Custom Apparel Knowledge Base

We're a custom decoration shop in Northern Nevada. We do screen printing (including water-based and discharge inks), embroidery, DTF transfers, laser-engraved leather patches, laser cutting and engraving, vinyl decals and digital printing on blank apparel, hats and accessories. We also sell wholesale blanks.

Yes. Embroidery, screen printing, laser engraving, digital printing and DTF are all produced in our own shop. Can coolers (koozies) are the exception and go through a production partner.

No. We decorate ready-made blanks from S&S Activewear and SanMar, which gives you thousands of styles, weights and colors to choose from.

Yes. We laser-engrave tumblers and glassware, make stickers and vinyl decals, and decorate bags and totes. Can coolers (koozies) are available through a production partner on request.

Usually, yes. For example, we can embroider your logo over a retailer's printed logo on a vest. Send a photo of the garment and the logo you want covered so we can confirm size and placement.

Yes. Note that we ship team orders in bulk; we don't bag or label each piece by individual name.

We're an authorized decorator for every brand S&S Activewear and SanMar carry, including Port & Company, Port Authority, Carhartt, Richardson, Independent Trading Co., Comfort Colors, Next Level, Adidas and Rabbit Skins.

Port & Company is our go-to budget blank. It's affordable but still looks good, which makes it one of the most popular tees for construction crews and events.

Carhartt. Many crews choose it for durability, but it costs substantially more than Port & Company.

Independent Trading Co. is the favorite of our shop and our customers. For a fashion fit, popular styles are the IND280SL Midweight Oversized Hoodie, PRM4500 Pigment-Dyed Hoodie and PRM2500 California Wave Wash Hoodie.

Comfort Colors 1717 (garment-dyed heavyweight) and Next Level 3600 (soft unisex cotton) are two of our favorites.

Common picks are the Port Authority K420 (7 oz, 100% ring-spun cotton pique) and the Adidas A230. Tell us whether you want performance, poly/cotton or 100% cotton and we'll quote options.

Yes. Rabbit Skins tees cover toddler sizes such as 2T to 5T.

Tees and hoodies are the most popular and most useful items. Hats are a close next step.

Yes, you can ship blanks to us. In most cases we can source the same or better blanks for less through our suppliers, so ask for a quote both ways.

We send spec sheets with quotes. We keep few samples on hand, but we can mail a blank from the warehouse if you need to see the fabric.

The Richardson 112 mesh-back trucker. We also decorate other Richardson styles, rope caps, beanies (such as Decky) and generic trucker hats when a branded blank isn't required.

Snapback adjustable hats fit nearly everyone. For larger heads we can supply XL/2XL adjustable or fitted options, but most people don't need them.

Richardson only produces custom colors on orders of roughly 2,000+ pieces. Below that, we work within their stock colors.

Some colors (for example, cream Richardson 112s) run short nationwide. We'll tell you what's available and offer the closest stock color or a comparable non-Richardson hat.

Front, left side, right side and back. Each location is priced separately. For the back of a hat we recommend embroidery rather than a leather patch.

Keep it bold. Remove fine details and use heavier lettering, which reads better at hat size. Small curved text can still stitch cleanly when it's digitized carefully, and you'll approve a proof first.

No. We've embroidered orders as small as a single hat or four polos.

We stitch with Rapos polyester thread. Send hex or PMS colors and we'll match the closest shades; we can share the thread codes with your proof or test-stitch photo.

Digitizing converts your logo into a stitch file. It's a one-time charge per design. We keep the file, so reorders don't pay it again. Same-day rush digitizing is available.

Yes. We can stitch your logo on a matching blank and email you a photo for approval before production. The extra blank is charged, and you keep the test piece.

Yes, with embroidery or DTF. On waterproof jackets we seam-seal the back of the embroidery when needed.

Standard screen printing plus water-based and discharge inks for a softer feel. We use high-mesh screens on premium jobs so the print has little to no hand after washing.

Use fewer ink colors and fewer print locations. Sleeve prints and extra colors add screens and press time.

Yes. We can separate full-color art into halftones for screen printing, or use DTF for small runs.

Yes. We use low-bleed screen-print ink or DTF, depending on order size, so dye from the fabric doesn't bleed into the print.

If you have them, yes. PMS codes let us match ink colors exactly.

Yes. We laser-engrave your logo onto leather patches (for example, a brown rectangle with the logo engraved dark) and apply them to hats such as the Richardson 112.

Standard attachment is an industrial-strength adhesive that hasn't failed in several years and many thousands of hats. Sewn-on attachment is available for an added charge.

We don't recommend it; the patch doesn't bond well there. Embroidery is the better choice for back-of-hat logos.

Yes. You can ship hats to us, or we can source them for you.

Vector files (.ai, .eps, .svg or .pdf) are best. High-resolution PNGs and other images work too.

Send what you have. We can clean up or rebuild it, but art that isn't print-ready can add to the price. If a file looks like a low-quality trace, we may ask for a cleaner version.

Yes. You get a digital proof or mockup to approve before anything is made. When we build artwork for you, it's usually ready about a day after the invoice is paid.

Yes. We keep artwork and embroidery files for reorders.

Skip the phone number; people search online instead. Use bold, simple type so it reads at a distance. A city or region line is optional but can be a nice local touch.

Your artwork, garment style and color, size breakdown and total quantity, decoration locations, shipping ZIP or address, and your deadline.

In a separate email from our quoting system with the subject “Your Invoice is Ready.” It sometimes lands in spam or promotions. You can approve the order and pay from that link.

Yes. Ask and we'll email the quote as a PDF.

Yes. S through XL are standard pricing; 2XL, 3XL and up cost more per piece.

Sometimes not; for example, black and cream versions of the same tee have quoted at the same price. We'll call out any color that costs more.

Yes. We can send separate quotes for different quantity breaks so you can compare per-piece pricing.

About 21 days from art approval, including shipping.

Yes, rush fees apply. Small embroidered orders can be scheduled for delivery anywhere in the US in as little as four days, using same-day digitizing, a test-stitch photo and UPS Next Day Air.

Rush schedules have no slack. Late payment, late proof approval or a second round of changes pushes delivery back. We'll tell you right away if anything on our end puts the date at risk.

Yes. We can split shipments to several US addresses and include the cost in your quote.

We ship UPS, including Next Day Air for rush orders, and send tracking as soon as the order ships.

Because every piece is made to order, we can't accept returns on decorated apparel unless there's a manufacturing defect. That's why you approve a digital proof before production. If something is wrong with your order, contact us right away so we can make it right.

After payment and art approval. That's when we order your blanks and begin digitizing or screen setup.