Carolina Tees: Custom Screen Printing and Apparel in South Carolina

What Carolina Tees Does

Carolina Tees is a screen printing and custom apparel shop operating in South Carolina that handles orders for businesses, organizations, events, and individuals who need printed t-shirts, hoodies, and other garments. The shop prints designs onto fabric using screen printing methods, meaning they transfer ink through a mesh screen onto the material. They work with customers to move from design concept through production, handling both the artwork setup and the actual printing work in-house.

The shop takes on projects of different sizes—from small runs of a few shirts for a local sports team or nonprofit to larger orders for corporate events or retail inventory. They work with customers who arrive with finished artwork ready to print and also with those who need design help before production begins. Most custom apparel shops like Carolina Tees charge based on the number of colors in the design, the number of garments ordered, and the type of item being printed.

Key Takeaways

• Carolina Tees prints custom designs onto t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel using screen printing, which works best for designs with solid colors and simple shapes.
• You can bring finished artwork or work with the shop to develop a design before printing begins.
• Pricing typically depends on how many colors are in your design, how many garments you order, and what type of item you are printing on.
• Screen printing works well for event shirts, team uniforms, promotional items, and small-batch merchandise, but has different cost and timeline considerations than other printing methods.

How Screen Printing Works at a Shop Like Carolina Tees

Screen printing starts with a design—either one you provide or one the shop creates with you. That design gets transferred onto a mesh screen, with each color of your design requiring its own separate screen. The shop then presses the screen against a garment and pushes ink through the mesh onto the fabric. This process repeats for each color layer, and each garment moves through the screens in sequence until the full design is printed.

This method produces durable, long-lasting prints that hold up through many washes. The ink sits on top of the fabric rather than being absorbed into it, which is why screen-printed shirts often feel slightly raised when you run your hand over the design. The trade-off is that screen printing works best with designs that have bold, solid colors and clear shapes—fine details and photo-realistic images are harder to reproduce this way.

What to Bring or Prepare Before You Order

If you have artwork ready, bring it as a digital file—most shops accept formats like PDF, AI (Adobe Illustrator), or high-resolution image files. The file should show exactly what you want printed: the design itself, the colors, and how large it should be on the garment. If your design includes photographs or very detailed gradients, mention that when you contact the shop, because they may recommend a different printing method or discuss how the design will translate to screen printing.

If you do not have artwork yet, bring a description of what you want—a sketch, a reference image, or even just words describing the concept. Carolina Tees or a similar shop can work with you to develop that into a printable design. You will also need to decide what garment you want printed on (t-shirt color and size range, hoodie style, etc.) and how many you need. Have your budget in mind, because the cost per shirt drops significantly as order quantity increases.

Typical Timeline and Pricing Factors

Screen printing timelines vary based on order size and shop workload. A small order might take one to two weeks from approval to delivery, while larger orders may take longer because the shop has to set up multiple screens and manage production runs. Rush orders are sometimes available but usually cost more. Ask about the timeline when you first contact the shop—they can tell you what is realistic for your specific order.

Pricing breaks down into setup costs and per-garment costs. Setup includes creating or preparing your design and making the screens needed for each color. Once setup is done, the cost per shirt depends on the garment type (basic t-shirt versus premium blank, for example), the number of colors in your design, and the total quantity ordered. A design with three colors costs more to produce than a one-color design because it requires three screens and three passes through the press. Ordering 100 shirts will have a lower per-shirt cost than ordering 20, because the setup cost spreads across more items.

When Screen Printing Makes Sense for Your Project

Screen printing is the right choice for event t-shirts, team uniforms, promotional merchandise, and small-batch branded apparel. It produces professional-looking results that last, and the per-shirt cost becomes very reasonable once you order in quantity. If you need 50 or more shirts with the same design, screen printing is usually more economical than other methods.

Screen printing is less ideal if you need one-off custom shirts with photo-realistic designs, or if every shirt in your order needs a different name or number on it. Those projects often work better with direct-to-garment printing or embroidery, which are different techniques that some shops also offer. When you contact Carolina Tees or another printer, describe your project and ask whether screen printing is the best fit—they can recommend alternatives if something else would work better for what you need.

Finding Carolina Tees and Getting a Quote

Carolina Tees operates as a local business in South Carolina. You can reach out to them with your project details—the design you want, the garment type, the quantity, and your timeline. Most shops provide a quote once they understand the scope of your order. Be specific about what you need: if you want 75 t-shirts with a two-color logo on the chest, say that. If you need the shirts in three different colors, mention it. The more detail you provide upfront, the more accurate the quote will be.

Many screen printing shops also handle related services like embroidery, direct-to-garment printing, or heat transfer, so if your project needs something beyond basic screen printing, ask whether they can do it or recommend someone who can. Building a relationship with a local printer means they learn your preferences and can handle repeat orders more smoothly the next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shirts do I need to order to make screen printing worth it?

There is no hard minimum, but screen printing becomes cost-effective around 24 to 50 shirts depending on the design complexity and garment type. Smaller orders are possible but the per-shirt cost will be higher because setup costs do not spread across as many items. Ask the shop for a quote on your specific quantity—they can show you the price difference between ordering 12 shirts versus 50.

Can I use a design from the internet or social media?

Only if you own the rights to it or have permission from the creator. Using someone else's copyrighted design without permission puts both you and the printer at legal risk. If you want to print a design you found online, contact the creator and ask for permission, or work with a designer to create something original for your project.

What if I want different colors of the same shirt?

That is completely normal and does not cost extra. You can order 25 navy shirts and 25 gray shirts with the same design, and the printer will produce both. Just let them know the color breakdown when you place the order. The design and setup stay the same; only the garment color changes.

How do I care for screen-printed shirts so the design lasts?

Wash them inside-out in cold water and dry on low heat or air-dry to extend the life of the print. Avoid bleach and do not iron directly over the design. Screen-printed shirts are durable and can handle many washes, but treating them gently keeps the design looking sharp longer.

Can Carolina Tees print on items other than t-shirts?

Many screen printing shops print on hoodies, tank tops, tote bags, and other items beyond basic t-shirts. Contact them with your specific request and they can tell you whether they offer it and what the cost would be. Specialty items sometimes have longer lead times or higher setup fees.