Fireworks, parades, barbecues, fairs, picnics, baseball games–all of these fun events are commonly associated with the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. This is a national holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This document officially declared independence from England. Though the day was set aside to celebrate the history and traditions of the U.S., the Fourth of July is more often than not viewed as a patriotic festival.

There’s a host of family gatherings and community-sponsored events that happen every Fourth of July, and it’s important for participants to dress the part. In the weeks preceding the big day, stores are full of patriotic-themed hats, shirts and jackets. That’s all very well and good, but why look like everyone else? Why not dream up something completely unique?

There is a way to stand out from the crowd without busting your budget. By designing and purchasing your very own custom designed T-shirt, you’re ensuring that you’ll have an original look this Independence Day. The process of designing your own T-shirt may seem daunting at first, but most custom design T-shirt manufacturers strive to make the process as painless as possible.

But, first things first. What do you do for an idea? Let’s start with the theme of “patriotism” and move on from there. When you think of the fourth of July, what comes to mind? The colors red, white and blue, the American flag and the Statue of Liberty are just a few. Do an internet search and see what catches your eye. Bookmark the top contenders, or print them out for later reference.

You can incorporate text along with the images. You should take some time to brainstorm at least five ideas of your own, but here are a few phrases to start with:

• Sweet land of liberty
• Stand beside her and guide her
• Proud to be an American
• God bless America
• Born free
• America the beautiful

Once you have a cohesive idea of what you’d like to put on your shirt, the next step is to select the shirt itself. Do you want a long sleeve shirt, a short sleeve shirt, or a shirt with no sleeves at all? Do you want a T-shirt cut for men, women, or a small child? Do you want a collar? How about spaghetti straps? All you need to do is select the type of shirt you’d like, then choose the fabric, the size, and the color.

It’s a good idea to start this process in early to be sure to have your shirt ready to go when the Fourth of July rolls around.