Frequently Asked Questions
Ordering & Minimums
Do you have a minimum order quantity?
No — there is no minimum order at PVD Tees. You can order a single shirt. One shirt is a complete, valid order and receives the same care and print quality as a bulk run. We built the store specifically for people who need one shirt, not a fulfillment center that only cares about volume.
Can I order just one custom t-shirt?
Yes. Ordering one custom shirt is completely normal at PVD Tees. We print individual shirts every day — for birthday gifts, one-off designs, samples before a bigger run, and personal pieces that only need to exist once. Upload your design, choose your shirt, and check out. Done.
How do I place a custom order?
Go to our Custom T-Shirt page, upload your design file (PNG preferred, 300 DPI minimum), choose your shirt style, color, and size, then add to cart and complete checkout. No forms, no calls, no back-and-forth with a sales rep.
Can I order multiple sizes in the same design?
Yes. Add the same design to your cart multiple times — once for each size you need. Each item is printed individually, so mixing S, M, L, XL, and 2XL in the same order is completely normal and fine.
Is there a maximum order size?
No. Whether you need 1 shirt or 500, the process is the same. For very large orders (50+), feel free to contact us first — we can discuss timing and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Do I need to create an account to order?
No account is required. You can check out as a guest. Creating an account lets you track orders and reorder past designs more easily, but it's entirely optional.
Can I reorder the same design later?
Yes. If you saved your design file, simply re-upload it and order again. We recommend keeping your original PNG file on hand so you can reorder anytime without starting from scratch.
What's the difference between the Custom T-Shirt and the RI Collection?
The Custom T-Shirt option is for your own artwork — you upload your design and we print it. The RI Collection is our line of pre-designed Rhode Island-themed shirts. No design needed for the RI Collection — just pick a design and size and order.
Can I order a sample before committing to a larger batch?
Absolutely. Ordering one shirt to check print quality, color accuracy, and sizing before placing a larger run is one of the smartest things you can do. No upcharge for single-unit sample orders.
Do you offer wholesale or bulk pricing?
For orders of 25+ shirts, contact us to discuss volume pricing. We work with small businesses, event organizers, nonprofits, and teams who need a run without the overhead of a traditional screen printer.
Custom Design & Files
What file format should I upload?
PNG is strongly preferred. PNG files support transparent backgrounds, which means only your actual design prints on the shirt — not a white rectangle surrounding it. JPG files will work but require a white or light shirt to avoid a visible background. PDF and SVG may also be accepted — contact us if you have questions about a specific format.
What resolution does my design file need to be?
300 DPI minimum at print size. This is the most important technical requirement. A design that looks sharp on screen at 72 DPI will print blurry and pixelated on fabric. If you're working in Canva, set your canvas to 4500 x 5400 pixels (15" x 18" at 300 DPI) before you start designing — that's a reliable standard size for front prints.
What size should my design file be?
A standard front chest print area is approximately 12" wide x 14" tall. A full front print can go up to 14" wide x 17" tall. Design at or slightly above the intended print size. Never design small and scale up — that's how you get pixelated prints. When in doubt, bigger file is always safer.
What's the maximum print area on a shirt?
For a standard front print: up to 14" wide x 17" tall. For a back print: similar dimensions. Left chest prints (small logo placement) are typically 3.5" x 3.5" to 4" x 4". Sleeve prints vary by shirt style. Contact us for specific placement requirements for your design.
Do I need to remove the background from my design?
Yes, if you want only your design to print and not a white or colored box around it. Save your file as a PNG with a transparent background. In Canva, use the background remover tool. In Photoshop, use the magic wand or quick selection tool to delete the background before exporting as PNG. If you're unsure, send us a preview and we can advise.
Can I upload a JPG or JPEG file?
Yes, but with an important caveat: JPG files do not support transparent backgrounds. This means the white background of your JPG will print as a white rectangle on the shirt. JPGs work fine on white or off-white shirts where that background won't show. For any other shirt color, PNG with transparency is required.
My design has text — will it print clearly?
Yes, as long as your file is at 300 DPI or higher. Text below about 0.5" tall may lose sharpness on some fabrics. Bold, clean fonts at reasonable sizes (12pt or larger at print dimensions) print crisply. Very thin script fonts or tiny text can lose detail — if your design has fine text, we recommend reviewing the mockup carefully before submitting.
Can I use a logo I found online?
Only if you have the legal right to print it. We print what customers upload and cannot verify copyright ownership. If you're printing a logo for personal use (your own company, your own design), that's fine. Uploading copyrighted characters, brand logos, or licensed artwork without permission is the customer's legal responsibility. We do not print designs that are clearly infringing on known IP (Disney, Nike, major sports leagues, etc.).
What if I don't have a design yet?
You have options. Canva (free) is the easiest starting point — it has t-shirt templates and a drag-and-drop interface. Photopea (free, browser-based) works like Photoshop. Adobe Express has a free tier. If you want a professional design created for you, contact us — we can point you toward local Providence designers.
Can you help me fix my design file?
For minor issues like background removal or slight resolution enhancement, we'll do our best to assist. For major design work, we'll refer you to a designer. If you're unsure whether your file is print-ready, send us a message through the contact page before ordering and we'll take a look.
What color mode should my file be — RGB or CMYK?
RGB. Direct-to-garment (DTG) printers work in RGB color space. Leave your file in RGB unless your printer specifically requests CMYK conversion. If you designed in CMYK, convert to RGB before uploading — some colors can shift slightly in conversion, so double-check your mockup.
Can I submit a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG)?
For vector formats, please convert to a high-resolution PNG before uploading through the product page. If you have a vector source file and want to discuss print specs, contact us directly — vector artwork often produces the cleanest prints for text-heavy or geometric designs.
Design Tools & Software
What's the easiest free tool to design a custom shirt?
Canva is the easiest option for people with no design experience. It's browser-based, free, and has t-shirt templates. Set your canvas to a custom size of 4500 x 5400 pixels before starting. When you're done, export as PNG. The whole process takes 15–30 minutes for a simple design.
Can I use Canva to design my shirt?
Yes. Canva is one of the most common tools our customers use. Key steps: create a new design → set custom dimensions to 4500 x 5400 px → design your shirt → use the "Background Remover" if you have a Canva Pro account (or manually delete the background) → download as PNG. Make sure "Download with transparent background" is checked.
Can I design a shirt in Photoshop?
Yes. Set your canvas to 14" x 17" at 300 DPI, work in RGB color mode, and export as PNG-24 with transparency enabled. Photoshop gives you the most control over your design and is ideal for complex, layered artwork.
Can I use Adobe Illustrator for my design?
Yes. Illustrator is the gold standard for vector-based t-shirt artwork. When you're ready to submit, export your design as a PNG at 300 DPI (File → Export → Export As → PNG, set resolution to 300 PPI). Make sure artboard background is transparent before exporting.
What about Procreate or other iPad apps?
Procreate works well for hand-drawn or illustrated designs. When exporting, choose PNG and make sure you're working on a canvas that's large enough (at least 4500 x 5400 pixels) to ensure 300 DPI print quality. Procreate supports transparent backgrounds — just delete your background layer before exporting.
Is Photopea a good free alternative to Photoshop?
Yes. Photopea (photopea.com) is a free, browser-based editor that's nearly identical to Photoshop in interface and capability. It handles layers, transparency, and PNG exports perfectly. Set your canvas to 4500 x 5400 pixels at 300 DPI and you're set.
Printing Process & Quality
How are the shirts printed?
We use direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. DTG is a professional printing technology that sprays water-based, OEKO-TEX certified inks directly onto the fabric using a specialized printer — similar in concept to a high-end inkjet printer, but engineered for fabric. DTG produces vibrant, detailed prints with a soft hand feel that improves with washing and holds up for years with proper care.
Is DTG printing better than screen printing?
Different, not necessarily better. DTG excels at full-color designs, photographic detail, and small runs (including single shirts) — because there's no setup cost per color. Screen printing produces extremely durable prints and is more cost-effective for large single-color or few-color runs (100+). For custom one-off orders, DTG is the right choice.
Will my print crack or peel after washing?
DTG prints don't crack or peel the way old plastisol screen prints sometimes do. The ink bonds with the fabric fibers. Proper washing (inside-out, cold water, low-heat dry) keeps prints looking great for years. We recommend checking the care label on each garment. See our full care instructions in the section below.
How vibrant will the colors be on my shirt?
On white and light-colored shirts, DTG colors are excellent — vibrant and accurate to your design file. On dark shirts, a white underbase is applied first, which can slightly affect how colors appear (they may look slightly muted compared to screen). For the most accurate color results, design for a white or light shirt unless you specifically want the dark-on-dark look.
Do you print on dark shirts?
Yes. Printing on dark shirts requires a white underbase layer, which adds a step to the process but produces solid, readable prints. The underbase can slightly reduce the "softness" of the print feel. If maximum color vibrancy is important to you, a white or light-colored shirt will give you the best result.
Can you print a photograph on a shirt?
Yes — DTG handles photographic prints extremely well, provided the source image is high resolution. A photo should be at least 150 DPI at print size (ideally 300 DPI) with good contrast and clear subject matter. Low-res phone screenshots or heavily compressed images will not print cleanly. For photo shirts, we recommend testing with one shirt first to verify the result.
What brands of shirts do you print on?
We primarily print on Bella+Canvas and Gildan blanks — two of the most respected names in custom apparel. Bella+Canvas 3001 is a soft, fitted option. Gildan 5000 is a classic weight unisex tee. Both are pre-shrunk and produce excellent DTG print results. Specific options are shown on the product page at time of order.
Do you print on items other than t-shirts?
Right now, our focus is t-shirts. If you're interested in hoodies, long-sleeves, tote bags, or other items, contact us — we can discuss what's possible and what we can source for your specific project.
Shirt Selection, Sizing & Fit
What sizes are available?
We offer sizes from XS through 3XL, depending on the blank selected. Full size availability is shown on the product page. If you need a size that doesn't appear as an option, contact us — we may be able to source it.
How do I choose the right size?
Each product page includes a size chart for the specific blank being used. We recommend measuring a shirt you already own and comparing to the size chart dimensions rather than relying on your usual labeled size. Different brands fit differently — Bella+Canvas runs slightly slimmer than Gildan, for example.
What's the difference between unisex and fitted cuts?
Unisex shirts have a classic, relaxed fit — wider chest and shoulders, slightly boxy silhouette. They tend to run true to size or slightly large. Fitted shirts (like the Bella+Canvas 3001) are tapered through the waist and arms, with a more modern silhouette. If you're buying for a mixed group and unsure, unisex is the safer default.
Do the shirts run true to size?
Most Gildan unisex styles run true to size or slightly large. Bella+Canvas fitted styles run true to size, sometimes slightly fitted. We always recommend checking the specific size chart on the product page and measuring against a shirt you already own.
Are the shirts pre-shrunk?
Yes. All blanks we use are pre-shrunk to minimize post-wash shrinkage. You may see a small amount of shrinkage (1–3%) after the first wash, which is normal for cotton fabric. Washing cold and air-drying minimizes any further shrinkage.
What fabric is used?
Most of our shirts are 100% cotton or a cotton-dominant cotton/polyester blend. Cotton gives you the best DTG print result and the softest feel. The specific fabric content is listed on each product page under the blank details.
Can I order youth or kids sizes?
Contact us — youth sizing availability depends on the blank. We can source youth sizes for many designs. Note that print area dimensions are smaller on youth sizes.
Do you have women-specific styles?
We carry women's fitted options in addition to unisex styles. Options vary by collection. If you're looking for a specific women's cut, contact us and we can tell you what's currently available.
Colors, Ink & Special Requests
What shirt colors are available?
We offer a wide range of shirt colors — from white, black, and charcoal to heather grays, navy, red, forest green, and more. The full color palette available for each style is shown on the product page. Color availability may vary by blank style and size.
Will the print colors exactly match my screen?
Colors are printed as accurately as possible, but screens vary in calibration. What appears on a monitor may look slightly different on fabric due to the physical properties of ink on textile. For critical color matching (like a specific brand color), we recommend ordering a sample first to verify. We print in RGB, so calibrating your monitor to sRGB color profile gives the most accurate preview.
Can I get a neon or metallic ink print?
Standard DTG printing does not produce true neon or metallic effects — neon colors will print as bright but not fluorescent, and metallic effects are not achievable with DTG. If you specifically need neon or metallic, contact us to discuss alternative printing methods.
Can I print on both the front and back of a shirt?
Yes — front and back printing is available. Add your front design and your back design when ordering, or contact us to specify placement. Front+back orders will have slightly different pricing than front-only.
Can I do a left-chest small logo print?
Yes. Left chest prints (small logo placement, typically 3.5" x 3.5" to 4" x 4") are available. Specify your preferred placement when ordering or in your order notes. Left chest prints can be combined with a full front or back print on the same shirt.
Pricing & Payment
How much does a custom t-shirt cost?
Pricing is shown on the product page and varies by shirt style and color. Single-shirt pricing reflects the full cost of the blank, printing, and handling — no hidden fees. For current pricing, visit the Custom T-Shirt product page.
Is there a setup fee?
No setup fees. No plate fees. No color separation fees. DTG printing has no per-color setup costs. You pay for the shirt and the print — nothing else.
Do you charge more for complex designs?
Pricing is flat per shirt for standard front prints, regardless of design complexity. Designs with extensive coverage (full front, all-over print) may be priced differently — see the product page for specifics.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Shop Pay. All transactions are processed securely through Shopify Payments.
Do you offer student or nonprofit discounts?
Contact us — we work with local schools, nonprofits, and community organizations in the Providence area and may be able to accommodate special pricing for qualifying orders.
Shipping, Turnaround & Delivery
How long does it take to get a custom shirt?
Most custom orders ship within 3–5 business days of the order being placed. Standard shipping adds 3–5 business days. Total door-to-door time is typically 6–10 business days. Expedited shipping options are available at checkout if you need it sooner.
Do you offer rush or expedited printing?
Yes. Expedited shipping is available at checkout. For extremely time-sensitive orders (event in 3 days, gift for tomorrow), contact us before ordering — we'll let you know honestly what's achievable and won't take an order we can't fulfill in time.
Do you ship outside Rhode Island?
Yes. We ship to all 50 US states. The RI Collection and custom shirts both ship nationwide. Whether you're in Providence, Boston, New York, Austin, or Los Angeles, we've got you.
Do you ship internationally?
Currently, we ship within the United States only. For international shipping inquiries, contact us — we're working on expanding our shipping options.
How do I track my order?
You'll receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number as soon as your order ships. You can track your package directly through the carrier's website (USPS, UPS, or FedEx depending on your order). You can also log into your account on pvdtees.com if you created one at checkout.
What if my order hasn't arrived by the estimated date?
Shipping delays happen occasionally, especially around major holidays. Check your tracking link first — if the package shows in transit, it's on its way. If the tracking shows no movement for more than 3 business days, contact us and we'll investigate with the carrier.
Do you offer local pickup in Providence?
Local pickup is not currently available through the standard checkout. If you're local to Providence and want to arrange something, contact us and we'll see what we can do.
Can I ship my order to a different address than my billing address?
Yes. Enter your recipient's shipping address at checkout. This is especially useful for sending gifts directly to the recipient. You can also add a gift message in the order notes field.
Gifts & Special Occasions
Can I send a custom shirt directly as a gift?
Yes. Just enter the recipient's address as the shipping address at checkout. Add a note in the order notes field and we'll include it with the package. This works great for birthday gifts, graduation presents, retirement gifts, and holiday surprises.
Do you offer gift wrapping?
Gift wrapping is not currently standard, but if you'd like your order packaged nicely for a gift, mention it in the order notes and we'll do our best to make it presentable.
What's a good custom shirt idea for a birthday gift?
The best custom birthday shirts are personal and specific. An inside joke, a favorite phrase, the recipient's name on the back of a "team" shirt, a reference to their hometown or favorite place, or a shirt celebrating a milestone year ("Legendary Since 1985") all land well. Check the RI Collection too — for Rhode Islanders, a coffee milk or Del's Lemonade shirt is almost always a hit.
Can I get a custom shirt for a bachelorette or bachelor party?
Yes — and this is one of our most popular use cases. Order as many or as few as you need. Bachelorette groups often do "Bride" + matching "Team Bride" shirts in different sizes. Bachelor groups go big on inside jokes. No minimums means you can order exactly your crew size without leftovers.
What about retirement party shirts?
Custom retirement shirts are a perfect one-and-done gift. A single, well-designed shirt celebrating someone's career, years of service, or their signature phrase makes a memorable keepsake. Order one for them — or a small batch for the whole team to wear at the party.
Can I order a shirt to memorialize someone or celebrate a life event?
Yes. Memorial shirts, "In Loving Memory" designs, tribute prints, and celebration-of-life shirts are among the most meaningful custom orders we fulfill. We treat these orders with special care. If you have questions about the best approach for a memorial design, reach out — we're here to help.
Can I use PVD Tees for a family reunion shirt?
Absolutely. Family reunion shirts are a great use case — whether you need 5 or 105. One design, your family name, the year, and maybe a location. Order all sizes in one checkout. No minimums if your family is small; no maximum if you have a big crew.
Small Business, Bands & Merch
Can I use PVD Tees to create merchandise for my small business?
Yes. We work with local businesses, startups, restaurants, barbershops, gyms, and creative studios who want branded merch without committing to 144-piece screen print runs. Order 1 to test. Order 10 for your staff. Scale up as demand grows — no inventory risk, no minimum investment.
Can I make shirts to sell — like start my own merch brand?
Yes. Many creators use print-on-demand services for exactly this purpose. Order test quantities to validate your designs before investing in bulk inventory. If you want to discuss a larger launch, contact us.
Can bands or musicians order merch through PVD Tees?
Yes. Bands, DJs, local artists, and musicians order through us regularly — especially for local shows where you only need 20 shirts in mixed sizes, not 200. Design your merch, order what you need for the show, reorder after. No minimums, no leftover stock problem.
Can I order shirts for my sports team or league?
Yes. Team shirts, league uniforms, and tournament merch all work well through PVD Tees. For team orders with player names or numbers on each shirt, contact us so we can handle the personalization correctly.
Can I get shirts for a school, club, or nonprofit event?
Yes. School clubs, charity run shirts, nonprofit events, and community organizations are a regular part of what we do. Contact us about volume pricing for qualifying organizations.
Care & Washing Instructions
How do I wash a custom printed t-shirt?
Wash inside-out in cold water on a gentle cycle. This protects the print from abrasion and prevents colors from fading. Avoid bleach and fabric softener — both can degrade the ink over time. Tumble dry on low heat or air dry flat. The print will last significantly longer with proper care.
Can I put a custom shirt in the dryer?
Yes, but use low heat. High heat can cause the print to crack or fade prematurely. Low heat (or air drying) is the best way to extend the life of your print. This applies to both DTG prints and the pre-designed RI Collection shirts.
Can I iron a custom printed shirt?
You can iron the shirt, but never iron directly on the print. Always iron inside-out, or place a cloth between the iron and the print area. Direct heat from an iron can damage DTG ink. Steam ironing on low heat is generally safe when done carefully.
How many washes will the print last?
With proper care (cold wash, inside-out, low dry), DTG prints routinely last 50+ washes without significant fading. Some prints last for years and hundreds of washes. The biggest enemies of DTG prints are hot water, high dryer heat, bleach, and fabric softener. Avoid those and your shirt will look great for a long time.
Returns, Refunds & Issues
What if my shirt arrives damaged or with a print defect?
Contact us within 7 days of delivery with a photo of the issue and your order number. If it's a print defect, manufacturing error, or shipping damage, we'll reprint and reship at no cost. We stand behind our work — if we made an error, we fix it, period.
Can I return a custom shirt if I change my mind?
Custom-printed shirts are made specifically for each order and cannot be restocked. We cannot accept returns for change of mind, ordering the wrong size, or deciding you don't like the design after the fact. This is why we encourage you to review the mockup carefully before submitting. If you're unsure about sizing, order a plain shirt in the same blank first to check the fit.
What if I made a typo in my design?
We print exactly what you submit. Typos and spelling errors in uploaded designs are the customer's responsibility — we don't proofread uploaded artwork. If you catch a mistake immediately after placing your order, contact us right away. If we haven't started printing, we may be able to cancel and refund so you can reorder with the corrected file.
What if my shirt is the wrong size?
If we shipped the wrong size from what you ordered, contact us and we'll reship the correct size immediately. If you ordered the wrong size yourself, we'll do our best to help — reach out and we'll discuss options. This is why we always recommend double-checking the size chart before ordering.
How do I contact you about an order issue?
Use the contact form on our Contact page and include your order number and a photo if relevant. We respond to all order issues within one business day, usually faster.
What is your refund policy?
We offer reprints or refunds for defective products, print errors, and shipping damage — items that are our fault. We do not offer refunds for customer errors (wrong size ordered, uploaded typos, change of mind). If there's any question about whether your issue qualifies, contact us. We're a real small business and we'll work with you fairly.
The Rhode Island Collection
What is the RI Collection?
The Rhode Island Collection is our line of pre-designed shirts celebrating hyper-local Ocean State culture — the food, the references, the pride, and the places that make Rhode Island unlike anywhere else. Every design is created in-house and built around something genuinely Rhode Island. No tourist-trap generics.
What designs are in the RI Collection?
The collection includes designs celebrating coffee milk (Rhode Island's official state drink), Del's Lemonade, the 401 area code, WaterFire, the Providence skyline, Newport, and more. Browse the full collection at pvdtees.com/collections/ri-collection.
What is coffee milk? Why is it on a shirt?
Coffee milk is Rhode Island's official state drink — cold milk mixed with coffee-flavored syrup (usually Autocrat brand). It sounds strange to outsiders. To anyone who grew up in Rhode Island, it's a foundational childhood memory. The Coffee Milk Club shirt is one of our most popular designs because it's immediately recognizable to Rhode Islanders and requires zero explanation to anyone from the 401.
What is Del's Lemonade?
Del's Frozen Lemonade is a thick, pulpy, ice-cold frozen lemonade that has been a Rhode Island summer institution since 1948. The yellow Del's trucks appear every summer and Rhode Islanders treat them with religious devotion. If you've grown up in RI, a Del's shirt hits different — it's pure nostalgia in wearable form.
What does "401" mean on the shirts?
401 is Rhode Island's area code — and for locals, it's much more than a phone prefix. It's a shorthand for identity, pride, and belonging. If someone is "from the 401," you immediately understand something fundamental about them. Our 401 designs celebrate that specific, defiant Rhode Island pride.
Are the RI Collection designs exclusive to PVD Tees?
Yes. Every design in the RI Collection is created in-house specifically for PVD Tees. You won't find these exact designs anywhere else. They're built around genuine local culture by people who actually live it.
Do the RI Collection shirts make good gifts for people who moved away from Rhode Island?
They're arguably the best gift for an RI expat. Rhode Islanders who moved away — whether to Boston, New York, Austin, or anywhere else — carry their Ocean State identity with them. A coffee milk shirt or a 401 tee shipped to someone living out of state says: I know where you're from. I know what you miss. That hits harder than most gifts.
Rhode Island Culture & Local Questions
What is WaterFire Providence?
WaterFire is a unique public art installation and event held on the three rivers of downtown Providence. On select evenings from spring through fall, 100 bonfires are lit on the water as gondoliers pass through the flames and live world music fills the air. It's been a Providence institution since 1994 and is one of the most distinctive public events in the country. Our WaterFire-inspired designs are among our most popular Providence pieces.
What is Federal Hill in Providence?
Federal Hill is Providence's historic Italian neighborhood — one of the best restaurant destinations in New England. Cannoli, espresso, legendary red sauce, and the kind of neighborhood pride that makes you feel like you're somewhere that actually matters. Federal Hill is central to Providence's identity and shows up in several of our RI Collection designs.
Why does the Rhode Island Collection use so many food references?
Because Rhode Island food culture is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the country. Coffee milk as the official state drink. Del's Lemonade as a summer religion. The Awful Awful milkshake at Newport Creamery. Clam cakes and chowder. Johnnycakes. These aren't just foods — they're markers of belonging. When a Rhode Islander sees them on a shirt, there's an immediate, involuntary reaction of recognition. That reaction is what the collection is built around.
What is the "Biggest Little State" nickname?
"The Biggest Little State in the Union" is Rhode Island's official state nickname, and it perfectly captures the RI personality — a place that is literally the smallest state in the country but carries itself with the confidence of somewhere much larger. The nickname appears on the state's official seal and has been part of Rhode Island's identity for over a century.
About PVD Tees
Where is PVD Tees located?
PVD Tees is based in Providence, Rhode Island. We're a local business built around celebrating Ocean State culture and making custom printing accessible to everyone — one shirt at a time. "PVD" is the airport code for T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI, and a widely used local shorthand for the Providence area.
Why did you start PVD Tees?
Because the custom shirt industry is broken for normal people. Minimum order requirements, opaque pricing, slow turnaround, and impersonal service make it hard to get a single quality shirt printed without either overpaying or over-ordering. PVD Tees was built to fix that — no minimums, straightforward pricing, real people, and actual pride in what we print.
What makes PVD Tees different from Printify, Printful, or Redbubble?
We're a local, Providence-based business — not an anonymous global fulfillment platform. Our RI Collection designs are created in-house by people who actually live in Rhode Island and care about representing the culture accurately. When you order from us, you're supporting a real local operation. We also offer direct customer service — you're not submitting a ticket into a system with a 72-hour response window.
How do I contact PVD Tees?
Use the contact form on our Contact page. We respond to all messages within one business day, usually the same day. For urgent order issues, mark your message as urgent and we'll prioritize it.
Are you on social media?
Yes. Follow us at @pvdtees on Instagram and TikTok for new designs, behind-the-scenes content, and Rhode Island culture posts. Tag us in your photos wearing PVD Tees — we love seeing where the shirts end up.
Do you do collaborations with other Rhode Island businesses or artists?
We're open to it. If you're a local artist, designer, business, or community organization and want to explore a collaboration, reach out through the contact page. We believe in supporting the local creative ecosystem.