
Merchandise & Apparel Design
Merchandise that looks like your brand, and prints like it should
Custom merchandise and apparel for brands that refuse “logo on a blank.” We design on-brand merch and swag, master it production-ready for the exact print method, hand you the files and the rights, and, if you want, build the store that sells it.
HERO-FLATLAY · 16:9Cohesive on-brand merch line: hoodie, tee, cap, tote & tumbler in one paletteOn-brandlooks unmistakably you
Prints cleanmatches the mockup
100%your files & rights
One studio, two jobs
One studio, two kinds of merch, both designed to perform
“Merchandise design” splits into two buyer worlds that share one need: it has to look like your brand, print correctly, and reach the people who’ll wear it. We do both, with the same discipline.
IMG 02 · SELL LINE · 16:10Merch you sell
Apparel and product lines built to move: streetwear drops, DTC brand merch, creator and band lines, retail collections. Designed to be desirable, priced to sell, and ready for production at the volumes you actually need.
- Streetwear drops
- DTC brand merch
- Creator & band lines
- Retail collections
IMG 03 · SWAG GIFT · 16:10Swag you give
Branded apparel and gifts that do marketing work: employee kits, onboarding packs, event and trade-show giveaways, influencer seeding, client gifts, and full company swag stores. Designed for impressions, recall, and a brand people are proud to wear.
- Employee & onboarding kits
- Event giveaways
- Influencer seeding
- Company swag stores
Same discipline behind both: a designed-on-brand look, production-correct files, and a clear route to market. Talk through my merch goals, free →
Why merch is worth it
Merch is the only marketing people choose to wear. Make it worth wearing.
Branded merchandise is one of the few channels people actually keep, but the return has one condition the cheap end of the market ignores: quality and design.
0%of people keep a promotional item for more than a yearPPAI-cited · ASI 2019 *
0%remember the advertiser that gave them a branded itemASI 2019 Global Ad Impressions *
0×more positive brand opinion vs. online advertisingASI 2019 *
$0BNorth-American promotional-products market (2025)ASI estimate *
One impression that lasts a year
A worn branded item keeps earning impressions long after a digital ad has scrolled past, at a fraction of the cost.
Branded item (kept & worn) Digital ad (seconds)
People wear merch that looks and feels good; they donate the scratchy, off-brand stuff, and a discarded item earns zero impressions. So the design choice is the ROI choice. That’s why we treat every line as an extension of your brand system, not a clip-art job, and master the files so the finished product matches the mockup instead of disappointing at the press. (Figures are third-party industry findings, attributed and marked * for verification, not 10Turtle’s own data.)
The one-roof advantage
On-brand, production-ready, store-ready, under one accountable roof
Most brands stitch merch together from three vendors. Every handoff is where the brand drifts and the quality slips. Here’s the difference, side by side.
The three-vendor scramble typical
Freelancerartwork with no brand system
brand drifts
Print shopquietly “fixes” files to fit its machine
quality slips
Separate store platformbrand lost between file & checkout
One accountable partner 10Turtle
One roof · one contract · one point of accountability
Merch & Branddesigns the line
Web / Shopifybuilds the store
AIaccelerates creative
A dedicated expert team for each capability, no outsourcing, no white-label markup. One partner owns the outcome from first sketch to first sale.
Two doors, one expertise
Starting a line, or fixing the one you have? Both are right here.
No existing merch, or merch that feels off-brand and won’t print cleanly, either way, you’re in the right place. Most clients walk in through the second door, and that’s exactly where we’re strongest.
Build a new line from your brand
No existing merch? We build the concept straight from your brand system, so it launches clean and looks intentional from day one.
- Product mix & colorways
- Graphics & realistic mockups
- Production files for a clean launch
Fix the merch you already have
We are experts in redesigning and remastering existing merchandise. We keep what works, fix what doesn’t, and launch the line sharper than before.
- Rework off-brand artwork into a coherent line
- Re-master old files so they actually print
- Consolidate inconsistent swag into one system
- Migrate or rebuild a dated merch store


Drag to compare a typical logo-on-blank against a remastered, on-brand piece.
Scope
What we design
A full merch catalogue, designed as one coherent line rather than a pile of unrelated products. Need a single hero piece or a 30-SKU collection, we scope to the brief.
T-shirts, hoodies & sweatshirts, caps & beanies, polos, jackets, activewear, workwear and uniforms, designed as one cohesive line.
Totes, drawstring bags, backpacks, lanyards, patches & enamel pins, matched to the apparel so the line feels like one family.
Mugs, tumblers and water bottles, among the highest-retention, highest-impression swag categories, so they earn their place in the line.
Phone stands, wireless chargers, notebooks, stickers & decals, practical pieces people keep on the desk, in front of them daily.
Hang-tags, woven & care labels, mailer and unboxing design, so the line feels like a product, not a print job, the moment the box opens.
Production expertise
Designed for the method it’s printed by, so the product matches the mockup
A merch file isn’t “done” until it’s right for how it’s decorated. We master every file to its method, and recommend the method that fits your design, fabric and order size, not the one a single vendor happens to own.
Find the right decoration method
Tap how your design looks, the fabric, and your order size, we’ll highlight the fit. (We confirm the exact method, or mix, on the audit.)
Design
Fabric
Order size
Screen printing ~50–150+
- Best for
- Bold, simple, few-colour graphics on apparel. Most durable and lowest cost at volume.
- What we deliver
- Spot-colour separations, registered to screens.
DTG small / on-demand
- Best for
- Photographic, full-colour designs on cotton, with a soft hand.
- What we deliver
- High-res, garment-tuned print-ready artwork.
DTF no minimum
- Best for
- Full colour on almost any fabric or colour. Great for mixed garments and small runs.
- What we deliver
- Full-colour, transfer-ready files.
Embroidery by stitch count
- Best for
- A premium, textured look on caps, polos, jackets and uniforms.
- What we deliver
- Digitised stitch files plus thread spec.
Sublimation on-demand → bulk
- Best for
- All-over designs on light polyester; mugs, tumblers and hard goods.
- What we deliver
- Full-bleed, placement-mapped artwork.
Smarter still: mix methods in one order. Screen-print the main run, then DTF or embroider names and numbers. We’ll map the right combination for your line.
Every project ships production-ready
Method-correct filesSeparations, stitch files, full-bleed, mastered for your print method.
Realistic mockups3D where it helps, so you sign off on exactly what ships.
Editable source + full rightsYou own your designs outright, no licensing traps.
Tech packs / spec sheetsFactory-ready blueprints for cut-and-sew apparel, no guessing, no sampling rework.
PRINT-DETAIL · 16:9Close-up texture: screen print, embroidery stitching & DTF transfer on fabricRoute to market
From file to storefront: we can build the place it sells, too
Designs don’t generate revenue or impressions sitting in a folder. Because the web team is under the same roof, we can take your line all the way to market.
Sellable merch store
A fast, on-brand Shopify (or platform of your choice) store for your drops and collections, with variants and checkout that converts.
Built on Shopify & other partner platformsPrint-on-demand & drop-ship
Design once, produce per order, no inventory risk, ideal for testing drops and creator lines.
Company / employee swag store
A branded internal portal where teams order pre-approved, on-brand items, ending the every-department-orders-their-own chaos.
Company stores up ~14% to ~$2.35B in 2024 · PPAI *Want design only? We hand off clean files to your printer or platform. Want the whole thing? One partner takes it from sketch to checkout.
AI-accelerated creative
Faster colorways, mockups and concepts
Our dedicated AI team speeds the parts of merch design that used to slow drops down, the judgment and the brand call stay human; AI just removes the grind so you see more options, sooner. We build these capabilities on Anthropic’s models as a partner, not a dependency, the creative is ours.
Colorway & pattern variationsExplore directions in minutes, not days.
Photorealistic mockupsSign-off-ready product visuals, fast.
Concept directionsMore to choose from before a designer refines the winner.
How it works
How a merch line gets built
A clear path from idea to in-hand, with you approving at every gate.
- 1
Audit & brief free
We review your brand, your goals (sell vs. gift), audience, budget and timeline, and any existing merch or store. You leave with a direction even if you stop here.
- 2
Concept & creative direction
Product mix, colorways and graphic directions tied to your brand system, presented as a clear creative route, not a guess.
- 3
Design & mockups
Full designs with realistic (3D where useful) mockups and a defined revision round, so you sign off on exactly what ships.
- 4
Production-ready files
Method-correct artwork (separations, stitch files, full-bleed), tech packs/spec sheets where needed, source files, and full commercial rights: handed over.
- 5
Launch & scale
We hand files to your decoration partner, or build and set up your store / POD, then support reorders and the next drop.
By sector
Merch designed for your industry
We design merch that fits how each sector actually uses it. The brand stays consistent; the product mix and decoration adapt to the use case.
IMG 11 · E-COMMERCE · 16:9Merch that turns customers into walking storefronts
Sellable merch lines and retail brand merch for DTC and e-commerce brands, apparel, drinkware and packaging that extend the identity and move as a revenue product.
Explore E-commerce & Retail
IMG 12 · HOSPITALITY · 16:9Front- and back-of-house, on brand
Branded uniforms, staff apparel and guest merch for restaurants and hospitality, durable decoration that looks the part through every shift, plus retail pieces guests actually want.
Explore Restaurants & Hospitality
IMG 13 · SAAS / TECH · 16:9Consistent swag at company scale
Employee swag, onboarding kits, event kits and company swag stores for SaaS and tech, a branded portal that keeps every team on-brand and ends the every-department-orders-their-own chaos.
Explore SaaS & Tech Startups
IMG 14 · EVENTS · 16:9Built for the moment of contact
Trade-show giveaways, creator drops and cause merch for events, creators and nonprofits, designed for memorability and shareability, then produced as files or full fulfillment.
Find merch ideas for my sectorA dedicated merch design team, not a generalist with a logo tool
Your line is handled by designers who do merch and apparel every day: people fluent in colorways, garment and blank selection, decoration methods, stitch counts, and the file rules each press demands. That specialist depth is why our merch looks designed, and prints right. And because they sit inside one accountable agency alongside the web and AI teams, nothing gets lost in a handoff between vendors.
Services
Branded merchandise designed as real product, from first concept to print-ready files
We design custom apparel, promotional products, gift kits, creator lines, and event merch, then prepare the production-ready files your printer accepts. Pick the capability that fits your project below.
Custom Apparel Design
Custom apparel design for branded tees, hoodies, hats, and polos, drawn for screen print, DTG, DTF, or embroidery.Promotional Product & Swag Design
Promotional product and swag design for branded drinkware, bags, tech, and desk items people actually keep and use.Corporate Gift & Swag Kit Design
Corporate gift and swag kit design for onboarding kits, client gifts, and milestones, curated as one branded moment.Creator & Artist Merch Design
Creator and artist merch design built to sell to fans, as cohesive drops or capsule collections.Event & Trade Show Merch Design
Event merch design for trade shows, conferences, and festivals: booth giveaways, swag bags, and crew apparel on theme.Production-Ready Merch Files
Production-ready merch files: vector cleanup, screen-print color separations, embroidery digitizing, and specs decorators accept without rejections.09Selected work
Proof, not promises
A cross-section of merch lines, swag stores and refreshes. Filter by what you care about.
10In their words
Brands that came back for the next drop
Image, audio and video, because trust reads differently in each. (Illustrative placeholders until real client media is added.)
Platforms we build on
Peer partnerships across the platforms we build on
WordPressWooCommerceShopifyWebflowWix
We build on Anthropic’s models as a partner, not a dependency — never under or through Anthropic.
Trust & security
Brand-safe to design, secure to sell
Two ways this matters for merch. Trust, your data and your store are handled to recognised security and privacy standards. Expertise, the store that sells your merch is built accessible and payment-secure, and your artwork is handled with attention to IP, trademark and licensing so the line is clean to sell.
ISO 27001 *Information security
WCAG 2.1–2.2 AAAccessible merch stores
GDPR · CCPAPrivacy readiness
PCI DSS readinessMerch-store payments
QA licenses *Tested before ship
SOC 2 *Controls & trust
Standards marked * are pending verification of active certification. See our Trust & Security page →
Answers
Merch design questions, answered
The things brands ask before they start a line, straight answers, no fine print.
It depends on scope. A single, well-crafted graphic from a professional studio typically runs from a few hundred dollars into four figures for a flagship, multi-colour or all-over design; a full, production-ready line with multiple SKUs, mockups and tech packs is scoped as a project. The cheapest marketplace gigs exist, but on merch you generally get what you pay for, a poorly built file costs far more in failed prints and unworn product than the design ever saved. We give you a fixed, transparent scope after the free audit, with no guesswork.
Yes. Every project includes the editable source files and full commercial rights: you own your designs outright, with no licensing traps or limited-run restrictions. You also receive production-ready files mastered for your chosen decoration method, plus tech packs and spec sheets for cut-and-sew apparel.
It depends on your design, fabric and order size. Screen printing is most durable and cheapest for bigger runs of bold, few-colour designs; DTG suits small runs of photographic, full-colour artwork on cotton; DTF works on almost any fabric or colour with no minimum; embroidery gives a premium textured look on caps, polos and jackets; sublimation is for all-over prints on light polyester and hard goods like mugs and tumblers. We recommend the right method (or mix) on the audit and master the artwork for it.
Both. We design single hero pieces and full collections of 20–30+ SKUs as one coherent line, apparel, bags, drinkware, tech and packaging that look like one family rather than unrelated products.
Your choice. We can deliver clean, production-ready files for your own printer or platform, or take it end-to-end, building your merch store (Shopify or your platform), setting up print-on-demand with no inventory risk, or standing up a branded company swag store for employees. One accountable partner can own it from sketch to checkout.
Yes, it's one of our strengths. We are experts in redesigning and remastering existing merchandise: we audit your current line, rework it on-brand, re-master old artwork into files that actually print, consolidate inconsistent swag into one branded system, and migrate or rebuild a dated merch store onto a faster platform.
A single graphic can turn around in days; a full, production-ready line with mockups and tech packs typically takes a few weeks, depending on SKU count and method. Minimums depend on the decoration method, screen printing rewards volume, while DTG and DTF can run with no minimum, ideal for testing drops. We help select garments and blanks for quality, because merch only earns its ROI if people actually wear it: quality items get kept and seen; cheap ones get discarded. The free audit gives you a realistic timeline up front.
When it's good, yes, measurably. Industry research finds about 85% of people remember the advertiser that gave them a branded item [ASI 2019], roughly 81% keep promotional products for more than a year, and branded products earn a positive brand opinion about 2.5× more often than online advertising, often at a cost-per-impression a fraction of a cent. The condition is quality and design, which is precisely what we build for. (Figures are third-party findings, attributed and pending verification.)
Free merch design audit
Let’s design merch worth wearing
Tell us your goal, a line to sell or swag to give, and get a free merch design audit: a real designer’s read on your brand, your existing merch, and the strongest line we’d build. No pressure, no obligation, just a clear picture of what better looks like.




