If someone told me five years ago that I’d go from serving chicken or fish at 35,000 feet to peeling hot plastic film off T-shirts in my living room, I’d probably have offered them a juice and asked them to stay seated. But life has a funny way of throwing turbulence your way, and sometimes you just have to fasten your seatbelt and ride it out.
When the pandemic hit and my career as a flight attendant came to an unexpected and permanent stop, I found myself grounded in more ways than one. I was in my 40s, jobless, and not sure what was next. But one thing I’ve always loved, besides exit row legroom, was art and music. I used to mess around with Photoshop and design stuff just for fun during my downtime.
It was actually my wife who gave me the push. She said, “Why not take it seriously?” I think she also said I was getting way too good at folding laundry, which might have had something to do with it too.
So I went back to school, got a degree in graphic design, and started designing T-shirts. Naturally, I gravitated toward music-themed designs. Guitars, pedals, amps, song lyrics, and loud vibes. I wasn’t just designing merch, I was designing wearable tributes to the sounds that shaped me.
That’s when I stumbled into the world of DTF printing.
DTF Printing: Direct to Film, Not What You Think
Let’s clear this up first. DTF stands for Direct to Film. If your mind went elsewhere, you’re not alone. But in the printing world, DTF is a game-changer.
It’s a process where your design gets printed onto a clear film, covered in powder adhesive, heat-cured, and then transferred onto fabric using a heat press. The result is a durable, colorful print that sticks to almost any fabric. And the best part? The print feels soft, lasts long, and captures detail really well.
I looked at other printing options like screen printing and DTG, but DTF made the most sense for someone starting out with limited space, a tight budget, and zero desire to deal with messy inks. I didn’t need a giant machine or a warehouse. Just a laptop, some design tools, a reliable vendor, and a heat press at home.
That’s it. I could get started with minimal overhead and scale slowly, which suited me perfectly.
Step 1: Design Comes First
Everything starts with an idea. For me, it’s usually something musical. One of my earliest designs was a tribute to the Boss DS-1 guitar pedal. You know the one. Bright orange, loud, and iconic. Every rock guitarist has probably owned one at some point.
I opened Photoshop and started sketching. I wanted the design to feel nostalgic but fresh. Something that would make guitar nerds smile. I cleaned it up in Illustrator, made sure it was vector-based, and saved it in print-ready format. High resolution, transparent background, and CMYK colors.
I use Photoshop for mockups, textures, and experimentation. Illustrator is for clean lines and getting everything print-ready. These two tools are my creative cockpit.
The design came out great. I wore it around town. A few people asked me where I got it. I took that as a good sign and added it to my online store.
So far, it’s been my best-seller. And by best-seller, I mean it sold more than five shirts, which is a win when you’re starting out. I’m not printing money yet, but I’m printing what I love. That counts.
Step 2: Outsourcing the Prints
I don’t own a DTF printer. Those machines cost a small fortune and take up half a room. So I outsource the prints to a local vendor.
This part was tricky at first. Some vendors promised high quality and delivered flakes and blurs. Others had great prints but took forever to ship. I had to test a few, waste some money, and go through a bit of disappointment before I found a vendor I trust.
Now I send my artwork, wait a few days, and get back sheets of film with my designs ready to be pressed. They arrive flat and look like stickers. It’s oddly satisfying opening that envelope.
If you’re doing this yourself, test vendors with sample orders before committing. Every design you sell represents your brand. If the print cracks or fades after two washes, that reputation goes down the drain fast.
Step 3: Pressing Shirts at Home
Once the prints arrive, I get to work. My heat press lives in a corner of my apartment, right next to where we keep the rice cooker. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
I place the shirt on the press, position the film, cover it with parchment paper, and press it at 160 degrees Celsius for about 15 seconds. Then I wait for it to cool slightly before peeling the film.
That peel moment is the best part. It feels like unwrapping a present that you made for yourself. If everything went well, the design transfers cleanly onto the fabric. No bubbles, no smudges.
After that, I do a second quick press to lock the print in place. Then the shirt gets folded, tagged, and packed for shipping.
I add a thank-you card with every order. It's small, simple, and a way to say, “Hey, I’m not some faceless brand. I made this myself, and I’m grateful you bought it.”
Keeping It Real: Sales Are Still Slow
Now let me be completely honest. I’m still at the beginning of this journey. I’m not making huge sales. Some weeks, I sell a shirt or two. Some weeks, nothing at all. And that’s fine.
It’s easy to get discouraged when you see other creators on social media saying they sold 1,000 shirts in a weekend. But the truth is, everyone starts somewhere. What you don’t see are the five years they spent building that following.
I’m not there yet. I might not ever be, and that’s okay. For now, this is my creative outlet. A way to turn my passion into something tangible. Something that lives outside my head and on someone else’s back.
I don’t have all the answers. I’m still figuring things out, learning as I go, and tweaking my process. But I’m proud of what I’ve built so far. Even if it’s small. Especially because it’s small.
A Few Tips for Other Small Creators
If you’re thinking of starting your own DTF T-shirt side hustle, here’s what I’ve learned so far:
1. Start with what you love. It shows in your designs, and it keeps you going when sales are slow.
2. Test your vendors. One bad batch can kill your confidence. Good prints make a big difference.
3. Don’t rush into gear. You don’t need a full printing setup on day one. Outsourcing works.
4. Mockups matter. Invest time in good product photos and mockups. They sell the vibe.
5. Be patient. Growth is slow. Celebrate the small wins, even if it’s just one order a week.
The Dream is Still Pressing
Some days I miss flying. The views, the weird layovers, the people. But in a strange way, I’ve found something just as rewarding here. This new path is slower and quieter, but it’s mine.
My living room might not be an aircraft cabin, but it’s where I make things happen now. I turn ideas into shirts. I listen to music, tweak my designs, and press prints one at a time.
It’s not perfect, and I’m still learning. But I’m not waiting for a gate to open anymore. I’ve already taken off.
If you want to check out my work or support a small creator figuring it out in real time, you can visit me at ridzuanyahya.com. No pressure. Just come hang out and see what a little heat, music, and hustle can do..
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