All dudes need at least a couple quality dress shirts in their rotation. And if you’re going to pay for a decent shirt, then you might as well have some input in how it’s put together, right? Blank-Label.com thinks so, and that’s why the site makes it easy for you to participate in the design process and come up with your own custom dress shirt creation.
Here’s how it all breaks down: When you start the design process, you begin with a blank canvas – a $45 shirt. The first step is to choose a fabric. You can go with a solid color like “Bond, James Bond Black” or “60 % Coca Choc Gray,” or choose a pattern like “Disco Light Blue Black” or “Preppy Oxford Blue Orange.” Once that’s sorted, you move on to style tweaks. You can select a normal, narrow, button-down or wide collar and use another fabric to create a complete collar contrast or just a custom inner lining. Add some color on the sleeve or the inner cuff if you like, or you can use a different fabric choice to create a contrasting cuff. Single button, double button and french cuff types are all available options. You can go with a standard, french or covered placket and contrast with some color or add in some shoulder elements (military/epaulet, double strip, fabric contrast) and play with some pocket options (single notch, double flap, fabric contrast).
After those elements are in place, you can personalize your shirt even further with red, brown, black, lavender or snap buttons. You can get your initials on the collar, pocket or sleeve, or create your own label with custom letters and color options. After all that’s done, you choose a size and body time, enter in your height and weight, add any additional notes, and you’re all set.
If you know what you want, you can fly through all the options and crank out your design in a couple minutes. If you want to get creative and try a bunch of different combination options, it’s going to take you a bit longer. Either way it’s easy to do and the site offers a Perfect Shirt Guarantee that will ensure that you love your design or they’ll give you your money back.
I had a chance to ask Blank Label’s Danny Wong some questions about the site and the concept:
CS: How did the whole idea of producing custom-designed dress shirts get started?
DW: Originally, Blank Label was your typical custom tailor. We serviced clients one-on-one for bespoke suits and dress shirts, but the business wasn’t scalable because we were looking to hire a large network of client representatives and finding enough reliable people was hard. So we entirely scrapped that business to become a provider of co-created dress shirts online. We loved the idea of design-it-yourself, and wanted to empower our consumers to become their own designers. We had the supply chain to support this venture too since our supplier already knew how to do dress shirts – they just needed to figure out how to make the shirts easily customizable. So we built a team, built a dress shirt design application, and launched Oct 31st, 2009.
CS: Tell us about the Co-Creation Custom Revolution.
DW: The Co-Creation Custom Revolution (#CCCR on twitter) is our shot at revolutionizing the way people shop. We’re shaking up the retail industry with co-creation, telling consumers they do not have to settle for mass-produced products anymore, and that they can have something uniquely their own, something they’ve co-created. Co-Creation also resolves the inefficiencies of mass production, and can make a difference in consumer behavior and retail procedures. Other co-creation companies include LaudiVidni (custom handbags), Gemvara (custom jewelry) and CreateMyChocolate (personalized chocolate bars). We’re all leading the revolution in our own way to encourage all types of consumers to adopt co-creation.
CS: How do you think male fashion has changed over time?
DW: Male fashion has dramatically changed over time, but it never stops referring back to its roots from the old Savile Row tailoring. While mass production changed fashion by making trendy designs more accessible to consumers, co-creation is going to allow fashion choices to be put into the hands of the consumers and not just any designer that creates what they think consumers really want.
CS: Does Blank Label have plans to expand to other types of clothes?
DW: We have not yet discussed future plans for our expansion in men’s clothing. But my best guesses would be men’s pants, back to suits, or maybe even women’s dress shirts.
So get in on the custom co-creation movement and start designing a shirt today! Well, before you get started on your new custom dress shirt, make sure to drop us a comment for you chance to win a free shirt from Blank Label.
Here’s a few ways to enter:
1) Leave a comment telling us why you want to customize a shirt.
2) Follow us on Twitter: @Manolith and Follow Blank Label: @blanklabel
3) Tweet this giveaway on your own Twitter
4) Link back to this giveaway on your blog
Note: Please use a valid email address. US and Canada residents only.
One lucky winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends April 21, 2010.
Winners will be reached by email on April 22, 2010
Winner will have to pay $6 for shipping, but c’mon that’s not so bad for a free dress shirt that you designed yourself.
Comments
Chris Carpenter
April 14th, 2010 - 6:11:03 AM
I would really dig designing a shirt. I appreciate the work that goes into designing things that will wear your creative signature...clothes are no different. Putting some extra thought and time into making the clothes that go on our backs is time well-spent. I'd love to have a shirt that I could really appreciate as my own.
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El Duderino
April 14th, 2010 - 6:25:56 AM
I'm 6'5" and pretty thin, so with most mass-produced shirts, if I buy a size with long enough sleeves, the rest of the shirt fits me like a 40 gallon trash bag (also been referred to as a sail in a stiff breeze). I've been looking into the custom world recently, but honestly am a little intimidated by the thought of going to a tailor, because I'll have absolutely zero clue what I'm talking about. Maybe I'll give this custom interactive online thing a try, I like the idea of having complete control over the fit and design details.
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Mark Heftler
April 14th, 2010 - 6:34:25 AM
I would love to design my own dress shirt. While I enjoy strolling the aisles and aisles of cookie cutter shirts, I'm tired of wearing what everyone else is. To have my own...that would be divine.
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Katie
April 14th, 2010 - 8:23:41 AM
My bf would love doing this and it would be so much better than the normal shopping experience that he hates. Thanks for the chance!
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Dan
April 14th, 2010 - 12:50:23 PM
I need a new shirt, and I'm tired of the crap that the man keeps shoving down my throat with a note that says "You love it".
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Cindi
April 14th, 2010 - 4:40:21 PM
Our oldest son will be starting an internship with a financial company this summer before he goes back to school in the fall. He has always liked clothes and I know he would enjoy this process. Many thanks, Cindi
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Cindi
April 14th, 2010 - 4:42:04 PM
I follow @Manolith on Twitter. Many thanks, Cindi cmh512
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Cindi
April 14th, 2010 - 4:42:20 PM
"Tweet!" http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/12191024357. Thanks, Cindi
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dman
April 15th, 2010 - 1:44:15 PM
great opportunity to be creative and design a quality product!
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Vicky H.
April 15th, 2010 - 6:36:19 PM
This would be a fun thing to win for one of my married friends, so she could design something nice for her husband.
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mickeyfan
April 15th, 2010 - 7:37:33 PM
Why? Because my husband has terrible taste in clothes and it'd be great to see him in something beautiful.
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ky2here
April 16th, 2010 - 2:53:07 AM
I could select the colors and fit that work best for me and coordinate better (translation: get someone with taste to help me and listen to them).
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ky2here
April 16th, 2010 - 2:54:48 AM
Following both on twitter as ky2here1.
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ky2here
April 16th, 2010 - 2:55:13 AM
Here's my tweet: http://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/12274343004
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gina
April 16th, 2010 - 7:37:21 PM
My husband would have such a great time designing his own shirt! He would love it & it would be a great fit.
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Mark M.
April 17th, 2010 - 7:06:53 AM
I want a blank label shirt to wear to future interviews
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Mark M.
April 17th, 2010 - 7:07:13 AM
following Manolith: http://twitter.com/mjm2011
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Mark M.
April 17th, 2010 - 7:08:42 AM
following blank label! http://twitter.com/mjm2011
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Mark M.
April 17th, 2010 - 7:11:04 AM
tweeted giveaway! http://twitter.com/mjm2011/statuses/12342830100
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Mellissa C
April 17th, 2010 - 10:53:15 AM
I think this would be fun to do.
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Arjun
April 19th, 2010 - 12:29:01 AM
Well since I am currently unemployed, and interviews haven't worked out so far, this shirt might just change my luck!
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emily L
April 20th, 2010 - 9:27:57 AM
I would love to be able to customize a shirt for my boyfriend. misusedinnocence@aol.com
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Erica C.
April 20th, 2010 - 9:38:57 AM
I'd like to get this for my man. He doesn't need to dress up often, so he only has a few options to go with and they all don't fit very well. I'd love for him to have a shirt that he feels good in.
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Angela Winesburg
April 20th, 2010 - 6:26:17 PM
Following both on Twitter (@Hotsnotty2) Thanks!
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Leigh Melton Singleton
April 21st, 2010 - 6:20:45 AM
My 16-year-old son has JUST started getting interested in dressing well for school. He would really enjoy being able to do this!
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Marc
April 21st, 2010 - 7:02:42 AM
One reason I'd like to customize a shirt is because my arms are longer than average...so it is difficult for me to get a regular shirt in my size because the arm sleeves will always be too short.
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Heather M
April 21st, 2010 - 8:38:10 AM
My fiance always wears the same blue shirts... He has like 10 blue shirts. I want to customize a shirt for him and see if he'd wear it. I'm sure he would though! In his defense, he looks good in blue :)
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Jennifer M
April 21st, 2010 - 11:13:56 AM
My husband is both hard to fit, and picky. This would be great!
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Jennifer M
April 21st, 2010 - 11:14:17 AM
I follow both on Twitter as jennem1.
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Gianna
April 21st, 2010 - 4:55:57 PM
It'd make a nice surprise for my husband :)
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Chrysa
April 21st, 2010 - 6:53:22 PM
This would look great on my husband!
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Chrysa
April 21st, 2010 - 6:57:21 PM
I'm following you on Twitter. (My Twitter name is @ThriftyJinxy)
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Buddy Garrett
April 21st, 2010 - 8:18:57 PM
I want to customize my shirt because I want to wear my own style.
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Melanie
April 21st, 2010 - 8:39:35 PM
I want my boyfriend to look as darling as he'll let me. He would love a shirt I customized for him.
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Brian F.
June 1st, 2010 - 5:03:37 PM
style the way I like it
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Allan
July 25th, 2010 - 6:34:16 AM
Have tried Blank Label and will recommend it to all my friends. I was very satisfied. I can't believe the shirts fit my unsexy flabby body. Purchasing more now. One loyal customer for Blank Label here
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Anonymous
February 1st, 2011 - 11:42:41 PM
Have tried Blank Label and will not recommend this to anyone. The dress shirt I received is not as I designed…the company has designed it in an extremely different and weird way. I thought to try a new service in town but it’s not good at all…Fit Custom Shirts are always best fitted and stylish….guys trust me and try their service it’s seriously worth it…
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Jason
May 16th, 2011 - 10:00:05 PM
Yeah, I checked out Blank Label recently and with all the added costs it came to quite a bit. I felt misled adding extra fees for sleeves and collars, and all the other stuff you would need for a dress shirt. I did order from a few other places, but the best company I found for online tailored shirts was www.tailorthreads.com Check them out if you really want a good product without the hidden costs.
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Danny
June 13th, 2011 - 5:12:58 AM
Hello, please contact me, thanks
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