T-Shirt Designer
Start a clothing brand with hand-painted and stenciled T-shirts in your own designs.
- Ages
- 9–12
- Startup budget
- $100–$215
- Time per week
- About 4 hours
- Parent involvement
- Moderate
- Preparation
- Some prep
- Type
- Product
- Where to sell
- In person & online
- Time to start
- 2 weekends
About this idea
Every famous clothing brand started with one design. Kids can start their own with a few blank T-shirts, fabric paint and stencils they cut themselves.
It’s a great introduction to fashion design, branding and a very real business problem: sizes. Taking pre-orders is a lesson in itself.
A great fit for
- Kids who are always drawing or customizing clothes
- Future designers and brand builders
- Families happy to help with an iron
What you’ll need
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| 5 blank cotton T-shirts | $25 |
| Fabric paint and fabric markers | $15 |
| Freezer paper for stencils | $5 |
| Heat-transfer vinyl starter packOptional | $15 |
| Subtotal (without optional) | $45 |
Assumes: Enough for 5 T-shirts to start. Uses a home iron to set the paint.
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Market table feePer event. Kids’ markets typically charge $10–50; some are free | $25 |
| TableclothA bright color makes the table stand out | $10 |
| Display stand or risersGives products height so customers notice them | $15 |
| Sign and price cards | $5 |
| Pop-up tentOptionalOnly for outdoor markets without shade. Borrowing one works too | $100 |
| Subtotal (without optional) | $55 |
Bring about $20 in small bills and coins for change. You get it back, so it isn’t counted as a cost. Selling to family and friends first? You can skip these until your first market.
Total to start selling at a market
$100$215 with optional extras
What parents do
Parent involvement: ModerateRegular help with some steps, printing or online sales
- Buy blank shirts in the right sizes
- Help with the iron to set the designs
- Collect pre-orders from people you know
Your child: about 4 hours a week making, selling and planning once it’s up and running.
Step by step
Create your brand
Pick a brand name and one or two signature designs. Original drawings only, no logos or characters from shows or games.
Make a sample
Make one sample shirt for yourself to wear. It’s your best advertising.
Take pre-orders
Show the sample to family and friends and take orders with sizes before buying more shirts.
Paint and set
Cut freezer-paper stencils, paint the designs, let them dry, then an adult irons them to set the paint.
Fold and tag
Fold neatly with a hand-made tag showing your brand name and the care instructions.
Costs & pricing example
Cost to make one T-shirt
$6.50
Example price
$18
Profit per T-shirt
$11.50
How we worked out the cost of one T-shirt
- Blank T-shirt$5
- Paint$1
- Tag and bag$0.50
If your child sells 10 Ts-shirt at $18, that’s $180 in sales and about $115 profit after materials. The $100 startup cost, including a first market table, is earned back after about 9 Ts-shirt.
Take pre-orders with sizes so you don’t buy shirts that don’t sell.
These numbers are illustrative examples, not guaranteed earnings. Prices vary by supplier and location.
Where to sell
Pre-orders from family and friends
The safest way to start: no leftover stock.
Markets
Bring a few popular sizes and take orders for the rest.
School or team events
Custom shirts for a club or team can be a big order.
Skills your child will build
- Fashion and graphic design
- Branding
- Inventory and sizing
- Taking orders
Common challenges
- Paint bleeding under stencils
- Try this: Iron the freezer paper on firmly and dab paint rather than brushing toward the edges.
- Wrong sizes
- Try this: Use a simple order form with sizes, and check sizing charts before buying blanks.
Safety & parent notes
- Adult supervision
- Uses an oven or heat
- An adult should handle the iron when setting paint or vinyl.
- Use fabric paints in a ventilated space and follow the label.
- Only sell original designs. Logos and characters belong to other companies.
A note for parents
This is a brilliant way to talk about branding: why people pay more for a name they love. Let your child name the brand and design the tags.
More ideas like this
Arts & Creative
Comic Books & Short Stories
Write and draw your own comics or short stories, print them as booklets, and sell them.
- Ages 7–12
- $92–$192
- Easy start
Arts & Creative
Face Painting
Paint butterflies, tigers and superheroes at markets, parties and community events.
- Ages 9–12
- $113–$213
- Some prep
Arts & Creative
Handmade Bookmarks
Design colorful, laminated bookmarks with tassels: a low-cost first business for kids who love books and drawing.
- Ages 7–12
- $72–$172
- Easy start