# blankup

> blankup is a custom merchandise design and production company that helps startups, brands, schools, nonprofits, artists, events, and corporate teams create premium apparel and accessories. Services include blank apparel production, artwork and design support, screen printing, embroidery, DTG printing, packaging options, quality control, and nationwide shipping.

Full corpus (services, guides, FAQ, catalog, case studies): https://blankup.org/llms-full.txt

## Entity

- Official name: blankup (domain: blankup.org).
- Official website: https://blankup.org/
- Official company overview: https://blankup.org/about
- Founder: Kelvin Wu. Founded 2026.
- Based in Berkeley, CA, United States.
- Contact: contact@blankup.org (https://blankup.org/contact)
- Official profile: https://www.instagram.com/blankupofficial/

## Key facts

- Minimum order: 3 pieces per style and color, the same for blanks and custom decorated merch
- Core colors: Stocked PFD/white and black colorways start at 3 pieces per style and color
- Custom colors: Custom Pantone garment colors are available on request and confirmed in your written quote
- Fabric weight: 185-600 GSM (stocked styles through 500 GSM, with made-to-order sourcing to 600 GSM)
- Decoration methods: Screen printing, Embroidery, DTG (direct-to-garment) printing
- Product categories: T-shirts; Hoodies and crewnecks; Quarter-zips; Sweatpants and shorts; Hats, caps, and beanies; Accessories; Wholesale blank apparel
- Who we serve: Startups and tech companies; Established brands; Schools, classes, and student organizations; Nonprofits, churches, and fundraisers; Artists and creators; Event and conference organizers; Corporate teams
- Production time: 3-4 weeks for standard decorated orders, 1-2 weeks for blanks only, and as few as 5-7 business days for rush runs with in-stock blanks and print-ready artwork
- Quote turnaround: Written pricing usually within one business day, free and with no obligation
- Pricing: Quote-based. blankup publishes estimated starter-package ranges to help you self-qualify, but custom runs and mixed quantities need exact written pricing before anything is produced. The price depends on the blank, the decoration method, the number of print locations and ink colors, the quantity, and the deadline.
- Service area: The United States. Orders ship nationwide by parcel or freight; international shipping is handled case by case. Bay Area customers can arrange local drop-off.
- Production model: blankup owns and operates blank-apparel and decoration production. Garment production, artwork, screen printing, embroidery, DTG, quality control, and shipping all run through blankup.
- Design support: Complimentary artwork preparation, placement guidance, mockups, and production-ready file support are included. Original brand identity or complex illustration may be scoped separately.

## Start here

- [What is blankup?](https://blankup.org/about): official company overview, services, customers, service area, and contact information
- [Compare custom merch options](https://blankup.org/compare/custom-merch-options): when to choose a full-service partner, local print shop, print-on-demand platform, or apparel manufacturer
- [Custom merch glossary](https://blankup.org/resources/custom-merch-glossary): plain-English definitions for apparel, printing, artwork, and ordering terms
- [Get started](https://blankup.org/get-started): guided chooser that routes you to the right way to start
- [Request a quote](https://blankup.org/quote): the quote form; written pricing usually within one business day
- [Reorder](https://blankup.org/reorder): updated pricing on a previous project from its reference number
- [Design lab](https://blankup.org/design): upload a logo, see it on a real blank, request a quote with a production-ready mockup
- [Blank catalog](https://blankup.org/styles): every wholesale blank style with fabric specs and colorways
- [How pricing works](https://blankup.org/pricing-guide): what sets the price of custom merch, and how to get exact written pricing
- [Artwork checker](https://blankup.org/artwork-check): free browser tool that scores a logo for print-readiness before you order
- [Size & fit guide](https://blankup.org/size-guide): real garment measurements per style, and how to split quantities across sizes
- [Shipping, returns & claims](https://blankup.org/shipping): delivery windows, the returns policy, and what to do if an order arrives wrong
- [FAQ](https://blankup.org/faq): minimums, artwork, payment, timelines, shipping

## Machine-readable surfaces

- Line sheet (printable page): https://blankup.org/line-sheet. Every stocked blank with fabric weight, fiber composition, fit, and size run; the page prints cleanly to PDF.
- Line sheet (CSV): https://blankup.org/api/catalog. The full blank catalog as a CSV download.
- Spec sheet (per style): https://blankup.org/api/catalog?slug=STYLE_SLUG. One style's planning specs as a plain-text download; STYLE_SLUG is the slug from that style's page URL under https://blankup.org/styles.
- Quote deep links: https://blankup.org/quote accepts style (a catalog style slug, SKU, or id), qty (piece count), method (screen, embroidery, or dtg), color (a colorway of the chosen style), and intent (decorated, blank-sourcing, or custom-print) as query params to open the quote builder prefilled. package=PACKAGE_SLUG opens the fast quote prefilled with that starter package.
- Quote status: https://blankup.org/quote-status is a read-only status page for one submitted request. It works only through the signed link in the quote confirmation email; there is no public listing or lookup.

## Services

- [Custom merch production](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-production): End-to-end production: blanks, decoration, quality control, and delivery under one quote.
- [Custom hoodies](https://blankup.org/custom-hoodies): Fleece from 330 GSM midweight to 500 GSM heavyweight in stock, or custom sourced past 600 GSM, with screen printing or embroidery.
- [Custom t-shirts](https://blankup.org/custom-t-shirts): Blank tees from lightweight 185 GSM to heavyweight 250 GSM, printed or embroidered.
- [Custom crewnecks](https://blankup.org/custom-crewnecks): Fleece crewnecks in the same weights as our hoodies, without the hood.
- [Custom sweatpants](https://blankup.org/custom-sweatpants): Fleece sweatpants that pair with hoodies and crewnecks for full sets.
- [Custom quarter-zips](https://blankup.org/custom-quarter-zips): Quarter-zip fleece pullovers at 380 GSM, typically embroidered on the chest and upper back.
- [Custom hats](https://blankup.org/custom-hats): Dad hats, caps, and beanies, typically decorated with embroidery.
- [Custom tote bags](https://blankup.org/custom-tote-bags): Heavy 12 oz canvas totes with a wide print face, screen printed or embroidered for events and welcome kits.
- [Embroidery](https://blankup.org/embroidery): Stitched decoration; the most durable finish for left-chest logos on fleece and headwear.
- [Screen printing](https://blankup.org/screen-printing): The standard for bold graphics at quantity; priced per print location and ink color.
- [DTG printing](https://blankup.org/dtg-printing): Direct-to-garment printing for photographic and multi-color artwork; no per-color setup.
- [Rush custom merch](https://blankup.org/rush-custom-merch): Simple runs in as few as 5-7 business days with in-stock blanks and print-ready art.
- [Startup merch](https://blankup.org/startup-merch): Merch programs for YC, VC-backed, and tech teams: onboarding kits, launches, demo days.
- [Company swag](https://blankup.org/company-swag): Corporate swag for established teams: onboarding and welcome kits, client gifts, and consistent reorders on premium blanks.
- [School club merch](https://blankup.org/school-club-merch): Low-minimum runs for classes, clubs, and student orgs on student budgets.
- [Nonprofit merch](https://blankup.org/nonprofit-merch): Merch for nonprofits, churches, and fundraisers.
- [Event merch](https://blankup.org/event-merch): Event tees, hoodies, and hats for conferences, hackathons, launches, and campus events, produced against a fixed date.
- [Hackathon merch](https://blankup.org/hackathon-merch): Bulk participant tees plus organizer and mentor pieces for hackathons, produced against a hard event date.

## Local service areas

Dedicated local pages. Production serves teams across the US.

- [San Francisco](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-san-francisco)
- [Berkeley](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-berkeley)
- [Palo Alto](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-palo-alto)
- [San Jose](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-san-jose)
- [Los Angeles](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-los-angeles)
- [Cerritos](https://blankup.org/custom-merch-cerritos)

## Guides

- [How to make merch: from idea to delivery](https://blankup.org/guides/how-to-make-merch): The full playbook for making custom merch: artwork, picking blanks and a print method, the money math, and getting it produced without surprises.
- [Screen printing vs DTG: which is right for you?](https://blankup.org/guides/screen-printing-vs-dtg): How screen printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing compare on cost, color, feel, durability, and minimums, and how to pick the right method for your run.
- [How much do custom hoodies cost?](https://blankup.org/guides/custom-hoodie-cost): What drives custom hoodie pricing: blank quality, decoration method, print locations, and order size, plus practical ways to lower cost before you order.
- [How much do custom t-shirts cost?](https://blankup.org/guides/custom-t-shirt-cost): What drives custom t-shirt pricing: blank weight, print method, ink colors, and quantity, plus practical ways to stretch the budget before you request a quote.
- [Embroidery vs screen printing: how to choose](https://blankup.org/guides/embroidery-vs-screen-printing): How embroidery and screen printing compare on finish, durability, cost structure, and design fit, plus a simple way to pick the right method.
- [How to order school club & student-org merch](https://blankup.org/guides/how-to-order-club-merch): A step-by-step playbook for ordering club merch: collecting sizes, setting a budget, choosing blanks and decoration, approvals, and hitting your event deadline.
- [Startup swag people actually wear](https://blankup.org/guides/startup-swag-ideas): Why most company swag ends up in a drawer, what teams actually keep wearing, and how to build a merch kit that works for onboarding, launches, and demo days.
- [Demo day merch: what YC startups actually order](https://blankup.org/guides/yc-demo-day-merch): What four Y Combinator startups ordered for their batches, how fast founder-team runs really move, and how to plan merch backward from demo day.
- [How many of each size to order](https://blankup.org/guides/merch-size-breakdown): A practical size curve for bulk apparel orders: typical S-2XL splits for teams and events, when to collect real sizes instead, and how to avoid leftover boxes.
- [How long does custom merch take?](https://blankup.org/guides/custom-merch-timeline): Realistic custom merch timelines: lead times for blank and decorated orders, rush options, common delays, and how to plan backward from a firm date.
- [Choosing blank apparel: weights, fits & fabrics](https://blankup.org/guides/choosing-blank-apparel): What GSM fabric weights mean, how tubular and side-seamed construction differ, and how to match blank quality to your brand and budget before you print.
- [How to prepare print-ready artwork for merch](https://blankup.org/guides/print-ready-artwork): File formats, resolution, sizing, and color specs that get artwork approved on the first pass, plus the mistakes that stall production.

## Proof

Real, named production runs. Full write-ups: https://blankup.org/portfolio

- [screenpipe · YC S26](https://blankup.org/portfolio/screenpipe-yc): Clean white tees and dad caps for a local-first AI startup. One small black mark, nothing loud, the kind of merch a technical team actually reaches for.
- [Ontora · YC P26](https://blankup.org/portfolio/ontora-yc): Caps, hoodies, and tees for a YC startup team. All black, clean white branding, and pieces people actually wear out of the house.
- [Manicule · YC P26](https://blankup.org/portfolio/manicule-yc): Developer merch that actually says something. Small icon up front, big graphic on the back for conferences and team drops.
- [Pairio · YC P26](https://blankup.org/portfolio/pairio-yc): Polished quarter-zips for a founder team. Small wordmark on the chest, bigger logo on the back, all on heavyweight black fleece.
- [Whitney High School · Class of 2027](https://blankup.org/portfolio/whitney-class-of-2027): Senior tees built for the last semester. Simple logo up front, bigger graphic on the back, on a washed charcoal tee they'll keep wearing.
- [Whitney High School Shanti Club](https://blankup.org/portfolio/whitney-shanti-club): Culture Show tees on a tight school deadline. Forty navy tees with a chest logo and full back print, delivered in under five days.
- [Lookbook](https://blankup.org/lookbook): editorial photos of the premium blanks we decorate

## Contact

- [Contact](https://blankup.org/contact)
- [Partner with blankup](https://blankup.org/partners) (agencies, events, creators)