If you’re going to have a band, you’re going to need custom band merch. At least if you want to make any money. These days, making good music isn’t really enough to pay the bills most days.
If you’re still deciding what type of merch you want to make, you can’t go wrong with a t-shirt. Everyone wears them, they’re relatively inexpensive to produce, and it’s easy to slap your logo on some shirts and call it a day.
If you’re ready to take your band to the next level and create some awesome custom merch, you might feel a little overwhelmed with all of the options–after all, a t-shirt is just a t-shirt, right? Most people will disagree–some shirts are much better than others. So before you start having some band merch custom printed, check out the most popular t-shirt types and decide which will work best for your needs.
100% Cotton Custom Merch T-Shirts
Cotton is a fine choice for a t-shirt. In fact, 100% cotton shirts are among the most popular options for custom printed merch. Cotton is soft, breathable, and works with just about all printing inks. For people with sensitivities, 100% cotton shirts are considered hypoallergenic.
Not all cotton shirts are equal. You may find some cotton shirts are thick and heavy, but that’s usually just the really cheap ones. Most cotton shirts are lightweight and soft, thanks to modern manufacturing technology.
There are also different types of cotton t-shirts. These are some of the most common:
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is grown with minimal fertilizers and pesticides. If your band is very eco-friendly, you may want to consider organic cotton shirts for your merch. However, these will be more expensive to produce.
Ringspun Cotton
Ringspun cotton is significantly softer than regular cotton because of the way the fiber is continually twisted and thinned. The more times the cotton is twisted, the softer the shirt.
Jersey Cotton
Jersey cotton is softer and more flexible than traditional cotton due to its manufacturing technique. If you want high-quality cotton shirts that are cozy, breathable, and stretchy, consider using this premium cotton.
100% Polyester Custom Merch T-Shirts
Unlike cotton, polyester is a synthetic t-shirt material, but it remains a popular option. Polyester can be breathable and moisture-wicking, which is a great feature when you’re sweating outside at a music festival.
Polyester is a strong material with many advantages as a custom merch material. It is extremely strong, quick-drying, does not mold or mildew, and is wrinkle resistant. If you will be keeping your merch stored in plastic totes and hauling them from venue to venue, you don’t have to worry about polyester shirts developing a funky smell or a million wrinkles, as you might with cotton shirts.
Due to the increased durability of polyester shirts, these come at a higher price point than 100% cotton shirts.
Cotton/Poly Blend Custom Merch T-Shirts
Can’t decide between cotton and polyester? Consider a blend of the two. Cotton/polyester blend shirts are more durable than 100% cotton shirts but are cheaper than 100% polyester shirts. These blended shirts come at different percentages, so the look and feel of your shirt will depend on the blend of the shirt you choose.
Sometimes you will see shirts labeled as “tri-blend,” which means that in addition to cotton and polyester, these shirts also have rayon added to the mix.
Sell Custom Band Merch on MerchBooth.com
If the process of narrowing down one material for your custom band merch is giving you a headache, don’t fret. You can take away some of these decisions by selling your custom band merch on MerchBooth.com.
At MerchBooth.com, we allow bands and entertainers to sell their custom merch online with no upfront costs. Seriously. We utilize Direct to Garment (DTG) technology powered by AxelRad to offer your merch to the world without you having to worry about order minimums or storing inventory. We also offer fulfillment services so you can spend more time jammin’ and less time shipping.
While the cost of making custom merch can seem daunting, we take away some of that burden.
Sound good? Learn how to get started today and begin making money!