Distressed Lettering 101
Appliqué : Forever a Mood
AMB3R Creative Checks Out VINTAGE POPUP
PRINCE TENNIS #WHITEOUT COLLAB
Keeping Warm in Style !
Eco-Friendly Fabrics
Eco-friendly fabrics have come a long way in the last 10 years. As the consumer gets more aware of the impact our over-purchasing has on the environment, brands are being pushed to innovate, improve and deliver on the needs of the marketplace.Love how Alternative Apparel is on the front lines of creating more sustainable and eco-friendly options that are on trend and comfortable.
It allows brands to create a dialogue through the apparel that they sell or distribute.And having a more sustainable garment isn't enough. Printing on these garments with plastisol ink cancels out some of the eco friendly appeal.
Water-base inks are the way to create a soft hand and a more holistic garment that can be honestly marketed as "eco-friendly"T ech companies, Organic food brands and Cannabis driven companies should be thinking about the apparel products they are selling which is an extension of what they are promoting with their core products.
If you are interested in other brands that have eco friendly apparel, hit me up int he comments below!
Hats , Hats and More Hats
Why Quality Clothing Matters
Buying quality items will save you money in the long run
Cheaper quality clothing items will almost always have a short lifespan, sometimes a lifespan so short that the item will only last through the first wear or one wash in the machine. To help you determine whether an item is worth it’s asking price, fashionistas around the world have created the “Cost per wear” formula.
Cost per Wear = Total cost of the Item / Number of times you’ll wear it
When in doubt, use this formula to help you decide if an item is really worth splurging on.
You’ll become more aware of your shopping habits
Because quality items are usually sold at a higher price, it’s logical to assume that shoppers would spend more time picking out quality items since these items are eating up more of their budget.
It’s easy to walk around a mall and mindlessly pick out jeans in your size that you ‘don’t need to try on’, but when the jeans are $150, you’re more likely to try them on to see if they fit well, provide comfortability and determine if they will need to be altered in any way, which adds an extra cost, thus making the jeans more expensive than the price listed on the price tag.
Resale Ability
Anyone who’s ever taken clothes to Plato’s Closet or used apps like Poshmark and Depop know that items they spent more on, usually sell for more later in life as well. For example, a Forever 21 sundress being re-sold for $20 is less likely to sell than a Free People dress being re-sold for $60. This is because shoppers are less inclined to buy used ‘fast fashion’ clothing items compared to quality garments that have been used or worn before.
Not to mention, the Free People dress still has numerous wears left in it, while the Forever 21 garment is most likely on its last wash before unraveling.
WARNING!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed after reading this article and realize that the majority of your purchases are cheap clothing items that hold no significant value to you, that’s okay and perfectly normal.
This article was not intended to convince you that you need to throw out your wardrobe and spend $4,000 on ‘quality’ deemed items, but rather encourage you to be more mindful next time you leave the house to do a ‘shopping haul’ at a fast fashion retailer.
Thriftopia Trends - Thrift Shopping
For those of you who don't know, the team here at AMB3R are big fans of thrift store shopping! We enjoy picking a new vintage store every week to scour for market research and for our personal use. This past weekend was Thriftopia, a collection of vintage and old school streetwear vendors catering to the fashion masses of Denver.
Hosted at Milk Market, it was a cool influx of style makers and fashion curators from all over Colorado. Our digital content producer Kevin spotted the use of statement pieces with personal flare , a unique marker for each individual and a sea of fashion expressiveness. Not to mention some nostalgic t-shirts and hats from pop-culture of the days passed.
Check out the street style below from the attendees and share the vintage trends that inspire your daily style.
How to Style Denim on Denim Outfits
As Fall of 2019 rolls in, more denim on denim looks are starting to hit the streets. Many of you know this look as the, ‘Canadian Tux’. We’re here to help you master this quirky trend without looking like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake circa 2001. Take a peak at the photo below if you’re not sure what we’re talking about.
As you’ve probably seen, there are a couple different ways to style this classic trend.
The first way to rock this look is by creating a slouchy silhouette. When in doubt, add a belt to separate the washes and extenuate your curves.
Try mixing up different denim washes. Darker washes provide a slimming effect. Think dark on bottom and light on top!
If you’re worried that wearing denim on denim might appear a bit masculine for your liking, try pairing a cropped denim jacket with a denim skirt.
Nowadays, many denim jackets include intricate stitching or designs on the back that are sure to add some color to your look. Feel free to customize your denim jacket by adding patches and pins as well.
For those of you who live in states that don’t reach cooler temperatures during the fall and winter seasons, try pairing your denim jacket with jorts (jean shorts). This look is both grungy and stylish.
2019 Fall Fashion Trends
As you may have noticed, vintage fashion is back. In fact, looks from the 80's and 90’s have been in style for years now and according to New York Fashion Week, these trends are here to stay. So you may be wondering, what are the trends this coming fall? Well, we’ve got the scoop for you!
TINY BAGS
The perfect accessory for a night out with the girls. Tiny purses are a great staple piece because they don’t distract from your outfit, while still being able to fit your phone and a lip gloss. Both fashionable and functional!
OVERSIZED COATS WITH LONG HEMS
Look like a superhero with this cape like trend. Long hems instantly give your body some length. Ideal for those who need to keep warm, while remaining fashion forward. New York City here we come!!
FEATHERS. YEP, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT.. FEATHERS!
Is there anything that screams the 90’s more than feathers? Check out this iconic look of the Jenner sisters matching feather gowns at the 2019 Met Gala. These outfits caught some attention no doubt!
OUTLANDISH HATS
This trend is just a no brainer. Who doesn’t want cute, fuzzy hats to keep their ears warm in the chilly autumn weather? Plus, these hats instantly make it appear as if you just hopped off the runway in Copenhagen.
SATIN
Talk about look good, feel good! Satin is both flattering and beyond comfortable.
AMB3R Creative: The Process From Start to Finish
While starting a new project can seem overwhelming at times, it’s our job to reassure you that at AMB3R, we make things as smooth and as seamless as possible. Our company specializes in custom design (we understand that not everyone enjoys creating logos. etc), so we’re here to help guide you through this process. The first step towards starting your project with AMB3R Creative is to submit a ‘start project’ form on our website. The project form will provide us with information such as your company name, number of items needed, your budget, contact information and the date you need your final products by.
The overview of your project will look a little something like this:
When working with AMB3R, you’ll be provided the opportunity to work with a professional graphic designer if needed. Our in-house designer will spend extra time working with you to make sure your product design comes out perfectly. Let’s say for example that you’ve created your own custom line of spirits, but you have no idea what you want your bottle and label to look like. This is where we come in to help. We can provide you with examples of previous work we’ve done, while also giving you helpful suggestions as to what colors and fonts look best for your product. Sketches of ideas and various designs will then be created. Think of this as a rough draft of what your end design will look like. Not yet perfected, but definitely a good start. What starts as a simple sketch on a paper book, then turns into a graphic design on the computer. Sketches by hand allow for the designer to make quick and easy changes without having to go into the computer to change the image. Once the image has been given the go ahead, the designer will then transfer that image to the computer where more details will be added.
We will then consult with you on what type of screen printing, threading, stamps, private labels or specialty inks you want to include on your product label. Once decided, we will go ahead and apply those choices to the overall design. The before and after of this process can be viewed below:
Now to the exciting part - Once your design has been finished and approved, we will send the image and product details to production. The print house will both print and ship all your products directly to you. Your final result may look a little something like this:
At AMB3R, we understand that the idea of creating a new line of products for your company can quickly become overwhelming. That’s why we try our best to make sure every step of the process is extremely clear and straightforward. We don’t move on to the next step of a project before making sure you’re satisfied with each change made to the design beforehand. Next time you’re interested in changing up your logo or creating holiday pullovers for your company, we hope you think of us.
Increasing Impressions: The Value of Design
Why Design is Important in Making First Impressions
Think about how fast you scroll through social media; each post has only seconds to catch your attention. That is how the world sees your branding - for a second. If someone walks down the street towards you in a branded tee you only have seconds to notice it. Maybe you’re at a restaurant, it’s chilly, and sitting across the room is someone wearing a branded jacket; even then you only spend a split second noticing what one person in a crowded room is wearing.
UNLESS something catches your eye and grabs your attention. With only seconds to make a first impression, great visual design is what makes the difference. Design is what makes you noticeable. When you become noticeable, you have the chance to become memorable.
Problem is - many businesses don’t see design as an investment and often turn to stock art and namedrop designs believing this will be good enough. Turns out, “good enough” is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to design. We are living in a world filled with media, ads, and digital art galore in which case “good enough” will not set you apart or grab a person’s attention.
How Baked in Costs Diminish the Value of Paid Artwork
Companies that provide free art, art that involves a templated design, are doing a disservice to professional graphic designers everywhere. When customers pay for artwork they can understand design value, since the art is completely unique and intentionally curated for their brand. Do not be fooled, all design is not equal.
The Process of a Professional Designer
By sharing our custom artwork process we hope to show you why professional design has more value than template-based art.
Be Intentional: We take the time to understand our clients. Who are their customers? What is their age, sex, race, style, etc? Major retail brands spend millions of dollars on research, development, and market analysis to ensure their colors, designs, and styling are on trend. If we do this once for faithful clients, we can use it as a foundation for future design work.
Ideation/Mood Boards: This is a part of custom design creation that free artwork completely overlooks. This can take only a few minutes to ensure a design will resonate. If we relied solely on our designer, his idea of “cool” may not be what the client had imagined. Customers know what they like and dislike visually but can’t always translate it well into words. We use Pinterest or the website designinspiration.net to create a board for our clients to participate in the ideation process. This way we know what the client is looking for in terms of colors and styles before we even begin putting pen to paper.
Sketching and Concepts: It’s easier to develop designs in sketches and concepts before going directly to the digital stage. Not only does sketching save time when moving to digital art, but it also provides an opportunity to offer multiple styles. Customers then can communicate which design resonates with their brand goals. From here, we are well prepared to start the real magic.
Design and Presentation: Now, the design is digitized and comes to life with colors, textures and depth. When the design is ready, we create a mock up on the requested garment as well as other other garments and trending products. This can inspire customers to create a cohesive product mix beyond a single item or spark ideas for future products with us.
Design-it-yourself programs have benefited shops lacking artwork resources and distributors with small teams or no design department. We understand free artwork can be ideal for projects in a pinch or small, one-time events.
Our goal is to help customers be unique and appeal to their audience--leading to sales. We want everyone to avoid being stuck with lifeless inventory but rather produce a product that speaks to clients’ lifestyles and is visually pleasing.
3 Critical Factors to Avoid Losing Money on Branded Drinkware
Customer Spotlight: Union Station
Our story here at AMB3R began with a focus on selling custom t-shirts and hats, but now a new item is taking over as much as a third of our sales: promotional drinkware.
1. Type of Drinkware
Once dominated by Nalgene and Camelbak, brands like Hydroflask and Yeti are revolutionizing the reusable water-bottle game. Insulation brings outdoor drinkware to a new playing field, and now nearly everyone is in on it. From tumblers to wine glasses people are loving it. Sales of promotional drinkware at Denver’s Union Station illustrates this well. We are proud to supply them with a variety of insulated drinkware in several styles and colors. Matte colors and simple but unique design make these elegant pieces a great gift and useful item for passing tourists.
Beyond insulated drinkware, the more classic choice is promotional mugs. Just as the other types of drinkware are getting creative, so are mugs. A great option for summer or any outdoor event is enamel camping mugs (also perfect for Colorado culture, Union Station also joined in on this fun style.) Other styles we recommend include rustic ceramic mugs, clear glass mugs, or ceramic mugs with a cork base.
2. The Design
If you are familiar with us here at AMB3R, you may know we have a knack for design. Typical promotional drinkware usually features a plain logo with the company name. BORING. This is valuable space your business is paying for, so feature more than your logo! Use meaningful design to grab the customer’s attention. This is where our passion comes into play - because we know the difference eye catching design will make for your drinkware. We encourage you to go a step further as Union Station did and incorporate a meaningful or funny message that will resonate with people. Whether it’s personally curated design or a catchy statement - the goal is to ensure your brand makes an impression.
3. Think About Your Audience
Who you are and who your customers are dictates what drinkware and design will be best. For example, we did a drinkware project for the Radiant Women’s Conference where we suggested a clear, heavy duty, glass mug with pink text both for a more feminine tone. Our project for North Points Community Church’s marriage conference is another example - we produced Mr. and Mrs. insulated camping mugs. The insulated feature kept the mugs trendy and the Mr. and Mrs. design tied in their traditional marriage theme while also featuring the church’s logo subtly for remembrance.
Ensure Your Graphic Tee Has Meaning
Lessons from The Italian Trend
Fantastic news for our industry: 70s vibe graphic tees are making a comeback. From retro band tees to vintage logo tees this trend has been a long time coming in street wear, but there’s a new trend bubbling up in printed apparel that nobody expected. Who could have guessed the gods of luxury fashion, the Italians, would inspire an array of graphic tee designs using their cities, beautiful language, and cuisine. Luxury designer brands such as Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana along with more accessible brands like Forever 21 and H&M, sporting the trend, are resonating with customers love of travel, food, and style.
How Meaning is Created
Prior to joining the team here at AMB3R, I was extremely lucky to spend four months studying abroad in Florence, Italy. So when I stumbled on this craze through influencer Giada’s recent blog post about her favorite Italian graphic tees, I finally found a tee that meant something to me. These tees could be a way to remember the gelato flavors, a certain city, certain word, or even the amazing food I experienced in Italy. Because the tee offers meaning about the Italian culture, it resonates with travelers as well as those who plan and dream to venture there.
What Can We Learn from This?
Consumers purchase graphic tees because they mean something personal. Fashion is about expression, people wear what they wear to show the world “this is me.” Here at AMB3R, we want to help you design and create apparel that means something to your customers. People care about a brand for three reasons: love for your product, the experience with your brand, or a desire to share a value you have. By creating a design that showcases these attributes of your brand, you can develop a tee that your customers will want to wear to show the world that they are a part of what you are a part of, and stand for what you stand for, all the while increasing your company’s brand awareness.
5 Hot Summer Promotional Items
Summer is here and you could be selling the essentials with your logo or branded design featured on it. We are here to help you pick a product that is relevant to your target market and appealing to your customers. From sunscreen to tote bags, here is a list of the top 5 products we are seeing this summer that can help you brand your organization.
1. Sunglasses
We know environmental consciousness is a growing value of consumers. As most promotional sunglasses are made entirely of plastic, this is not always the ideal product; but there are alternative hidden gems. We are proud to be an approved promotional distributor for our friends at WUDN whose products are eco-friendly and made from locally sourced wood. With several different options for sunglasses, our favorites are the styles crafted from recycled skate decks. Other options include ebony wood, zebra wood, and bamboo. You can hug the trees while also rocking them on your face!
2. Coolers
Keep your summertime drinks cold in the place they belong, your cooler. This is yet another surface where your logo or custom design could shine. Next time a customer catches your cooler peeking out from behind a booth and it’s smothered in an awesome design, your brand will be spoken for. Coolers can also be high end gifts for your executive employees or most critical clients, as a way to say thank you with class, a sense of adventure, and a touch of your brand. We are thankful to be approved promotional distributors of some of the largest brands including: RTIC, YETI, Pelican, Igloo, Coleman, and Bison.
3. Totes
Brands such as Lulu Lemon have seen tremendous success using totes as a branding weapon. Since the growing awareness and efforts to be environmentally responsible, consumers are proud to reuse totes bags for many purposes. This makes custom tote bags an effective brand exposure tool. Lulu Lemon’s tote design is so well known that many can spot this branded bag from a mile away, and that’s brand recognition at it’s finest. A tote is comparatively larger than many promotional products which means lots of canvas to paint on, quite literally. We suggest taking full advantage of this space by not just slapping your logo on the side but investing in creative design work. You need a design to catch the eye from far away, be memorable and relate to your cause. Lucky for you this is our forte and passion!
4. Sunscreen
While sunglasses, totes, or coolers may be a larger investment, we also have suggestions for smaller summer promo items. Smaller items such as sunscreen can make for an easy giveaway product people will actually use in the summer. These can be easily tossed in a beach bag or glove box for spontaneous outings in the sun and a quick reminder of your organization.
5. Coolies
Coolies, also known by the brand name Koozie(R), are insulated beverage holders. There is no better season than summer to put these on the shelf. Perhaps you can match a burlap coolie with your hipster mason jar glasses for customers sitting outside. Coolies have come a long way and AMB3R is now offering fabrics like burlap, denim, suede, metallic and velvet to create a variety of looks.
4 Ways to Wear Men's Graphic Tees
If you’re over the age of 25, you might think the days of wearing graphic tees are behind you. However, graphic tees are coming back in a big way; this time not for the teenage generation. With some simple guidelines you can style a graphic tee without looking like you’re seventeen and it’s laundry day.
As athleisure brands take the market by storm, luxury fashion houses are fighting for a spot at the casual table. Streetwear trends are catching on specifically at high fashion brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Off White whose iconic prints are making waves in t-shirt fashion. While vintage band tees and minimalist logo prints have been a part of casual wear for much longer, they are now being worn in more stylish ways. From businessman to surfer dude here are our tips on hitting the street in style with a graphic tee!
Dressed Down Businessman
While a graphic tee does the dressing down let a simple blazer do the dressing up. A blazer over a graphic tee is a style that originates from the 80’s but creates a statement to be reckoned with today. The trick to this look is to let the graphic tee do the talking by keeping all other pieces neat and minimal. This is best paired with dark or black jeans and Sunday’s best all white sneakers.
Street Wear Style
Band t-shirts and minimal slogan or logo t-shirts have been around since the 70’s and people are appreciating their vintage, retro vibes. The key here is to match the rest of the outfit with the style of the tee. For example, in the case of vintage band tees, they are best paired with faded wash or ripped jeans and plain sneakers or even chelsea boots for more shnazz. Layers will also help add style to a band t-shirt - think flannel or jean jacket. A minimal slogan or logo t-shirt is a simpler choice. Just as with the band t-shirt you’ll want to match the minimal style with slim fit jeans and luxe sneakers that contrast with the outfit. To further dress up this mostly casual outfit, you could add trendy shades or a piece of jewelry.
Surfers and Skaters
Graphic tees in the skate and surf world have always been in style with brands like Billabong, RipCurl and Hurley. To kill this style you have to live this style throwing it together without much effort. You'll want to stick to simple graphics which is usually how the surfer brands roll, paired with lived-in shorts and well-worn classic skater shoes like Vans Classic Slip-Ons. Complete the look with a simple dad hat to mature the young surfer look.
We continually research and look for the latest apparel trends across a wide range of looks. It’s important to us to work with our customers and truly learn about their audience so we are able to fit a garment and design to their specific dreams and needs. Check out more of our website to learn about what we offer and who we are.
Womens Graphic T-shirts Style Guide for Any Occasion
Too many graphic tees find their way into dark corners of our closets or are flung into a spring cleaning donation bin to be transported to the nearest thrift store - where badly designed tee shirts go to die. We’ve all had a giveaway shirt or impulse buy Gildan tee that simply becomes a useless piece in our wardrobe. Many people only keep a tee to paint their house or wear to bed. This is heartbreaking, but understandable as we definitely know how poorly some screen printed apparel can be designed and produced. Our mission is to create fashion forward designs on trending and high quality shirts so that they are worn over and over again.
We believe an incredible graphic tee can live a fulfilling life life without fearing the thrift store, and actually be the flare of a great outfit, casual or professional. If you’re in doubt, let us show you how it’s done!
Let’s start big. Professional. The casual notion of graphic t-shirts may be why many don’t make the cut when getting your work outfit together in the morning. Next time you miss the alarm and have a morning of chaos - turn to a blazer, the cure all be all of outerwear. Pair your fave blazer with a graphic t-shirt and slim fit jeans or matching dress pants and you will be slaying the game. Feel free to dress this cool-girl look up or down with heels and jewelry or flats and sunnies!
However, it’s summer now and there’s nothing wrong with rocking that relaxed style. We have a couple looks in mind for that too. Have you ever thought about pairing a graphic t-shirt with the classic staple pencil skirt? This creates a more casual but still boss-girl look that could go seamlessly from work to happy hour. This look was featured at Lollapalooza last year along with many other graphic tee outfit ideas. Another great option could be a pleated midi skirt for a sheek vintage look. A midi skirt adds more coverage and still has the high waisted belt line perfect for tucking the tee in and flatters any figure. If skirts don’t suit your style, fun dress pants have been trending recently. Looking at the variety of dress pant options available from wide cut to skinny leg with an array of waistlines, a graphic tee can dress down a serious dress pant while adding a creative twist.
Out of the office and into the weekend, it’s time to chill out and get comfy. High waisted jeans came back around 2015 and are still popular summer bottoms - from boyfriend jeans to paper-bag shorts. Both can be tastefully paired with graphic t-shirts- tucked in, cropped or even tied creating a stylish, effortless look. Boyfriend jeans make for a great compliment to a graphic t-shirt adding a slouchy street-wear style. Wearing an oversized t-shirt can also add an even more casual, but still cool-girl vibe. When it really heats up this summer you may reach for shorts; we recommend reaching for high waisted jean-shorts as a casual complementary garment. But if you want to stand out this season high waisted paper-bag shorts, often with a front bow tie, are making an entrance. And, we noticed these are yet another fun way to tuck in a graphic tee with added style from the unique waist line on these shorts.
We love learning about current trends to incorporate into the apparel we help you create. We know how to design promotional merchandise and curate the best pieces to print on so your customers will recognize these styles as they have seen them in retail, creating a piece that you can sell for more money with a higher return on investment as they will be worn time after time. The blank garments we print on can be classic style t-shirts but we also have unique trending styles that are updated monthly. Check out the rest of our website to learn much more about who we are and what we offer!
Our Morning at The GrowHaus!
Last Monday, the AMB3R team got the opportunity to volunteer at The GrowHaus, a non-profit indoor farm that we partner with here in Denver. Their mantra, “Healthy food is a right, not a privilege” is one that we can really get behind and a mindset that has the power to change communities living in food deserts. In their words, the vision of The GrowHaus is, “to catalyze a neighborhood-based food system in [their] community that is healthy, equitable, and resident-driven.” This vision is achieved through a commitment to excellence and equity in food production, food distribution, and food education.
Founded by local Denver real estate guru Paul Tamburello in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood, The GrowHaus produces fresh produce year round using their hydroponic farm, aquaponics farm, and “growasis permaculture farm”. The food they grow is available for sale at prices the community can afford in their Mercado de al Lado (Daily Market), and through food boxes that anyone can buy! Additionally, The GrowHaus offers education for people of all ages and backgrounds around nutrition, gardening, cooking, and other essential skills for building healthy communities.
Our morning started off with a tour of the farm, and gosh was it something to see! When you first walk in, you walk by the Mercado de al Lado and are greeted by colorful fruits and veggies that are organic and locally sourced. Past the market is a large kitchen, filled with people and laughter—truly a vision of controlled chaos. What’s amazing is that all of these people (volunteers, staff, and community members alike) are working together to cook a gorgeous meal for the people who come that day to The GrowHaus. The chef curates the dishes based on what is available, in season, and fresh! We got to help cook and had a blast doing it. To the left of the kitchen you walk into a large open space, where volunteers are sorting food into boxes for community members, and there is a Zumba class underway (of course we had to jump in for a little dancing to get our blood moving). Surrounding this open area is the hydroponics farm, the aquaponics farm, and a mushroom farm. The GrowHaus is an oasis of love and safety—a place where community members can come, rest, and be taken care of, away from the sights, smells, and all-around chaos of the outside world. The GrowHaus has become home to hundreds of people living in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood and is continuing to spread hope and light, one food box at a time.
To find out more about The GrowHaus or learn how to volunteer, visit their website at www.thegrowhaus.org!
We can’t wait to go back!