At one point there were over 100 t-shirts in my closet. To say it’s my favorite item of clothing, well that would be an understatement. So when it came time to talk to someone about their tees, I was ready to dive into a conversation with someone who appreciated them just as much as me. Only unlike myself, Dennis of Djones just doesn’t like tees, he creates them as well. So stay tuned and check out this quick back and forth between a t-fanatic in LA and a t-maker living abroad.
Kendra: Were you creating tees before 2017 or is that just when you launched on Etsy?
Dennis: Yes I started creating tees online when I was 16 back in 2013 from a website called Spreadshirt which I currently still use. In 2017 I created my Etsy account, but I didn’t feel that I had enough knowledge to use it. So in the meantime, I was gaining knowledge about Etsy via Youtube and FB groups and a few months later I felt ready and really focussed on researching/designing/ publishing shirts on Etsy.
Kendra: You design a good deal of the tees. Where do you draw inspiration from when you’re working on new shirts?
Dennis: I get my inspiration from people wearing awesome shirts on the streets, via Amazon and Pinterest and after I have something in mind I pass it to my graphic designer.
Kendra: When it comes to creating the perfect tee for a holiday, do you have any secret tips you can share?
Dennis: I think it is really important to understand the needs and wants from potential customers. For example, when there is a holiday that is coming up it is important to create a funny unique design that relates or interests potential customers. And I also learned that you don’t only have to design a shirt what you would wear, but rather think from a customer point of view.
Kendra: Can we talk about that Jonas Brother/Friends shirt you just put up?
Dennis: When I created the Jonas Brother shirt I didn’t expect to have a large volume of orders in the second week. I’m not really aware of the bands that were popular in the US. But when a popular band reunion comes I’m sure to jump on the trend and create an awesome design.
For more from Dennis and Djones, head here or here for all your t-shirt needs.
