We all know 2020 was an unusual year – to say the least. However, 2021 is starting to look like a year of hope for some, and design trends for 2021 will become a reflection of that.
Designs will be cheerful and funny to lighten the mood, so let’s start talking about one of the most popular items: a t-shirt. According to Printify, the custom t-shirt market worldwide is expected to cross 10 billion dollars by 2025; and this year will work as a launching platform for those interested in starting or growing their business.
Additionally, from the TOP 10 items sold on Printify in September 2020, the top sellers were four different kinds of t-shirts with 46.04%, and sweatshirts, with a combined percent of items, sold 9.85%. So it’s pretty safe to say where your focus should be for now, right?
An interview published by Complex mentions that some brands have done exceptionally well despite COVID-19, and the reason is they have been selling T-shirts and quickly produced garments.
Gaming T Shirt Design Ideas
Social distancing has increased the number of people who connect with an online community of strangers.
However, gamers are far from being alone. In the United States, four of every five consumers have played a video game in the past six months, which explains why the gaming industry is skyrocketing now more than ever. That being said, creating apparel for gamers and their online gaming teams is a must for 2021.
Make sure to broaden your options not only for Gen Z gamers but for Millennials and older generations, since their engagement with this entertainment is rapidly increasing.
Here are some examples of what you can consider for your creations:
Witty T Shirt Quotes
In the midst of this pandemic, humor is an ideal and natural coping mechanism.
Without a doubt, puns and wordplay in apparel are bestsellers, regardless of the season or occasion.
Before creating a design that involves lettering, take a look at Merch by Amazon’s best practices so the artwork placement is on point, and your product looks attractive for customers.
This is the time to be creative and bold to try mixing fonts, styles and artwork.
90s T Shirt Design Inspiration
Yes, the 90s are nostalgia now. The golden age of scrunchies, chunky shoes, brick cell phones, and a really slow internet connection takes back its place in fashion.
T-shirt designs inspired by the 90s take us back to a journey of neon colors, geometric shapes, confetti, holographic hues, rainbows, plaid skirts, high-rise jeans, and chokers.
In case you need some inspiration, take a look at this list of 100 greatest movies of the 90s, curated by Rolling Stone.
Anime and K-Pop Designs
Designs that pay tribute to Japanese and Korean pop culture remain being on top of t-shirt bestsellers.
Get a whole product line ready around anime aesthetics by using templates that recreate anime concepts and characters. Also use pastel colors, high-contrast, and glitter to keep the fantasy vibe going.
Here are some t-shirt mockups showcasing K-Pop t-shirt designs:
Social Distancing T-Shirts
We don’t have much to talk about these days but how the pandemic has affected our lives, so why not continue the conversation going with the one item that others can appreciate in Zoom meetings? Yes, t-shirts (and virtual backgrounds, for that matter) are a way to feel part of the gang.
Home Office Humor
Companies worldwide are shifting to a work-from-home plan, and office humor has definitely taken a twist.
Laughter can be one of the best ways to cope with anxiety during uncertain times. Many of us struggle to break the ice the first minutes of a Zoom meeting (We’ll never forget you, “I’m not a cat” lawyer. We see you)
Creating T-Shirt Designs
To make sure you’re creating the right t-shirt designs, be sure to look into the top selling t-shirt designs on Amazon, you can use our free product search tool.
When it comes to creating your t-shirt designs there are several options, you can use t-shirt design software (there are plenty of great options online), hire a graphic designer or use a service like ThreadBasket.
Conclusion
T-shirts are one of the comfiest and versatile items for print on demand sellers; and, since many of us will be working from home this 2021, it’s a great business opportunity to deliver trendy designs.
So, what do you think? Timing is just right for you to start planning designs and product lines that will be popular anytime soon.
