Calculating the total number of designs applied to printed t-shirts across the globe at present is a job that would take a very long time. Absolutely anything can be mounted onto a t-shirt, or any other garment for that matter, but when it comes to the ones that sell the best after mass production there are some noticeable trends.
One of the most popular types of designs for t-shirt printing is known as ‘Geek Chic’ and this incorporates all of the t-shirt slogans, images and phrases associated with IT, science and gaming.As soon as these t-shirts began to be printed they became a big hit as ‘geeks’ tend to prefer wearing this type of garment.Basically, ‘geek chic’ always sells because the consumers very much enjoy the subtle humour involved.In the mid 00s mainstream attitudes changed and it became cooler to be a geek and as a result cooler to wear geeky clothing, too.
New methods of t-shirt printing, e.g. screen printing ad especially digital printing, have meant that having high quality photographs on t-shirts has become so much more possible.Some people choose to have images of their families or pets printed on their t-shirts. Digitally printed photographs on t-shirts that are used to embarrass an individual on a special night out are certainly not uncommon, such as on stag nights and birthdays. There is an endless list of the types of clothing that get printed with digital images, but the t-shirt still remains the one that most people choose to have printed. Fake logos made to look like a different word have taken the humorous printed t-shirt world by storm since the 1990s. For instance, a t-shirt with font that is the same as the PayPal logo, but which says ‘GayPal’ instead.The slightly risque humour used on these t-shirt designs makes them hugely popular for 15 to 25 year olds.
In the world of merchandising, printed t-shirts are one of the most trendy products.Everyone who’s anyone in TV, radio or the public eye will have their own printed t-shirt designs to sell as merchandise.Celebrities and artists often have other items printed to sell as merchandise, such as umbrellas, pens and diaries.These promotional items are then sold after shows in the venue foyer, on market stalls, online and at festivals too.
More recently there has been a flurry of slightly more artistic t-shirt printing designs.Quite often they feature cartoons or ‘cute’ images of animals and people, in fantasy situations. Sometimes these designs are quite sweet, with a subtle sentimental message and at other times they can be toned down but sinister.It has only been in the past three or four years that these t-shirt designs have become popular.
In the contemporary printed t-shirt market it tends to be the comedic t-shirt designs that are the best sellers.Saying that, the rise of professionally designed artistic prints continues, which might mean the printed t-shirt as we know it will change. It’s very hard to tell at this point but we could see a sharp increase in sentimental designs and a sharp decrease in funny or sarcastic ones.You have been warned!