Apparel, fabric, and home decor companies work differently from galleries or publishers. Selected designs are printed at scale, whether on t shirts, tote bags, gift wrap, fabric yardage, wall art, or wallpaper. Payment models vary widely in this category, from flat fees to ongoing royalties to profit sharing, and not every company discloses exact terms before selection.
The five companies below all have open, documented pathways for independent artists. None charge submission fees.
Please verify all submission details directly on each company’s website before reaching out, as requirements and contact information can change.
Geographic restrictions: None of the five companies state a hard restriction. Three have at least one confirmed international roster artist. For the remaining two, all roster artists checked are based in the USA.
Philadelphia, PA (USA)
Our selection process doesn’t follow a rigid set of criteria or preferences.
Art Form(s): Illustration, Graphic Design
Art Themes: Contemporary. Designs often engage with community and social subject matter, though no single theme is required.
Submission Method: Submit through the online design form at philadelphiaprintworks.com/pages/submit-your-design. The company also runs themed open calls; check the open call page for current themes before submitting.
About the Company: Founded in 2010, Philadelphia Printworks is a Black, woman, and queer owned apparel company that prints designs on t shirts, sweatshirts, and accessories. Selected artists get their own page on the site and set a retail price on top of the company’s production cost, keeping the difference. Artists keep full rights to their designs and are free to use them elsewhere.
Payment Model: The company deducts its production cost from each sale first, and the artist keeps the remainder as profit (retail price is capped at no more than double the production cost). Payments are processed monthly once earnings reach 50 dollars, or quarterly if they fall below that.
Geographic Restrictions: Not stated. Roster artists checked currently reside in the USA.
Important Notes:
No exclusive license required; artists may use their designs elsewhere
Sample prints available after acceptance for an additional cost
No submission fees
Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philaprint
Artist Submission Info: https://philadelphiaprintworks.com/pages/submit-your-design
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