Trend alert! Retro-cool, vintage-inspired graphics are all the rage in apparel decoration right now.
First things first, what decoration method should you use? NLA’s decoration pros recommend discharge printing for that subtle “softly worn” appearance. This is possible through this technique’s process that uses water-based inks which extract dye out of fabric and replace it with the selected dye color you’ve chosen. Another idea? Don’t use any dye color at all for the ultimate distressed, vintage look, as our soft wash process already creates highs and lows in the fabric’s ink colors.
Another important element to consider when trying to achieve a custom vintage t-shirt look is the graphic design and typography style. Look for graphics that have a retro-inspired vibe and use a softer color palette to achieve that broken-in look from the first wear through many “wash and wear” cycles to come.
Lastly, let’s discuss which apparel fabrics to print on. We love our sueded and tri-blend fabrics for vintage-inspired projects. The soft and consistent heathered tri-blend feels soft and broken-in from the moment it’s put on, while the ultra-soft sueded fabric feels like a blast from the past with a modern edge. Make your branded t-shirts cooler with these vintage t-shirt strategies. You can find vintage tees, and high quality screen-printing, custom artwork designs right here at Coolhand.