How to Start a T-Shirt Brand (Even If You're Brand New)
So you’ve been thinking about starting a t-shirt brand but keep wondering, “Where do I even begin?” Don’t worry bestie — I got you. Whether you’re building from scratch or finally getting serious about your side hustle, this guide is your first step to building a t-shirt brand that actually sells (and looks good doing it 👏🏽).
✨ Step 1: Pick a Purpose, Not Just a Product
Before you design a single shirt, ask yourself:
Who am I creating for, and what do they stand for?
Your brand is more than a cute font on a tee. The strongest t-shirt brands:
- Speak to a specific lifestyle or identity
- Have catchy phrases that feel personal to their audience
- Make people say “That’s so ME!”
➡️ Think faith-based messages, boss mom slogans, cultural pride, or mental health advocacy. Pick a lane and ride it all the way.
🎨 Step 2: Design with Simplicity & Boldness
You don’t need to be a graphic designer, friend. You need:
- Clear fonts (avoid the curly stuff no one can read)
- 2-3 color combos that pop
- Designs that work on both light and dark tees
Tools You Can Use:
- Canva
- Kittl or Creative Fabrica for elements
- AI art tools if you want to go next-level
🛍️ Step 3: Choose Your Printing Method
There’s more than one way to press a shirt. Choose what works for your time and budget:
| Method | What It Is | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Transfers | Pre-made or ready to ship designs you press on tees | Beginners + fast launches |
| DTF | Full-color transfer prints | Small runs, bright colors |
| Sublimation | Dye that becomes part of fabric | Poly shirts, mugs, etc. |
| Screen Print | Ink pushed through a stencil | Large batches |
➡️ I teach heat transfers + brand strategy because they give you pro results without buying expensive equipment.
💻 Step 4: Set Up Your Storefront
If you want real sales, you need more than a Cash App tag or DM-to-order post.
✅ Use Shopify to run your store like a boss. It handles:
- Inventory + order tracking
- Discount codes
- Checkout automation
- Print-on-demand or shipping your own
- 👉🏽 Try Shopify FREE Trial Here
No tech skills needed — we walk through it inside my course and mentorship.
📣 Step 5: Learn to Market Like a Brand, Not a Seller
Here’s where most people fall off: they don’t know what to post or how to get eyes on their tees.
It’s not just about making shirts — it’s about making a brand people recognize and want to support.
That’s why I created:
Making the Brand: T-Shirt Brand Course
Inside the course, you’ll learn:
- How to pick your brand vibe + niche
- Exact steps to go from idea to launch
- Tips for branding and marketing
🎓 Want Live Classes + Feedback?
If you’re the kind of bestie who learns better with community and coaching, come join my membership.
✅ The Tee Academy (TTA) includes:
- Weekly LIVE classes on brand + product strategies
- Access to self paced branding and marketing classes for tshirt business, cup business, journal business, and so much more.
- Monthly drops, heat transfer plug, and a whole vibe of biz besties
🧠 Learn more inside TTA here:
👉🏽 Join The Tee Academy
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been sitting on this dream — this is your sign.
Start small. Start with passion. And if you want a coach in your corner, I’ll be right here rooting for you.
Let’s build a brand that speaks before you even say a word.
- Latonia Sumuel Coach Tee 💜