At A Glance: Planning custom apparel 3-5 weeks ahead gives you time for design approval, production, and delivery without stress. Branded’s standard turnaround is 7–10 business days after approval, with rush options available when needed.
January is one of our favorite times of year to connect with clients. Things are a bit quieter, inboxes are lighter, and there’s finally room to think ahead without pressure.
Planning custom apparel early doesn’t mean you have to place an order right away. It simply gives you more flexibility, better options, and a smoother experience when you’re ready to move forward.
Here’s how a little planning now can set you up for success in the months ahead:
We Recommend Planning 3-5 Weeks Ahead
Giving yourself a 3-5 week window is one of the easiest ways to keep custom apparel projects stress-free. That timeline allows room for thoughtful decisions and avoids last-minute compromises.
Here’s what that extra time helps with:
Design Customization
Even if you already have a design in mind, most projects benefit from a little collaboration. This might include refining placement, adjusting colors, or simplifying artwork so it works best for screen printing or embroidery.
We include free artwork proofs to help fine-tune your design and make sure it looks great on the garments you’ve chosen.
Design Approval (The Step That Often Gets Overlooked)
Design approval is one of the most important — and often underestimated — parts of the timeline.
It usually includes:
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Reviewing the initial proof
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Sharing feedback or revision requests
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Approving the final design for production
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Verifying technical details so the design works properly on the selected garments
Most projects go through 1–2 revision rounds, which typically adds 2–4 business days. Planning ahead allows time for this process to happen comfortably, without rushing decisions.
To help keep things moving, we use an online estimate and proofing system that provides quick estimates and streamlined approvals.
Common Questions About Custom Apparel Timelines
How far in advance should I order custom apparel?
We typically recommend planning 3-5 weeks ahead to allow time for design approval, production, quality checks, and delivery.
How long does custom screen printing or embroidery take?
Most standard orders are completed within 7–10 business days after final artwork approval, depending on complexity and quantity.
Can Branded handle rush orders?
Yes. While planning ahead is ideal, we can often accommodate rush orders when timelines are tight.
Production & Turnaround Times at Branded
Our standard turnaround time is typically 7–10 business days, depending on:
Design complexity
Order quantity
Garment availability
Current production schedule
Once your artwork is approved, our in-house production team takes it from there. Because we handle screen printing, embroidery, and other decoration methods right here, we maintain full control over quality and timelines.
We also build in time for quality control, so everything looks exactly as it should before it leaves our shop.
Great Times of Year to Plan Ahead
While we work with clients year-round, some periods are especially ideal for planning projects:
January–February: Post-holiday reset and great availability for early spring projects
Early March: Between winter and spring events
June–July: Planning ahead for back-to-school and fall programs
Mid-October: A calm window before the holiday rush
Starting conversations during these windows often leads to smoother scheduling and more options.
How We Can Help You Plan (No Pressure Required)
Planning doesn’t have to mean committing. Sometimes it’s just helpful to talk things through. Here are a few ways we love supporting clients during the planning stage:
Artwork & Design Ideas
Bring us anything — a logo, inspiration image, AI concept, or even a rough idea. We’ll help translate it into something that works beautifully for printing or embroidery.
Product Recommendations & Samples
Not sure which shirt, hoodie, or hat is the best fit? We’ll recommend options based on comfort, durability, and how they hold up over time. Samples are sometimes available to help you feel confident before ordering.
Reorder & Refresh Planning
If you’ve ordered from us before, we can look at what worked well and suggest updates or alternatives for the upcoming season.
Timeline Guidance
We’re always happy to help map out a realistic timeline so your order arrives when you need it, without stress.
What If You’re Short on Time?
Life happens. Events change. Deadlines pop up unexpectedly.
If you’re working on a tighter timeline, reach out. Thanks to our experienced team and high-capacity production setup, we can often accommodate rush orders when needed.
Rush services may include an additional charge, but we’ll always be upfront about what’s possible and help you choose the best approach for your deadline.
Plan Early, Stress Less
While we’re happy to help with rush projects, the easiest way to avoid last-minute stress is to plan ahead. Giving yourself a 3-5 week window allows time for design refinement, production, quality checks, and delivery — all without feeling rushed.
A little planning now can save time, reduce guesswork, and make the entire process more enjoyable later.
Why Working with a Local Print Shop Matters
Choosing a local screen printing and embroidery partner comes with real benefits:
Faster turnaround times
Lower or no shipping costs
Easier communication
Personalized, hands-on service
At Branded, we combine 16 years of experience with modern production capabilities and a friendly, knowledgeable team. We’ve completed thousands of projects for businesses, schools, and organizations throughout Reno and beyond, and we take pride in delivering quality work on reliable timelines.
Let’s Make Your Next Project Easy
Whether you’re planning for early spring, later in the year, or just want to start brainstorming ideas, we’re excited to help. A quick conversation now can make everything smoother when it’s time to produce.
If you’d like to start exploring ideas on your own, you’re always welcome to browse our apparel catalog or play around with designs using our online designer. It’s a great way to see what styles are available, experiment with layouts, or get inspiration at your own pace. And if you’d rather talk things through, our team is always happy to jump in and help.
When you’re ready, reach out — we’d love to work with you on what’s next.
If you’re starting to think about an upcoming project or just have a few questions, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re ready to order or simply want help planning, our team is always happy to talk through ideas, timelines, and options to make the process easy.
Call (800) 757-5646 or email info@brandedscreenprinting.com to get started.
Let Branded bring your vision to life with standout custom t-shirts and branded apparel.
✅ Custom Apparel Planning Checklist
Use this quick checklist to make your next custom apparel project smooth and stress-free.
Before you reach out:
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☐ What’s the occasion? (event, team, staff, fundraiser, reorder)
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☐ When do you need the apparel in hand?
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☐ About how many pieces will you need?
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☐ Do you have a logo, artwork, or inspirational images?
Design & details:
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☐ Screen printing, embroidery, ucp, or not sure yet?
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☐ Front, back, sleeve, or multiple placements?
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☐ Preferred colors (or open to suggestions)
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☐ Any names, numbers, or personalization?
Garments & sizing:
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☐ T-shirts, hoodies, hats, jackets, or a mix?
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☐ Adult, youth, or both?
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☐ Do you need help choosing styles or seeing samples?
Timeline planning:
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☐ Have you allowed 3-5 weeks for design, production, and delivery?
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☐ Is there flexibility if adjustments are needed?
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☐ Would you like help mapping out a timeline?
Nice-to-have extras:
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☐ A few extra pieces for last-minute additions
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☐ Reorder planning for later in the year
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☐ Ideas for future events or seasons