Bear Grips Pro ShopsAerial Arts Shirt: Studio Tees Students Actually Wear
- A fitted performance tee is the workhorse of any aerial studio shop
- A soft cotton tee is the lifestyle piece students wear outside class
- Avoid loose cuts. Aerial students return baggy shirts more than any other item
- Studio-branded tees with the studio logo are the most-photographed apparel category in aerial
Aerial arts shirts split into two categories: the fitted performance tee that students wear in conditioning class, and the soft cotton lifestyle tee they wear to the coffee shop with a hoodie over it. Both should live in your studio shop. Here is what each one needs to do and what we have seen sell best at small aerial studios.
Performance Tee Versus Lifestyle Tee
Aerial students buy two different tees for two different jobs.
The performance tee is fitted, made from a polyester-spandex blend, and stays put during conditioning circuits, floor stretches, and warm-ups. It wicks sweat, holds its shape, and lasts through two or three washes a week. This is the tee students wear into the studio for class.
The lifestyle tee is a soft midweight cotton or cotton-poly tee with a roomy but still tailored cut. This is the tee students wear out of the studio: to the coffee shop after class, on the train home, on the weekend with friends. The studio logo on this tee is the marketing piece. Every wear is a free impression.
The mistake most studios make is listing only one tee in their shop. Listing both, with the same logo on different fabric weights, doubles the order size from most students.
What to Look for in a Studio Tee Blank
Not every blank tee on a print-on-demand catalog works for aerial. Some are too loose. Some have decorative seams that chafe during inversions. Some have prints that crack after ten washes.
Performance tee checklist:
- Polyester-spandex blend (the exact percentage matters less than the stretch and recovery)
- Flatlock or coverstitched seams (no raised stitching at the armpit or shoulder)
- Slightly tailored cut. Not compression, not loose, somewhere in between.
- Tagless or printed-tag neck so it does not catch on apparatus
Lifestyle tee checklist:
- Midweight cotton or cotton-poly blend (4.2 oz to 5.5 oz fabric weight)
- Pre-shrunk so the cut stays the same after the first wash
- Side-seamed construction holds shape better than tube-knit construction
- Crew or v-neck cut depending on what the studio audience prefers
Browse our tee catalog for both performance and lifestyle options.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.How Aerial Studios Price Their Tees
Pricing strategy for studio-branded tees is one of the most common questions we get from new aerial studio owners. The honest answer: students will happily pay $30 to $40 for a studio tee from a brand they care about.
The math for a typical aerial studio:
| Item | Base Price (VIP) | Suggested Retail | Profit per Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle cotton tee | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 |
| Performance tee | $23.88 | $36 | $12.12 |
| Fitted tank | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 |
| Studio hoodie | $36.88 | $54 | $17.12 |
A studio with 150 active students that sells one tee or hoodie per student per quarter earns roughly $7,000 in apparel profit per year. With zero inventory cost and no work beyond launching the shop.
Print Placement for Aerial Studio Tees
The default print placement for aerial studio tees is a centered chest logo, around four to five inches wide. This works for most studio logos and prints clean across men's and women's cuts.
For lifestyle tees, some studios add a smaller back-neck print or a sleeve hit with the studio location or hashtag. This is most popular at studios with a strong visual identity.
For performance tees, keep the print smaller (three to four inches) and centered. Larger prints on stretch fabric crack faster, and a smaller print sits more comfortably under a sports bra.
Avoid back prints on performance tees. The back hem rides during inversions, and a large back print stretches and fades unevenly.
Add Studio Tees to Your Apparel Shop
Free to launch. Upload your studio logo once, list a performance tee and a lifestyle tee, and earn profit on every student order.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What kind of t-shirt is best for aerial arts class?
A fitted performance tee in a polyester-spandex blend with flatlock seams. Avoid loose cotton tees that ride up during inversions.
Can my studio sell branded t-shirts without ordering inventory?
Yes. Open a free Bear Grips Pro Shop, upload your logo, and list the tee styles you want. Items print when a student orders, no minimums.
How much profit do studios make on a branded tee?
Most studios price tees at $30 to $36 retail with a base cost between $19.88 and $23.88, yielding $10 to $12 in profit per shirt. A studio with 150 students typically clears $3,000 to $5,000 a year in tee sales alone.
