Artists... Art school of course. Check local art schools or design schools and such. Put up an ad, that says need art student to help me perfect some T-shirt designs. You will need to sign NDA, but you can use design later in your portfolio with shared credit. Pay will be little. If interested, call XXX-XXXX Then maybe offer $25 per hour of time spent, plus a couple free T-shirts. Make sure you have a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for them to sign if they do come. Shirt-maker/printer company is a different problem. If you just want proof of concept you can buy those T-shirt-maker iron-on sheets and print them yourself as a one or two-off. Else, I d actually go to places that sell a lot of these printed T-shirts and see where THEY get them from. And finally... I assume you actually *have* a market for these shirts? And you really have copyright, trademark, and such issues squared? Did a lawyer (or at least a paralegal) go over any contracts or forms that you have, unless it s standard boilerplate stuff? You really *should* buy one of those how to start your own business books by Nolo Press and make sure all the issues, requirements, and such are done. Would have for you to be busted later if you *did* forget something.
Lots of artists of all kinds have gone to naught because they depended upon others to cover the gap between a nebulous but good idea, and real world manifestation of a usable/saleable product. Study up on all the mechanical details of silkscreen printing, for starters. Then try some yourself! It s not difficult for people with any trainable fingers at all.
When you are ready to get the shirts printed Check out 10ShirtsFor99.com They do FULL COLOR printing on the front, back, sides and sleeves with NO SCREEN CHARGE. They have lots of options and upgrades. Including an option for 1 shirt. There is even an option to get the 1 shirt free. http://www.10ShirtsFor99.com They also do single shirt drop-shipping at http://www.PrintOnDemandShirts.com
