T-shirt Trends in 2010

To stay one step ahead of the competition, it's important to always know what's new and popular, and what is going to make the biggest splash in the next twelve months. Those on the front lines of the printing industry seem to always have a handle on what people want and what will sell at any given point. Here are some thoughts on trends to watch in 2010.
The hugely popular "all over" prints, such as those produced by Ed Hardy or Affliction seem to have run their course, and we will probably see designs becoming more subtle while still making a big statement.
Simple styles seem to always have a leg up on more complex designs, and also seem to sell better. The cyclical nature of styles applies to the T-shirt printing industry just as much as it does to designer sportswear, and if you've been around for quite some time, chances are you've seen similar designs before. Sometimes groups of designers will spin something old and it will come out looking now, but truly original is not very common.
T-shirt companies with the most original ideas seem to always come out ahead of the pack. People who aren't afraid to take risks, but rather design something new and get thousands sent out before they sleep, are the companies that will be most successful in the next year or so.

New and cheaper technology is enabling young people to get into the business at record rates. Special processes that could only be done by certain companies- like foils, custom tag printing, and 3-D prints, are now commonly available to designers without a lot of startup capital.
While T-shirt companies have been around for years, most have not yet taken advantage of what the internet can offer them. The more printers, t-shirt brands, and suppliers understand about the internet and the marketing opportunities it affords them, the easier it will be for t-shirt lovers to find the coolest shirts online, or hook up with a great t-shirt printer that understands what they want.
Continued growth in the printed apparel industry has been predicted by industry veterans. If you envision something a little bit different that what you see out there, and want to bring your artist's eye to the design of a line of shirts, you can be part of the expected growth. Likewise, cultural or political sarcasm splashed across a tee can be an instant best seller.
T-shirt printers around the country rush to print with designs that echo current events. How many do you think are printing "Pants on the Ground" t-shirts this week? How many will be in the coming weeks to keep up with the likely insane demand for them.
One great t-shirt printer can be found at Under the Influence Tees .
"Inventing Internet Fun One Design at a Time!"