T-Shirt Elephant

What T-Shirt Elephant does

T-Shirt Elephant is a Toronto-based custom apparel printing company that designs, decorates, and ships custom-branded garments to Canadian consumers, schools, sports teams, businesses, event organizers, restaurants, bands, and trades customers. Founded in 2012 and operated by H.A.S. Novelties Ltd. and H.A.S. Marketing Ltd., the company runs a vertically integrated operation with all production performed in-house at its North York, Ontario facility using five decoration methods: screen printing (M&R presses), DTF/Direct-to-Film (Mimaki machines), DTG/Direct-to-Garment, embroidery (Tajima machines), and heat transfer, supplemented by sublimation. The technology stack supports order sizes from a single unit (DTF/DTG, no minimum) up to 10,000+ pieces (screen printing), with M&R presses enabling high-volume throughput and in-house QC.

The company's product portfolio spans 780+ SKUs across 93 apparel brands including Gildan, Bella+Canvas, Nike, Adidas, Champion, Allmade, Comfort Colors, ATC, and Independent Trading Co., covering t-shirts, hoodies, hats, polos, jerseys, jackets, tank tops, tote bags, and workwear. A self-serve e-commerce platform with an online design studio serves individual consumers and small businesses with no minimums, while a Custom Web Stores offering with dedicated account management addresses enterprise and recurring institutional buyers (schools, leagues, corporate). Every order receives a free professional design review by in-house graphic designers, and the company offers volume pricing tiers (12+, 24+, 48+, 100+ units) plus dedicated custom quotes at 500+ units.

T-Shirt Elephant monetizes primarily through transactional one-time apparel sales plus decoration fees, with pricing starting at $8.99 CAD for blank garments and $12.99 CAD for custom t-shirts. Free shipping applies to Canadian orders over $250 CAD, and the company ships to all 10 provinces and 3 territories. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, operates with 75+ employees, and has cumulatively served 100,000+ Canadian customers and printed 1,000,000+ garments since 2012, supported by a 4.9-star Google rating from 1,500+ reviews and a 99.7% customer satisfaction rate.

Name

T-Shirt Elephant

Legal name

H.A.S. Novelties Ltd. & H.A.S. Marketing Ltd.

Website

https://tshirtelephant.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

T-Shirt Elephant is a Toronto-based custom apparel printer serving Canadian consumers, schools, sports teams, and businesses with in-house screen printing, DTF, DTG, embroidery, and heat transfer decoration across 780+ SKUs, operating a self-serve e-commerce platform and dedicated web stores for organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Apparel Printing

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Printing & Decoration Services (Screen Print, Embroidery, Laser) (BPAFAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tops & Shirts Cut & Sew (T-Shirts/Shirts/Blouses) (IMAOAEAE)

Keywords

• Custom apparel printing
• Screen printing services
• Custom t-shirts
• Embroidery services
• Custom merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Apparel Printing: Core revenue stream from printing custom designs on apparel products (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, jerseys, bags, etc.) using screen printing, DTF, DTG, embroidery, and heat transfer methods. Customers pay per unit plus decoration costs. No minimum order requirement for DTF/DTG; screen printing starts at 24 units.
2. Web Store and Wholesale: Bulk orders and dedicated web stores for organizations, sports teams, corporate clients, and businesses. Wholesale pricing tiers for 12+, 24+, 48+, 100+ unit orders with dedicated account management for large-volume buyers (500+).
3. Blank Garment Sales: Sale of blank garments (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, bags) from brands like Gildan, Bella+Canvas, Nike, Adidas, Champion across 780+ products from 93+ brands

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

T-Shirt Elephant is a Canadian custom apparel printing company that prints and decorates apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, polos, jackets, jerseys, tank tops, bags, workwear, and accessories) in-house at its Toronto production facility. It offers five decoration methods under one roof: screen printing, Direct-to-Film (DTF), Direct-to-Garment (DTG), embroidery, and heat transfer printing, with no minimum order required for DTF/DTG and screen printing available from 24 units up to 10,000+ pieces. Customers order through a self-serve online platform, with dedicated web stores for organizations needing recurring team or corporate apparel.

Product overview

T-Shirt Elephant is a Canadian custom apparel printing company offering a comprehensive suite of custom printed products and printing services. The core offering includes custom t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, polos, jackets, jerseys, tank tops, youth apparel, tote bags, and workwear — all customizable with no minimum order requirements. Printing services include screen printing (using M&R presses), DTF printing (using Mimaki machines), DTG printing, embroidery (using Tajima machines), heat transfer, sublimation, design services, and live event printing. The company also provides sustainable eco-friendly apparel lines (Allmade organic cotton and recycled tri-blend), garment-dyed vintage apparel (Comfort Colors, ATC Earth Wash, Independent Trading Co.), and custom web stores for organizations. Premium brands carried include Gildan, Bella+Canvas, Nike, Adidas, Champion, Allmade, Comfort Colors, ATC, and Independent Trading Co.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom T-Shirts Custom-printed t-shirts decorated in-house with the customer's artwork via screen printing, DTF, or DTG methods, starting at $12.99 CAD with no minimum order. Available across men's, women's, youth, and performance fits in brands including Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton Tee and Bella+Canvas options.
• Custom Hoodies & Sweatshirts Custom hoodies and sweatshirts including pull-over hoodies, crewnecks, quarter zips, and full zips with embroidered or printed decoration, starting at $29.99 CAD. Features garment-dyed Comfort Colors 1566 and 1567 styles alongside Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend hoodie.
• Custom Hats Custom embroidered and printed hats including baseball caps, snapbacks, trucker hats, beanies, fitted hats, and youth hats starting at $15.99 CAD, with Tajima embroidery supporting up to 15 thread colors per design.
• Custom Polos Custom polo shirts for golf, piqué, performance, and corporate use, decorated with embroidery or screen printing for team uniforms and branded corporate apparel.
• Custom Sports Jerseys Custom sports team jerseys for hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball, football, volleyball, lacrosse, cycling, and track & field, decorated with player names and numbers on moisture-wicking performance fabrics starting at $14.25 CAD per jersey.
• Custom Jackets & Outerwear Custom jackets including puffer jackets, varsity jackets, coach jackets, and lightweight jackets with embroidered or printed decoration for corporate and team use.
• Custom Bags & Accessories Custom tote bags, backpacks, duffel bags, drawstring bags, travel bags, messenger bags, lunch bags, coolers, and aprons for promotional merchandise and event giveaways.
• Custom Workwear & Safety Custom workwear, hi-vis vests, construction uniforms, shop shirts, and industrial workwear with company branding for trade and safety use.
• Eco-Friendly Apparel Sustainable custom apparel made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled materials including Allmade AL2100 Organic Cotton Tee ($8.55 CAD), Allmade AL2004 Recycled Tri-Blend Tee ($12.40 CAD), and Bella+Canvas eco-friendly options, each shirt diverting up to 6 plastic bottles from waste through OEKO-TEX and Fair Trade certified supply chains.
• Screen Printing Service In-house screen printing decoration service using state-of-the-art M&R presses for orders of 24 to 10,000+ pieces, most cost-effective at 24+ units. Standard decoration costs add $3-10 per garment for 1-2 colour prints.
• DTF Printing Service Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing service on Mimaki DTF machines for photorealistic full-color custom prints starting at 1 unit, available with no minimum order using water-based inks and water recycling.
• DTG Printing Service Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing service for full-color custom designs on apparel with no minimum order requirement, performed in-house at the Toronto facility.
• Embroidery Service Custom embroidery service using Tajima embroidery machines capable of stitching up to 15 thread colors per design on polos, jackets, and hats. Embroidered logos add $5-12 per placement.
• Heat Transfer Service Heat transfer decoration method for custom apparel, performed in-house as one of the five decoration methods available at the Toronto facility.
• Sublimation Printing Service Sublimation printing service for custom apparel, performed in-house at the Toronto facility as one of the available decoration methods.
• Design Services Professional design services including free artwork resolution review, image quality optimization, placement review on chosen garments, and logo digitizing for embroidery, included with every order.
• Live Event Printing Service On-site custom apparel printing services deployed at live events for fundraisers, festivals, corporate events, trade shows, and community gatherings.
• Custom Web Stores for Organizations Custom branded web stores for organizations, teams, sports leagues, schools, and corporate clients, including dedicated account management, wholesale pricing, and nationwide fulfillment. Designed for organizations needing recurring team orders and corporate apparel programs, with bulk pricing for orders of 2,000+ custom shirts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.7% satisfaction rate among customers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GildancoreOthersMajor blank apparel brand sourced for t-shirts, hoodies, and workwear products. T-Shirt Elephant carries Gildan 5000, Gildan 18500 hoodie, and other Gildan styles across their product catalog.
• Bella+CanvascoreOthersPremium retail-quality blank apparel brand carried for t-shirts, hoodies, and sustainable options. Offers premium feel and fashion-forward aesthetics popular with lifestyle and boutique brands.
• AllmadecoreOthersSustainable apparel brand providing organic cotton and recycled tri-blend tees with GOTS certification and Fair Trade manufacturing. Products include AL2100 Organic Cotton Tee and AL2004 Recycled Tri-Blend Tee.
• Comfort ColorscoreOthersPremium garment-dyed brand known for heavyweight 6.1 oz ring-spun cotton with vintage, lived-in aesthetic. Products include C1717 Heavyweight Tee, 6014 Long Sleeve, 1566 Crewneck, and 1567 Hoodie.
• ATC (Authentic T-Shirt Company)coreOthersCanadian-friendly garment-dyed and athletic apparel brand with Canadian warehouse distribution for faster shipping. Products include ATC6040 Earth Wash Tee and ATCF6400 Earth Wash Crewneck.
• Independent Trading Co.minorOthersStreetwear-grade premium brand providing pigment-dyed hoodies like PRM4500 Heavyweight Pigment-Dyed Hoodie for fashion-forward and boutique merchandise.
• NikeminorOthersAthletic performance brand whose products are available for custom printing through T-Shirt Elephant.
• AdidasminorOthersAthletic performance brand whose products are available for custom printing through T-Shirt Elephant.
• ChampionminorOthersAthletic wear brand available for custom printing through T-Shirt Elephant's product catalog.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RushOrderTees: U.S. custom apparel printer specializing in fast-turnaround screen printing, embroidery, and DTG. Comparable on multi-method in-house production, no-minimum tiers, and school/team/corporate customer base.
• CustomInk: U.S.-based custom apparel platform offering screen printing, embroidery, and DTG with no-minimum tiers and dedicated web stores. Closest large-scale comparable in product offering, GTM motion, and customer mix (schools, teams, corporate).
• Printify: Print-on-demand marketplace connecting merchants to a global network of printers for custom apparel and accessories. Comparable on self-serve custom apparel platform economics, though asset-light versus T-Shirt Elephant's in-house manufacturing.
• Spreadshirt: European-headquartered custom apparel and accessories platform with self-serve design tools, no-minimum DTG/screen printing, and marketplace model. Comparable on e-commerce-led custom apparel platform with multi-method decoration.
• The/Studio: B2B custom branded merchandise platform with on-demand production, web stores, and decoration services for corporate clients. Comparable on enterprise web-store motion and corporate/uniform customer segment.
• Printful: Print-on-demand platform offering custom apparel decoration (DTG, embroidery, sublimation) with no minimums and self-serve online design. Comparable on no-minimum self-serve e-commerce model, though Printful is drop-ship-focused rather than in-house production.
• Underground Printing: Mid-market custom apparel printer with multi-location U.S. production focused on schools, Greek life, and corporate. Comparable on multi-method printing and B2B/B2C blended GTM.

Broad incumbents

• 4imprint: Large North American promotional products distributor offering custom apparel, hats, bags, and drinkware. Comparable on custom apparel decoration plus broader promotional product catalog serving corporate/enterprise buyers.
• Vistaprint (Cimpress): Mass-market custom printing platform (parent Cimpress) covering apparel, signage, cards, and promotional products. Overlapping capability on custom decorated apparel but operates at much broader scope and scale.

Emerging players

• Sticker Mule: Custom products platform known for stickers and labels that has expanded into apparel, hats, and promotional goods with strong self-serve UX. Comparable on self-serve custom products platform and direct-to-consumer acquisition engine, though apparel is a smaller share of its catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tshirtelephant
• Facebookfacebook.com/tshirtelephantcanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/t-shirt-elephant

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about T-Shirt Elephant