Custom printed bandanas for bands, brands, conventions, podcasters, designers ordering for a launch or event, and anyone making merch where a soft, textile, daily-wearable product fits the brief better than a pin or sticker. Full-color digital printing on 100% cotton poplin, in runs starting at 50 per design.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-piece drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
What you get
Our standard size is 22" x 22", which works for most designs. Custom sizes are available on request, and we offer four fabric weights so you can pick the feel that matches your project.
Fabric weights
Color saturation varies slightly by weight. Lighter fabrics hold color better. Heavier fabrics feel more like a classic bandana but print a bit more muted.
- 70 gsm, lightweight. Thin and translucent when held up to light. Best saturation of the four.
- 100 gsm, mid-weight. Slightly more opaque, medium color saturation.
- 140 gsm, mid-heavy. Heavier weight with somewhat less saturated color.
- 180 gsm, traditional bandana weight. Thicker, opaque, feels like a proper bandana in hand. Colors print a bit more muted.
80 gsm is also available on request. Compare the same design across weights in the images below.
How a run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector, raster, sketch, Procreate file, whatever you have), and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size before we move forward, so you're not surprised at proof.
From proof approval, most overseas products are about a month to your door for bandanas (production-print + finishing + ship). That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. Shipping is express and included in the price.
If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers setup, mold use, proofing, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50 with half the output. 50 is where the per-piece price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-piece cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. Consistent quality, predictable timelines, no chasing the lowest quote. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced merch for officially licensed properties and large brands. The same standard goes on every order, including yours.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script. Everyone proofing your file knows what it feels like to send their own art to a factory and hope it comes back right.
Common questions
Which fabric weight should I pick?
Depends on what you want the bandana to feel like and how vibrant the colors need to be. If color saturation is the priority, 70 or 100 gsm. If you want the classic bandana feel and colors don't need to be at maximum vibrancy, 140 or 180 gsm. We can send fabric swatches if you want to feel them in hand before committing; email us.
Can I do custom sizes?
Yes. The 22" x 22" standard works for most uses, but we can do larger or smaller on request. Email us your size requirement and quantity and we'll quote it.
Can I do multiple designs in one order?
Yes, as long as each design hits the 50-piece minimum. So 100 could be two designs at 50 each, 200 could be four designs at 50 each, etc.
What artwork format works best?
High-resolution raster (300 DPI at print size) or vector. CMYK is ideal; we can convert from RGB and proof carefully. Repeating tile patterns work great on bandanas; we can help set up the repeat if you have a single-tile design.
How are these printed?
Full-color digital printing directly on the cotton, which means no color count limits and gradients/photo-realistic art come through accurately. Different process from screen printing (which would be limited to a few flat colors).
How long do bandanas take?
About four weeks from proof approval to your door, including express shipping. No rush fees.
Do I see a proof before production?
Yes. Digital proof for review before printing. Revisions until you approve.
Are these made in the USA?
Bandanas are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success. Our wooden products and stickers are made in the USA.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
Design Templates
Set up your artwork at the correct size with proper bleed and safe zones using our production templates. Vector files (PDF/AI/EPS) are preferred for clean lines and scaling; raster (PSD) works for full-color artwork at 300dpi.
- 22" x 22" bandana template with bleed + Belly Band (vector PDF + raster PSD) (Vector + Raster bundle)
- Bandana BellyBand Template Vector (Vector PDF)
- Woven tag template (vector PDF) (Vector PDF)
