The Factory 10 By Malia Monique: Custom Merchandise in Columbia
What The Factory 10 By Malia Monique does
The Factory 10 By Malia Monique is a custom merchandise shop in Columbia that designs and produces personalized items—apparel, accessories, home goods, and gifts with your own designs, text, or branding. The shop handles the full process from design consultation through production, so you can order one piece or bulk quantities for events, businesses, or personal use. Located in the Midlands, it serves individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and organizations across South Carolina who need custom work without minimum order requirements at many price points.
The shop specializes in screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-garment printing, which means different techniques suit different projects—screen printing for large runs of the same design, embroidery for a polished look on polos or caps, and direct-to-garment for detailed, full-color designs on individual pieces. Malia Monique and her team work with you to choose the right method for your budget and timeline.
Key Takeaways
- The Factory 10 offers screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-garment printing, each suited to different design complexity and order size.
- You can bring your own design, work with the shop's design team to create one, or choose from existing templates and customize them.
- The shop serves individual orders, small business runs, event merchandise, and nonprofit fundraising without enforcing high minimums.
- Turnaround time and pricing depend on the printing method, design complexity, and order quantity—discuss your timeline when you contact them.
- The Factory 10 is located in Columbia and takes orders by phone, email, or in-person consultation.
Printing methods and what they're best for
Screen printing works well for orders of 12 or more identical pieces and produces bright, durable color on cotton and cotton-blend garments. The process creates a raised ink layer that lasts through many washes. It's cost-effective per unit when you're ordering multiples of the same design, making it popular for team uniforms, event t-shirts, and business merchandise.
Embroidery stitches your design directly into fabric using thread, creating a textured, professional appearance on polos, hats, jackets, and bags. It works best for logos, monograms, and simpler designs with fewer colors. Embroidered pieces feel substantial and are often chosen for corporate wear, gifts, and items meant to last years of regular use.
Direct-to-garment printing (DTG) applies ink directly to the fabric using inkjet technology, allowing full-color, photographic-quality designs on individual pieces without screen setup fees. This method suits small orders, complex artwork, and designs with many colors or gradients. It typically costs more per piece than screen printing but eliminates minimum order requirements.
How to start a custom order
Contact The Factory 10 by phone, email, or by visiting in person at the Columbia location. Have ready a description of what you need—the item type (t-shirt, hat, tote bag, etc.), approximate quantity, and your design or design idea. If you don't have artwork, the shop's design team can create something from scratch or modify existing templates to match your vision.
During your consultation, discuss your budget, deadline, and design preferences. The team will recommend the best printing method for your project and provide a quote. Once you approve the design and price, production begins. Timelines vary based on method and order size; screen printing typically takes longer than DTG for setup but is faster per unit in bulk, while embroidery depends on design complexity and current workload.
Payment and deposit policies are set per order. Ask about payment options and whether a deposit is required to hold your spot in the production schedule, especially during busy seasons.
Pricing and order minimums
The Factory 10 does not enforce strict minimums across all services, which means you can order a single embroidered polo or a dozen screen-printed shirts depending on your need. However, pricing per unit changes with quantity and method. Screen printing becomes more economical as order size increases because the setup cost spreads across more pieces. Direct-to-garment has no setup cost, so single pieces are feasible but cost more per unit than bulk screen printing.
Get a detailed quote before committing. Pricing depends on garment type, ink colors, design complexity, and production method. The shop can often work within different budgets by adjusting design complexity, garment choice, or printing technique.
Design options and what you'll need
You have three paths: bring finished artwork, work with the design team to create something new, or customize a template. If you're providing your own design, high-resolution files work best—typically 300 DPI for print. The team can advise on file format (PDF, PNG, or AI files are common) and whether your design needs adjustments for the chosen printing method.
If you're starting from scratch, describe your vision: colors, style, message, and where the design should sit on the garment. The design team will sketch concepts and refine based on your feedback. Template customization is fastest if you like an existing design but want to change colors, text, or add your business name.
Who uses The Factory 10
Small business owners order branded apparel for staff uniforms, customer giveaways, and promotional events. Nonprofits and community organizations use custom merchandise for fundraising, awareness campaigns, and volunteer recognition. Event planners commission t-shirts, hats, and bags for conferences, festivals, and celebrations. Individuals order personalized gifts, family reunion shirts, and custom apparel for hobbies or causes they support.
Sports teams, school groups, and clubs also rely on the shop for team wear and spirit merchandise. Because there's no high minimum, a small group can order matching pieces without waste or excess inventory.
Location and how to reach them
The Factory 10 By Malia Monique is based in Columbia. You can reach them by phone to discuss your project, request a quote, or schedule an in-person consultation. Email inquiries with design details, photos, or questions also work well if you prefer written communication. Visiting in person lets you see garment samples, discuss design ideas face-to-face, and understand turnaround times for your specific order.
When you contact them, have your project details ready: item type, quantity, design or design concept, and your timeline. This speeds up the quote process and helps the team give you accurate information about feasibility and cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order just one custom item?
Yes, especially through direct-to-garment printing, which has no setup fee. Screen printing and embroidery typically work better for multiple pieces, but the shop can discuss single-item options and pricing with you during consultation.
What if I don't have a design ready?
The design team at The Factory 10 can create artwork from your description or concept. Describe your vision, colors, and message, and they'll develop options for you to review and refine before production starts.
How long does production take?
Turnaround depends on the printing method, design complexity, and current workload. Screen printing may take longer for setup but faster per unit in bulk; direct-to-garment is quicker for small orders; embroidery varies by design detail. Ask for a specific timeline when you request your quote.
What file format should I use for my design?
High-resolution files (300 DPI) in PDF, PNG, or AI format work best. The team can advise whether your file needs adjustment for the printing method you've chosen and can often work with other formats if needed.
Do you work with nonprofits or community groups?
Yes. The Factory 10 takes orders from nonprofits, community organizations, and groups of any size. Discuss your budget and timeline, and the team can recommend cost-effective options like screen printing for larger runs or direct-to-garment for smaller quantities.