How AR (Augmented Reality) will impact T-shirt Printing industry?

Abhishek Agarwal
XRPractices
Published in
5 min readDec 15, 2021

Clothes are all about creating a style statement! Even a bad day can be seized by donning cool, comfortable clothes and having a gala time with friends (even if it’s a virtual gathering for now). Wearing casual t shirts with catchy one-liners is an amusing way of giving away one’s mindset without much ado. This constant desire to stay unique has given rise to custom t shirt design industry that is flourishing like anything.

Online print shops are the most favorite platforms for buyers to visit and rightly so. Online t shirt design software has changed the printing market like never before. It has made things quicker, better and self-sufficient by bringing up the concept of custom design and in-time apparel printing.

As per the reports of verifiedmarketresearch, the custom t shirt printing market collected a global revenue of $9.78 billion in 2020. It also predicts that the just-in-time printing industry will earn a revenue of $16.25 billion between 2021 and 2028, showing a CAGR of 6.56%.

Technology is playing a big role in this overwhelming growth. Latest advancements like Augmented Reality tools have improved the online design software to instantly design t shirts and customize them. By adding AR technology to online print shops, the fashion industry saves a lot on production cost of creating and testing designs before printing. It also cuts down on the use of water and electricity for design creation by textile industry.

By using AR techniques, designers can virtually check how a particular design will look on a t shirt and if satisfied, they can give start printing without any hassles. Even people can customize their own clothes and enjoy self-created apparel, printed at affordable cost. They don’t need to use extra dyes and chemicals to create design prototypes. In a way, the use of AR reduces pollution that happens while creating clothes and lowers ecological footprint.

Augmented Reality facilitates quick production, enhanced marketing and improved sales. By offering real-like experience, it boosts the sales of custom apparel without any extra efforts. Most importantly, it gives a real-like experience of being in the store and trying the t shirt. Well, this is certainly exhilarating as creating once own designs before buying them, gives immense pleasure.

In this era, where there is a blur line between online and offline mediums, the use of AR in online t shirt design software assures that one gets what he/she wants without being physically present at the store.

How Augmented Reality facilitates t shirt design sector?

By offering virtual canvas:

Well, as mentioned people can use 3D graphics, 3D animations and their own favorite patterns to create custom designs and get the t shirts printed in a jiffy. This is a small yet considerable way of creating personalized t shirt designs by the people and for the people. The AR tool creates a digital image of the pattern, graphics or artwork by superimposing the digital image over the existing image of the t shirt.

As per grandviewresearch, the graphic t shirt design segment occupied 56% of the global t shirt printing market in 2020 and artwork sector shows fast growth in the coming future.

By offering virtual try-ons:

Popular brands are offering virtual trials through their mobile websites. The online t-shirt design software offers this facility through the Augmented Reality component present in their online print shop. It gives an intimate buying experience after satisfactorily ‘trying’ the t shirt. Again, AI driven Fit Assistant helps the customer get the right size without physically trying the top.

By checking how it fits on different sized models:

The online t-shirt design software offers much more than just custom design feature. In fact, it offers a way where the probable buyer can check how a t shirt will look on different sized models to get the right fitting. This way, they can sense how clothes will appear on their body and make a quick purchase.

By checking the design in different colors:

The 3D t shirt design software offers the feature to check the design in different colors. This will be helpful in selecting the tee once the customer gets a chance to upload their own artwork, digital designs and check the custom design on their favorite color. It is very helpful for the final selection of the t shirt. Such features give all details like the brick-and-mortar store and therefore, give real-like buying experience.

Best marketing tool for the brand:

The online design software with Augmented Reality features becomes the best way to campaign for the brand. Quirky digital designs with vivid colors are head turners that entice as well as engage the customer. It is a way of self-promotion where the product speaks for itself. Just with the help of the tool, the brand can communicate its expertise to the audience. Even tees printed with a social message are used to promote good causes by people and brands.

In a nut shell, Augmented Reality pushes the t shirt printing industry to achieve the next level of success. It is a single shot solution for brand optimization, marketing, customer engagement and retail selling. It cannot be under estimated in the current era where shoppers are used to checking stuff on mobile platforms. In fact, it is the best way to create new market, offer personalized experience and upscale sales.

For those who prefer to watch the video, here is a quick overview of how t-shirt design software works:

The Conclusion!

Augmented Reality is changing the fashion industry for the better. It is adding convenience and creative element to the clothing sector and makes it more customer centric. In addition, it gives a global platter to the brand, which can advertise and sell its products over the internet. It is definitely the best way to cut down on labor and production cost. Moreover, it is the shortest but most effective way to succeed in the global t shirt printing market.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is the best sector to invest for entrepreneurs and online store owners. When marketed well, custom t shirt print business will surely earn revenue, customers and success!

--

--

Abhishek Agarwal
XRPractices

Abhishek Agarwal, CMO & Co-Founder of Design’N’Buy, Mobicommerce & OhoShop, comes with more than 14 years of experience in Web-to-Print & IT.