Promotional apparel?

Hi, guys!

I've been really itching to get myself a T-Shirt that promotes my business on the front and has an image I made that explains my profession on my back.  I thought it'd be a cute way for people to know that I'm not just a retired raver who wears her face painted while grocery shopping.  Lol.  Sometimes when I walk past people with my face painted, I can hear them behind me, try to figure me out.  If my T-shirt said "face painter" on the back, they'd not have to wonder for long.  )

Where do you get your promotional gear?  Do you design your own on sites like VistaPrint and Zazzle or do you use another site?  Maybe a local apparel shop?

I'd love to hear what you all have to say!

Thanks in advance,

Cati Holker

I tend to buy nice clothes that I like wearing and get them embroidered locally - I have a black bolero which can be worn over a tshirt, long shirt or something a bit more fancy for henna parties, and I also have a few jumpers and hoodies for festivals and ski resort work. I'm a bit suspicious of vistaprint clothes as I bought a hat once and it was bad quality - I like quality clothes so they last!

I have a friend who air brushes on clothes, and does amazing work, he does all mine for me.

I bought the iron transfer kit in Michaels, but haven't tried it so far. You upload image from your computer, print it out and iron it on.
I've heard good things about this website:
http://www.customizedgirl.com/studio/8825.htm
So far I just bought SF Face Painter bedazzled t shirt and wear it.  

I've used the iron on transfers and have made neat and colourful 'back' signage to advertise my FP sortof a 'Hire Me for Your Next Event"
Name of my business
e-mail address and phone number
The drawback is that these wear/crack/dull after a number of washings. I would suggest putting these on the back of a very light vest so it needs less washing (and wash by hand, gentle warm pressing from inside with wax paper on ironing board so plastic won't stick or with parchment paper over design and warm press right side!) It is a cheap and fun alternative to prof ordering and you can make each 'sign' slightly different if you want. Good Luck!

I agree! Make your own with the transfers! It's fun too!

I love the ideas here:
http://www.facepaintforum.com/t12609-5-business-tee

I did the Iron-On transfers at first.  As previously stated, they crack after a number of washings.  I won't do them again.  
I then used VistaPrint.  Well...long story short...3 orders later they still printed out HORRIBLE T-shirts.  The first two times they stated that they had a "glitch" in the printing.  The last time they sent me a double order with the same exact problems as the first two orders (blobs of extra color, black of the T-shirt showing through my daughter's blond hair making it look green, and grainy overall printing even though the website stated that I had GREAT resolution!).  I won't be ordering t-shirts from them again.  
I got the name of a local printer here but I haven't contacted them as of yet.

Sorry to hear that VistaPrint didn't work out to well. Mine came out pretty well. The only think I don't like is that the fabric can be kind of not rough. I prefer softer. Well It's getting me through till I find out what to do for my new ones. Now that I am officially up and running the number on the shirt does not match my company number..haha. I use Google Voice for my company number now.

So this is a great topic. Been toying with the idea of making my own. And not put the phone number on it this time...

Kris5115, that was a great link!! thank you!! Loved it!