A fairly recent, and developing phenomenon, has been the online t-shirt community, like the xeroxed zines that many of us were so partial of producing, it carries the earmark of the thought that if you have the idea, we can print it on wholesale t-shirts.

King of these communities - in the company sense at the least, is the site Threadless, their start-out has extended from a one man and his PC operation, to a thriving, and thriving business model of alternative t-shirts that has gained mainstream attention. And this companies a range of cutting edge clothes is not decided in a board-meeting, but online in users' bedrooms, or home offices, and now on the bus or the train, with the boost of internet phones.

Newer t-shirt community models have emerged though, that put more decision power, and potentially more money in the user's hands as did the choice of wholesale t-shirts.The creative person can pick out which of their pieces get printed, as they are printed to order on whats known as wholesale t-shirts. Among the most recognized of these are Spread shirt, where graphics goes into a mass consortium for individuals to apply to populate their stores, the creative person is given a fee per item sold that applies their work. Almost as famous are Cafepress, where the creative person alone uses their work for their individual store, the graphics can be used on not just wholesale t-shirts, but hats, hoodies, mugs, prints, cards, pet bowls, even a brand of digital camcorder!

Arguably the better of the bundle, but regrettably less noted (at least it was when I joined), is the merchandise community, Zazzle. More of a community than the rest, with forums, fanclubs, and the power to contribute remarks to each others stores, and individual items. More tremendous, is Zazzles model of making the items for sale fully customizable with the help of buying cheaper items like a wholesale t-shirt. A pattern you see on a wholesale t-shirt for example, could too be used on a cup for example. There are exceptions however, graphics created for shoes, would not be suited for skateboards, and designs meant for stamps (yes, they are real, and have to be authorized by the US postal office) should stay.