Custom Apparel Services
Breaking Free Industries is a custom screen printing and embroidery shop based in Santa Ana, CA. We decorate apparel for businesses, nonprofits, schools, restaurants, and organizations across Southern California and nationwide. Every order is produced in-house by our team — people rebuilding their lives through skilled, meaningful work. No minimums on most programs. Quotes within 24 hours.
Decoration Methods
Screen Printing
The standard for custom apparel production. Best for 1–4 color designs, especially on runs of 24 or more. Ink is fused into the fabric for a durable, professional finish that holds through hundreds of washes. Cost per piece drops as quantity increases. Ideal for event shirts, staff tees, spirit wear, fundraiser apparel, and branded merchandise. We run plastisol, water-based, and discharge inks depending on the fabric and desired hand.
Embroidery
Thread-stitched logos and text directly into the garment. The professional standard for polos, hats, staff jackets, and any apparel where durability and a premium finish matter. Quoted by stitch count and garment type. Holds up through industrial washing far better than printed graphics. We embroider on headwear, outerwear, polos, and structured garments.
DTF — Direct to Film
Full-color printing with no color count limitations. Best for complex artwork, photographic detail, gradients, and multi-color designs on smaller runs. No per-color setup cost. Works on virtually any fabric type including dark garments. Ideal for runs under 24 pieces or designs where screen printing would require too many colors.
Heat Transfer
Vinyl or sublimation transfers applied with heat and pressure. Good for small runs, names and numbers, and specialty applications. We’ll recommend this when it’s the right fit for your project and budget.
Who We Work With
- Restaurants & Hospitality — staff uniforms, event shirts, branded merch for front and back of house
- Nonprofits & Community Organizations — fundraiser apparel, volunteer gear, donor gifts, awareness campaigns
- Schools & Athletic Programs — spirit wear, team uniforms, booster club shirts, PTA orders
- Businesses & Brands — branded apparel, event gear, staff uniforms, trade show merch
- Corporate & SMB Teams — company swag, onboarding kits, team-building apparel
Production Details
- Minimum order: 12 pieces per design on most programs
- Standard turnaround: 10–14 business days from proof approval
- Rush production: Available — confirm feasibility before committing
- Shipping: Nationwide. Local pickup available in Santa Ana, CA.
- Artwork: We accept vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) and can prep most formats at no charge for straightforward designs. Not sure if your file works? Send it and we’ll tell you.
- Quote turnaround: Within 24 hours on most requests.
Why Breaking Free Industries
We’re a small shop with a smaller cost base than the household-name platforms. No massive ad spend, no venture-backed overhead, no middlemen. What you pay for is the garment, the decoration, and the work. Our team is staffed by people with conviction histories — individuals who needed the same thing most people need: a real chance to do good work and be judged by the result. When you order with us, the shirt matters twice.