Make Festival Merch Fans Will Love (And Buy!)
Festival season brings a huge demand for custom fashion. Learn how to make your own merch and turn a profit.
Music festivals are the perfect opportunity for attendees to express their passion with merch. Hundreds of thousands will attend festivals this spring/summer, and they’re going to need new fashion to wear.
Tap into this huge market by making and selling your own print-on-demand merch! With the power of print-on-demand, you can create your own custom merch for all types of festival goers: Techno fanactics, ravers, pop princesses.
Whether it’s a massive music festival or a local all-day musical affair, music lovers appreciate merch that heightens the experience. You can’t go wrong with a good band tee.
So, how do you create high-quality festival merch that will actually sell? From choosing the right products to designing eye-catching graphics, we’ll walk you through the essentials of making merch that fans will love (and buy!).
Let’s help you bring your creative vision to life this festival season.
Meet Demand for Festival Merch with Print-On-Demand
Picture this: You’re at your favorite festival, the bass is thumping, the crowd is electric, and you’re dancing in the sunshine. You’re living in the moment, but how do you hold onto those memories?
Custom festival merch allows you to turn fleeting memories into something tangible. Festival merch is a big part of the experience for a lot of attendees. Rocking a vintage-style graphic tee, tie-dye pieces and fun stickers are a way to connect with others.
But great festival merch goes beyond aesthetic - it creates a deeper connection between fans and the event itself. A thoughtfully designed t-shirt isn’t just fabric; it’s a statement. With custom merch you can give festival goers the opportunity to be themselves and escape the horrors that persist if just for a moment.
And since traditional event or band merch can be overpriced ($60 for a t-shirt?!) this gives you a great opportunity. Use print-on-demand services like Spreadshop to maximize your profits. We take a base price from every product - like $10 for a t-shirt, for example - and anything you set beyond that goes straight in your pocket!
Sell tees, hoodies and more for reasonable prices that will appeal to your niche market AND help you earn extra cash. That’s a win-win for you and the music fans you want to reach.
Make it Easy to Get Festival Must-Haves
With print-on-demand, you have the freedom and flexibility to make and sell 250+ products. There’s no limit on how many designs you can upload, either. We take care of all the hassle so you don’t have to.
The purpose of festival merch comes down to wearing the experience. Fans want to wear products that are both trendy and comfortable for long days spent under the blistering sun.
Here are some festival must-haves:
Breezy Tees & Tanks – Classic, comfortable, and versatile. Oversized vintage tees or cropped tanks with bold graphics are always in demand. And we love a good tie-dye or neon color way for festival crowds!
Cropped Hoodies – The sun may be out to play during the day, but music-filled nights can get chilly. Cropped hoodies are a trendy take on a classic that makes for perfect post-festival lounging. Embroidered designs, acid-wash effects, and soft, premium materials make these a fan favorite.
Totes – Music festivals = carrying a lot of stuff. A well-designed tote bag is practical for hauling essentials like water bottles and snacks. Use it as a reusable shopping bag post-festival season!
Stickers – Perfect for personalizing water bottles and phone cases. Limited-edition stickers with festival-inspired graphics and quotes are a small but mighty merch item.
Reusable Water Bottles – Hydration is key at festivals, and reusable bottles with festival logos or UV-reactive designs are both practical and eco-friendly.
Design Festival Merch That Will Sell
Festival merch isn’t just about slapping a logo on a t-shirt and calling it a day. You want to create trendy apparel that festival-goers will actually want to buy and wear.
The best designs capture the energy, vibe, and aesthetic of the event. This makes them more than mementos. Here’s how to design merch that grabs audience attention and makes “add to cart” easy.
Bold, Eye-Catching Designs: Stand Out in the Crowd
Think bold graphics, high-contrast colors, and striking typography that pop from across the festival grounds. Festival-goers are drawn to designs that are loud. Something that feels like an extension of the experience itself.
Design Tips:
Use large, visible graphics that can be recognized from a distance.
Play with oversized typography - big, chunky letters and artistic fonts make a statement.
Avoid overly complicated details - simple yet striking is the way to go.
Pro Tip: Your design should be instantly recognizable in a social media post. If someone takes a picture wearing your merch, will others immediately want to buy it?
Trending Designs: What Attendees will be Wearing
Festival fashion evolves every year, and staying on top of trends can set your merch apart. Some hot design elements that are dominating festival style right now:
Tie-Dye & Gradient Blends – The ultimate festival fashion staple. Tie-dye hoodies, gradient t-shirts, and ombré-effect bandanas bring that groovy vibe.
Minimalist Logos & Typography – Sometimes, less is more. Simple yet bold branding, clean fonts, and subtle iconography appeal to a modern, high-fashion crowd.
Hand-Drawn & Doodle Art – Quirky, illustrated designs with a DIY, sketchbook feel are huge, especially for indie festivals. Custom artwork makes pieces feel one-of-a-kind.
Best Practices for Print-Ready Merch
Creating an incredible design is only half the battle. You need to ensure they print well on actual products. Here’s how:
✔️ Use High-Resolution Graphics – Make sure your designs are at least 300 DPI for crisp, clean prints.
✔️ Stay Within Safe Print Areas – Avoid placing key elements near seams or folds where they could be cut off.
✔️ Consider Fabric Colors – Light-colored fabrics work best for detailed designs, while dark fabrics need bold, high-contrast graphics**.**
Need Design Help?
Use innovative and easy design tools like Canva to make your festival merch. They have a huge library of trendy graphics and text options that make the merch design process seamless.
Be Your Own Promoter of Your Festival Merch
You’ve designed the perfect festival merch, now it’s time to be your own promoter.
The right marketing strategy can turn your merch into a must-have item, generating hype long before the festival even starts and keeping sales rolling after the weekend wraps up.
Here’s how to use socials, limited drops, and exclusive promos to build buzz around your merch and boost sales.
Instagram & TikTok: Keep it Visual
Create short, high-energy videos showcasing your merch in action. Use unique transitions, bold text overlays, and trending music/audio. Need video help? Use Capcut for desktop to create your high-quality content.
Film behind-the-scenes content (show the design process, unbox samples, show first reactions).
Use trending video content to showcase different ways to style your merch.
Hashtags matter! Use event-specific hashtags like #FestivalFashion, #RaveWear, or festival names (e.g., #Coachella2024, #BonnarooMerch).
Limited-Edition Drops
Offer exclusive designs that are only available for a short time.
Use drop countdowns on social media (Instagram stories, TikTok posts, email campaigns) to create FOMO.
Make it clear: “Once it’s gone, it’s gone!”
Flash Sales
Run 24- to 48-hour flash sales before or after the festival.
Offer discounts to early buyers or attendees who tag your merch in their festival photos.
Use a timer on your website or social posts to count down the hours left in the sale.
Spreadshop runs exclusive promotions every month for shop owners to take advantage of.
Making and selling your own festival merch isn’t a hassle when you have the power of print-on-demand. Customize hundreds of products with your designs and start to drive traffic on socials instantly.