T-shirts are classics and will remain men’s first choice forever. That’s why, as a brand, different types of t-shirt decoration are your best friend when attracting customers. Many say there’s not much variation in men’s fashion wear, but this article will prove you wrong with the vast array of t-shirt styles you can choose from.
Are you on your way to designing your men’s shirt collection? If so, you must prepare by reading all the necessary information. This spans from background information to the origins of the shirts and, of course, what types of t-shirt styles you can have.
Read here to find out how you can make your t-shirt designs more appealing to customers. Find out more about all the information mentioned in one scroll!
Different Types of T-Shirt Decorations for Men
T-shirts seem like the simplest type of garment, but you’ll be surprised because there are a massive number of them. Here are several kinds of t-shirt styles and how you can customize them:
1. Graphic Shirt
Graphic tees are especially popular with younger men. They’re shirts with stylistic images and graphic designs, making them appealing to customers. Most buy them for casual wear, souvenirs, or comfortable work clothes.
This type of shirt decoration originated in the United States and was mainly used by the military during the 1940s. Soldiers during this time wore shirts with prints on their front. But, when Marlon Brando wore it in A Streetcar Named Desire, the tee became popular with the public. Here’s how to decorate them:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Video Game Character Graphic Shirt
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Video games are on the rise today. So, take advantage of this trend by incorporating them into your shirt. Game fans will surely then buy your shirt and take it as merchandise.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Street Art Graphic Shirt
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This t-shirt style is a popular choice to decorate a graphic tee. It’s unique and edgy, so it’s not rocket science to understand why it’s a great choice. Create fun and bold graffiti artwork for your tee, and you’ll surely gain customers.
T-Shirt Decoration 3: Music-Referenced Graphic Shirt
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People like incorporating their choices in music into their clothing. So, choose a famous musician or song among men and use it as your design inspiration to decorate your shirt.
2. All Over Print T-Shirt
As the shirt’s name implies, this kind of t-shirt style has printing all over it. There are several ways, like sublimation, all-over screenprint, and digital print. These methods are used for the whole shirt’s surface decoration. Because of their bold designs, these shirts immediately caught people’s attention, so they never went out of style.
All-over print shirts emerged in France during the 1950s, when Noel De Plasse introduced the sublimation technique. But this type of shirt decoration peaked in popularity in the middle of the 2000s. Today, it continues to dominate trends. If you want unique all-over shirt styles, here are some:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Geometric All Over Print Shirt
Experiment with different kinds of shapes and geometric designs. After choosing your favorites, customize your brand’s shirts using them. This type of design aesthetic is excellent for creating a unique yet dapper look.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Tropical All Over Print Shirt
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Do you want a refreshing look on your shirts? If so, use tropical designs for your all-over print shirt. You can decorate them with palm trees, flowers, parrots, and anything that comes to mind when you think of the tropics!
3. Flock Print Shirt
A flock print shirt is where the design elements of the garment with several fibers are called a flock. These fibers consist of either cotton, nylon, or polyester. Brands make this type of t-shirt decoration by manually flocking, stenciling, transferring, or compressed air flocking.
China started using flock printing in 1000 BC, so it has come a long way. Then, in the middle of the 2000s, this flocking technique started to be more popular and widespread. Today, the fashion industry continues to use this type of t-shirt decoration style. Check out these flock print shirt styles you can take inspiration from:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Monogram Flock Print Tee
If you have a distinctive brand monogram, you can consider using flock printing to provide a tactile feel as compared to normal screen printing. Doing this will make your customers and the public immediately recognize that the tee is from your brand.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Statement Flock Print Tee
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Many people love minimalistic shirts today, so statement shirts are trendy. But if you want an edge over other brands, use Flock Printing for your statement shirt.
4. Heat Transfer Print T-Shirt
Heat transfer shirts have different types of decorations you can choose from. They’re like graphic tees, except design elements are heat transferred. Heat transfer, or thermal printing, uses heat to transfer a design or image onto a shirt, making it easy to customize clothing.
Experts began using heat transfer to design garments in the 1960s. It rose in popularity from the 1960s to the 1970s, and different brands still use the technique today. Here are some ways to customize shirts by heat transfer:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Sci-Fi Heat Transfer Print Shirt
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Sci-fi graphic designs are well received by people today, and they especially look great when applied to t-shirts. If you want an edgy feel in your collection, you can incorporate sci-fi elements like planets, stars, or alien elements on tees.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Abstract Art Heat Transfer Print Shirt
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For an artsy vibe, go with an abstract art element. You can create your own design or collaborate with your favorite artists to create unique artwork.
T-Shirt Decoration 3: Pop-Culture Inspired Heat Transfer Print Shirt
If you have a favorite pop artist, use them as inspiration to create your own unique artwork for your shirt. Fans of the same pop references you used will be interested in buying your shirt and even wearing it to concerts.
5. Embroidered Shirt
Who says embroidery is only for women? Men can rock them, too. This t-shirt decoration has directly stitched or sewed design elements using a thread. Because they don’t involve ink, these shirts are more durable than others. Additionally, they offer a classy look for men.
Based on what archaeologists found, people began embroidering on garments around 30,000 BCE. People from China and the Near East mainly used this method for their clothing. Today, embroidered shirts are associated with the upper class, mainly because the royals used them around the 1000s. Check out these design ideas for this type of shirt decoration:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Floral Embroidered Tees
Whoever says flower elements aren’t for men’s clothing has undoubtedly not seen a good design. For this, there are different types of flowers you can choose from. Also, they don’t have to be big embroidery pieces. They can also be small ones, and they will still catch attention.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Wildlife Portrait Embroidered Tees
Embroideries can also look cool. Have an edgy but classy feel for your collection by taking inspiration from wildlife animals for your embroidered tees.
6. Sequin T-Shirt
In this era, men can shine too, and what other way is there to emphasize this than with sequin t-shirts? They also make men look daring. These shirts can have fully or partially covered plastic or metal pieces. The sequins can be a circle, oval, square, diamond, and more. They also come in different colors, so they have unlimited design choices.
Sequin came from the Arabic word “Sikka,” which means coin because they look like coins. When archaeologists opened his tomb, Egyptian Pharoah Tutankhamen wore this garment embellished with pure gold sequin-like material. After this discovery, sequins became popularized in the West. Make your collection glimmer with these design ideas:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Fully Sequined Shirt
There’s no better way to make a wearer shine than by having them wear fully sequined tees. Onlookers would have no choice but to turn their heads to this design, which only a few brands offer.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Mosaic Sequined Shirt
Source: Manfinity AFTRDRK
Use mosaic sequin shirts if you want to go the artsy path with your collection. It will easily make you different from your competitors, and you can unleash your creativity, too.
7. Distressed T-Shirt
Distressed shirts have a purposely faded and worn-out look. This t-shirt style is cut up, torn, or ripped for a rugged vibe. You can easily do this using scissors, razors, or even sandpaper. But, brands that sell them distress the shirt before they sew the fabric.
These shirts emerged during the 1970s. During that time, punks cut clothes to gain public attention for their movement. Before this movement, garments had to be perfect and sleek, which caused quite an uproar. Today, people receive distressed clothing. Rock distressed clothing with these decorations:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Holed Shirt
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If you think holes in clothes cannot look fashionable, think again. You can cut several small holes around the neckline to create a vintage look for your tee.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Ripped Hem Shirt
If you want a more subtle look, rip the hems of your shirt for a much simpler but punk vibe. Doing this will make the tee look simple but edgy.
8. Beaded T-Shirt
People usually see beads in necklaces and bracelets. These are decorative pieces that come in different shapes and sizes. Designers stitch them to the fabric. Many people typically see beaded shirts in women’s wear, but today, they’re also in men’s.
The earliest beadwork was in Africa, the Middle East, and Sungir, where beads emerged between 300,000 and 100,000 BC. The fashion industry has a long history with beaded garments. And it seems like they’ll never get tired of it. If you’re into the beaded shirt style, here are some ways to decorate them:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Celestial Inspired Beaded Shirt
For a distinct look on your tee, embellish celestial designs with beads. For this, you can have sun, moons, planets, and comet motifs.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Floral Beaded Shirt
In for a fresh beaded shirt look? Design your tee with exotic-looking flowers and become one of the few brands that embrace different kinds of t-shirt decoration for men.
T-Shirt Decoration 3: Dreamcatcher Beaded Shirt
Dreamcatchers look fun and unique on shirts. So, include bohemian-style dreamcatchers on your beaded shirt now.
9. Applique T-Shirt
Applique came from the French word “appliquer,” which means “to put on.” To make them, fuse different fabrics to a background fabric. Then, cut the excess material and sew it into a shirt.
The applique method came from Ancient Egypt and the Middle Ages. Initially, people did it so the fabrics they wore would become more durable and to fix holes in their garments. However, today, it’s more of a decorative element.
Customize this design using these ideas:
T-Shirt Decoration 1:Animal Applique T-Shirt
Who doesn’t like having animal designs on their shirt? Most people want them. And you have a wide range of choices, from dogs and cats to tigers and crocodiles. The possibilities are never-ending!
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Comic-Inspired Applique Shirt
Source: Pexels
Do you have a famous comic character you like? Then, choosing this type of shirt style is for you. Men would immediately recognize which character reference you used, so you’re guaranteed to attract customers.
10. Patch T-Shirt
Applique shirts and patch tees are similar. However, instead of stitching fabrics together to create a design, designs on patches are embroidered on fabric. You can sew or heat-seal the embroidered patch to your shirt after making the embroidered patch.
Patch garments emerged around 5000 to 3000 BC in China. The Chinese people made patches to mend clothing or tailor designs on a cloth. Today, the fashion industry adores patching as a stylistic choice.
Here are some ideas on how to style them:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Musical Instrument Patch Shirt
Many men love playing musical instruments. So, put them on your shirt. Many different musical instruments have a grungy and edgy look, so use them as a design for this one.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Logo Patch Shirt
Does your brand have a logo you want to display on your designs? Then, put them on your patches. Doing so will help people now that the garments are from your brand.
T-Shirt Decoration 3: Minimalistic Art Patch Shirt
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If your brand’s aesthetic leans more toward minimalistic but creative-looking design, this t-shirt style is for you. Design a small artistic element for this one and choose where to place it on your shirt. It can be on the chest, the sleeves, or the hems.
11. Bleached T-Shirt
Bleached shirts are precisely like how their name implies them to be. Designers purposely bleach them so their colors are somehow stripped and faded. It’s a creative and easy way to almost whiten some areas of a shirt as a stylistic shirt.
During 5000 BC, Egyptians observed that their clothes became bleached after drying them in the sun. The concept of oxidizing garments then came from this time. But, bleach chemicals emerged during 3000 BC. Today, people use bleach to decorate shirts.
Take inspiration from these shirt customization styles:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Bleached Print Tee
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Most bleached tees are plain T-shirts. So, take a different direction and bleach your shirt fabric. Then, print a statement or a design in them.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Sky-Inspired Bleach Tee
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Bleach can take your sky-designed shirt to the next level. After decorating your shirt with sky and clouds, bleach them. Doing this would create an illusion that your shirt’s design is gradually fading.
12. Vintage Wash T-Shirt
Vintage wash shirts look rugged and vintage. Designers wash the shirt several times for the fabric to have this look. Doing this makes the material feel softer and more durable.
People developed the concept of washing since the Ancient Civilizations. Over time, washed clothes felt softer, and their colors somehow faded. Today, the fashion industry uses this fact to its advantage to style garments. Here’s how you can decorate them:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Black and White Graphics
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If you want total vintage vibes, go with black and white graphics. You can use artistic photographs and include texts, then vintage wash them for some nostalgic feel.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Vintage Washed Statement Shirt
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If you want the shirt to look simpler and vintage, statement shirts are for you. Put a famous quote, statement, or phrase on your shirt. Then, vintage wash it.
13. Acid Wash T-Shirt
These shirts may seem like bleached tees. But, unlike bleached shirts, acid-washed t-shirts don’t whiten and only have a faded and discolorated look. Because of this, these tees have a punky vibe.
In the 1980s, acid washing emerged. However, only denim was acid-washed back then to soften the material. But today, acid washing is done on different fabric types, too. If you’re looking for ways to decorate shirts using this technique, here are some:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Synthetic Acid Washed Shirt
Source: Pexels
After putting different edgy design elements on your shirt, acid wash them for a more grungy vibe. Doing this will also make the shirt feel even softer than it did before. Use bleach on heavyweight t-shirt fabrics and employ pumice stones to create faded effects and patterns.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Acid-Washed Denim Shirt
Acid washing looks best when done on denim fabric. So, if you want an edgy but classic feel for your collection, include this design.
14. Tie Dye T-Shirt
As their name implies, tie-dye shirts use dyes for a bold and radiant vibe. People can even make them in their own homes. All you need to do to make this shirt is gather the fabric with your hands, tie it with an elastic band, and splash it with your favorite colors.
Tie dyes became popularised in America during the 1960s. But, Chinese and Japanese people have used them for their garments before this time. But, instead of the dyes we know today, they used natural elements like berries and leaves and put them in hot water.
Here are several ways to customize this type of shirt style:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Pastel Tie Dye Shirt
Pastel colors are always the perfect choice for shirts. And the best thing is that they’ll look fabulous no matter what pastel color you mix and match.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Earth Tone Tie Dye Shirt
If you’re aiming for an edgy look with tie dyes, earth tones are the best for you. You have a wide array of shades of brown and green for this one.
T-Shirt Decoration 3: Rainbow-Inspired Tie Dye Shirt
If you’re in for a vibrant look, take inspiration from the colors of the rainbow. This design will turn passers’ heads and urge them to buy the shirt.
15. Rhinestone T-Shirts
Men’s clothing can glimmer, too, and what better way is there to emphasize this than using rhinestones on your shirt? Rhinestones are gems produced using crystal, plastic, or glass. They also come in different sizes and shapes. Designers often use them for gowns and dresses, but people also see them in men’s outerwear.
These rhinestones are either glued or sewn onto fabric. They emerged in 1775 when George Frederic Straus coated stones with a metallic powder to make them shine like diamonds. However, mass production of the material started in 1892, after Daniel Swarovski produced a machine to cut the stones.
Here are some of the best ways to make your rhinestone shirts shine:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Rhinestone Embellished Brand Logo Shirt
If you want your brand to look and feel more luxurious, embellish your logo with rhinestones. Then, use it as a decorative element for your shirt.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Fully Embellished Rhinestone Shirt
Don’t be afraid to go full glam in men’s clothing. Fully embellish a shirt with rhinestones. This shirt will look best at parties and events.
16. Cutout T-Shirt
If you think cutout shirts are only great for women, think again. Today, there’s an ongoing trend where men express confidence by wearing cutout shirts. This t-shirt style has clean cuts on different areas, depending on the designer’s choice.
It’s hard to trace where cutout dresses originated. But, in the 1960s, Bridget Riley, an actress, popularized them. They continue to be in style today, and even men wear them. Here are ways to customize them:
T-Shirt Decoration 1: Sleeve Cutout Shirt
If you want a simple cutout design, cut a portion of your shirt sleeve. Even though it looks simple, it will still make your design stand out.
T-Shirt Decoration 2: Choker Cutout Shirt
Choker cutout shirts are cut on the chest area, making their wearer look like a choker. Doing this will also make men look more stylized with a punk vibe.
Conclusion
Men never grow tired of shirts, but this doesn’t mean they don’t need a variety of choices. There are unlimited ways to customize tees. Additionally, research from 2021 even says that men are more discerning than women when it comes to shopping.
Also, shirt revenue is already $76.59 billion worldwide and will still increase. So, you must customize shirts that will earn you more profit. Men take priority over fashion items that suit their personalities. And shirts are versatile because you can wear them to almost every event.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to attract customers. Contact us today if you want to look for different types of men’s shirts.
