand services to streamline your production process.
3. Design with purpose
Your designs are the heart of your business—they need to speak to your audience on a personal level. This is where understanding your niche really pays off. Every design should be intentional and aligned with the values and interests of your target market. Don’t just follow trends—set them. Invest in a professional designer if your budget allows, and make sure your designs are original and high quality.
4. Marketing and branding
Your brand is the story you tell through your designs, your messaging, and your customer experience. Build a brand that’s authentic and relatable.
Use social media marketing to showcase your designs and create bespoke strategies for particular platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Determine which formats work best on each platform, and review statistics of your campaigns. Use video to create behind the scenes content, ask me anything (AMA) sessions, and send shirts to micro-influencers who can wear your t-shirt designs in videos. Consider collaborating with a partner brand in a way that’s mutually beneficial and will help you tap into similar audiences on social media to expand your reach.
Don’t be afraid to engage with your audience—especially those who are already loyal to your brand—and build a community. Influencer marketing, email campaigns, and paid ads can also be powerful tools to drive traffic to your store.
5. Test and iterate
Finally, remember that t-shirt design is an ongoing process. Test different designs, marketing strategies, and sales channels. Pay attention to what works and be ready to pivot when necessary. The key to success is staying flexible and learning from your customers and your data.
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How to design a shirt FAQ
What materials are typically used to make a shirt, and how do I choose the right ones?
The most popular shirt materials are cotton, polyester, a polyester and cotton blend, and a tri-blend. There are also some more eco-friendly options, like hemp. Choosing the right materials comes down to cost, durability, your printing method, and how you want the shirt to feel.
How do I ensure that the logo or graphics I choose for my shirt are copyright-free?
To avoid copyright infringement, steer clear of cartoon, television, and movie characters, as well as real people, and consider anything accompanied by the copyright symbol or a watermark to be off limits. You can refer to the US Copyright Act to confirm that your shirt designs aren’t in danger of infringement.
What should I look for in a manufacturer when producing my shirt design?
When choosing a manufacturer, look to see if they have order quantity minimums or limits, the supplies you’ll need, and well-regarded customer service.
How do I market and price my shirt design effectively?
Social media is a great marketing tool. Try building an audience organically, posting content, and investing in targeted ads. For pricing, calculate your costs and then research similar shirt brands and/or designs to find the average price. Many shirt designers aim for a 30% to 50% profit margin.
What is the easiest app to create t-shirt designs?
One of the easiest apps to create t-shirt designs is Canva. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface with a wide variety of templates, graphics, and fonts, making it accessible even for beginners. Plus, it provides built-in mockup features so you can see how your design will look on a t-shirt before printing. After this, you won’t just know how to design a shirt—you’ll become an expert.
