threadless

Threadless is an American online design community and e-commerce platform focused on graphic art for apparel and home products. The site uses a crowdsourcing model in which designers submit original artwork and the community votes on which designs should be produced. Winning designs are manufactured and sold on a range of products, with the artists receiving a prize and ongoing royalties based on sales. Threadless handles the printing, fulfillment, and distribution, while designers retain ownership of their artwork and license Threadless to reproduce and sell items featuring their designs.

Founded in the early 2000s in Chicago by a group of designers seeking a new approach to independent art and apparel, Threadless grew into a prominent marketplace that helped popularize crowdsourcing and print-on-demand concepts in fashion and design. The platform supports a broad lineup of products, including t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, posters, and various home decor items, with new designs regularly added through ongoing design challenges and community submissions.

In addition to its core marketplace, Threadless maintains a community-driven culture that emphasizes collaboration between artists and consumers. The company operates globally, offering online ordering and shipping to multiple regions. By linking artist-driven designs with consumer demand, Threadless has been influential in the development of independent design communities and the on-demand apparel industry.