At Custom Ink, we believe custom gear has the power to unite groups and strengthen communities. We’ve streamlined the entire process through our innovative design tools and high-quality merchandise, ensuring every team receives the creative inspiration and dedicated support they deserve.
Your custom order is one of a kind, and so are we. Nowhere else can you find the design resources, real people, and dependability that make Custom Ink special.
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Northern Virginia, we are a dynamic and forward-thinking company. We strive to treat our customers, vendors, and co-workers as we would want to be treated and have a strong sense of innovation and individual responsibility. We've been named to Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500" list of America's fastest-growing private companies and have also been recognized as a "Great Place to Work" by Washingtonian Magazine.
Established in 1989, American Apparel is an iconic Los Angeles fashion basics brand known for premium styles that are timeless, sexy, fun, and colorful. American Apparel’s mission to empower all people is reflected in its ethical, sweatshop-free manufacturing, as well as its bold branding – a celebration of diversity, inclusivity, equality, and body positivity.
Gildan acquired the American Apparel brand in February 2017.
As part of Gildan’s family of brands, American Apparel now operates as part of the American Apparel Respects program, developed based on well-recognized standards and industry-leading social and environmental responsibility practices. To find out more visit: https://www.gildanrespects.com
University Tees began in a dorm room at Miami University in 2003. As sophomore business majors, Nick and Joe were organizing a t-shirt order for their business fraternity and after becoming frustrated with their experience, they decided there had to be a better way. So, like any good entrepreneur, they started their own company. Their vision was simple: to create the best custom apparel experience the college market had ever seen.
It took a few times to get it right (ask them about their Green Beer Day t-shirt debacle), but eventually, they nailed it. Because they were students at the time, they hired other students to help with sales and graphic design. This is still the model we use today! College students working with other college students to make everyone’s wildest t-shirt dreams come true.
Custom apparel is what we do, but DPCL is why we do it. University Tees exists to Develop People and Change Lives. It’s our company’s purpose, and the reason we are passionate about coming to work every day. DPCL impacts everyone – from full-time people in our headquarters and regional offices to Campus Managers across the country. In short, DPCL means that we are continuously striving to be the best version of ourselves and to help everyone around us be their best. We believe in continuous growth and lifelong learning. Team members have many opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. Every team member is given a DPCL budget to better themselves, from taking public speaking classes, to attending a leadership seminar, to hiring a personal trainer, to taking guitar lessons. We also have workshops, speakers, volunteer opportunities, and book clubs open to all team members. Click on each featured employee below to see what DPCL means to them.