Hypno Blog #15 -- Magic Las Vegas Fashion Trade Show/Project Now

Hypno Blog #15 -- Magic Las Vegas Fashion Trade Show/Project Now

Throwback: Creating 105 Custom T-Shirts for MAGIC Trade Show & Project Now 2023

Throwback Thursday to MAGIC Trade Show & Project Now 2023 in Las Vegas.

I won’t be attending this February 2024, but let’s rewind and revisit what it took to create 105 unique, handmade t-shirts for a major fashion trade show. Buckle up—this was a process.

Who’s Behind It

If we haven’t met yet, my name’s François, Creative Director of Hypnotik Bay Area (that’s H-Y-P-N-O-T-I-K Bay Area).

I’m both the artist and producer behind the brand, based in Marin County, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Every piece is made by hand, start to finish.

Planning the Drop

The first step was simple math:

  • 15 shirts per design

  • 7 designs total

  • 105 shirts

Once the numbers were locked, it was off to the local market. Three shopping carts later—filled with blank tees and supplies—the cashier was… thrilled.

Dye, Bleach, Repeat

The collection included:

  • Tie-dye shirts

  • Reverse tie-dye shirts

Which means:

  • A lot of dye bottles

  • A lot of bleach

  • And yes—a mask

To achieve the patterns, I bleached first, then dyed the garments to create layered, polka-dot–style effects. Bleach, dye, repeat. Over and over again.

Printing the Shirts

Since I specialize in direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, each shirt was sprayed with a pretreatment solution to help bind the ink to the fabric. After that:

  1. Heat press to remove excess moisture

  2. Print 15 of each design

  3. Final press to seal everything in

Exhausting—but worth it.

Post-Production & Quality Control

Once printing was done, it was time for finishing touches. I decided to take the shirts to a laundromat in Sausalito to give them a clean, crisp finish. Starched, pressed, and looking sharp.

Then came quality control. Every shirt was checked to make sure it met my standards—even if that meant redoing pieces.

Packaging Matters

Did I have to wrap all 105 shirts in tissue paper?
No.

Did I do it anyway?
Absolutely.

Presentation matters.

Final Thoughts

And just like that—105 custom t-shirts, ready to ship out to clients and retailers. From concept to creation, this was a full-scale production and one of my favorite behind-the-scenes experiences to date.

Thanks for coming along on the journey. Don’t forget to like, share, and follow for more behind-the-scenes looks into the world of Hypnotik Bay Area.

Until next time!

Back to blog