Angie Morelli: Printing Threads of Passion Through Custom T-Shirts

Angie Morelli’s story starts with a vinyl plotter, a spark of creativity, and a bold decision. That spark became Customistic, a store full of personality, novelty, and hands-on collaboration.

Her path wasn’t straightforward, yet every step shaped the business she runs today and gives reason why so many in the community love her store and its mission.

From Marines to Merch: Angie’s Journey

In 2002, Angie Morelli was in the Marines preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. She noticed a lack of custom gifts for women in the Marine Corps and decided to create her own decals.

She purchased a vinyl plotter from a fellow Marine and started experimenting with designs, developing new ideas constantly.

Marines around the barracks began requesting specific designs, and word quickly spread about her work. “I went to a military PX to try to get my aunt’s gifts that said My Niece is a Marine,” said Angie. “They didn’t have anything for women, no daughters, no moms, no nieces. So I found a guy in my unit who made decals, so I could make some custom ones. It was fun to do that, so I started coming up with wild and raunchy airwing and Marine designs. When he was getting out of the military, he asked if I wanted to buy his equipment and supplies, and I said yes. This was 23 years ago. The rest is HERstory.”

She sold hundreds of decals on base, moving from squadron to squadron, and quickly gained a loyal following.

Her military background gave her the discipline and determination to turn a hobby into a business. She transitioned from a mall kiosk to a store, then to a larger store in Jacksonville, NC, before being sold to launch her next venture, which laid the foundation for Customistic.

Where Ideas Come Alive: Inside Customistic

After returning home to Las Vegas, Angie opened Customistic at the Boulevard Mall to provide a hands-on, local experience in custom printing. The store offered t-shirts, outerwear, accessories, signage, and more, all with fast turnaround and high quality.

In 2011, she relocated to the Spring Valley location on Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard to accommodate growth and provide a larger, more comfortable space for customers.

Customers collaborate directly with the T-Shirt Fairy Ninjas, who guide them through the design process, whether they arrive with a concept or need assistance creating one. Angie calls her designers the T-Shirt Fairy Ninjas, a name inspired by her Boulevard Mall customers. They used to call her t-shirt fairies or t-shirt ninjas, so she combined the two. Today, they help every customer create custom designs with fun and care.

Unlike online shops, clients can touch, see, and approve every product before it’s finished, ensuring satisfaction.

“We offer lightning fast, super high quality custom shirt printing by way of Direct to Garment, Direct to Film, Screen Print, vinyl decoration, sublimation on hard goods, stickers, buttons, signs, banners, all kinds of stuff!” said Angie. “Most of our items can be completed in only 20 minutes.” This personal, hands-on approach is central to the store’s reputation and appeal.

The Twenty-Minute Tee: Fast, Fun, and Fabulous

Customistic became known for its signature twenty-minute t-shirt service, producing fully customized shirts in under twenty minutes. This fast, efficient service allows customers to get exactly what they want without delays.

The T-Shirt Fairy Ninjas, Angie’s creative team, assist clients to ensure every detail is perfect. The service covers a wide range of needs, from birthday shirts and charity fundraisers to artistic expression and practical jokes.

“We love to provide sweet and knowledgeable customer service to anyone needing to really make their mark,” said Angie. “Whether it be custom birthday shirts, small business advertisement, charity fundraisers, memorial buttons, practical jokes, artistic expression, or just something for fun, we GOT YOU.”

This combination of speed, accuracy, and personalization has made Customistic a go-to spot in Las Vegas.

Growth and Grit of Customistic

After moving into their single-suite location in Spring Valley, Customistic quickly became a local favorite. Over time, the store expanded again in 2024 when the neighboring space became available, allowing them to double their operation.

The new layout separates production and storefront: one area is now dedicated entirely to creating shirts, signs, and other products, while the other serves as a spacious display area for customers to explore Customistic’s services and products.

Each expansion has allowed Angie to showcase more items, streamline production, and improve the overall customer experience. She has maintained the store’s energetic, playful vibe while increasing capacity and efficiency. The space now encourages creativity for both customers and the team.

“We expanded last year because we had outgrown our one suite a while ago. We could not possibly fit another piece of equipment or another staff member in that space,” said Angie. “We had taken over most of the sales floor and couldn’t build in any redundancies that we really wanted to ensure every order was done every time, on time (even with machine temper tantrums).”

This thoughtful growth ensures Customistic continues to deliver fast, high-quality, and personalized service.

Heart and Hustle: Giving Back in Style

Angie has always prioritized giving back. Customistic regularly supports local schools, social initiatives, and community projects. This year, proceeds from the store are being donated to Rancho High School, continuing a tradition of supporting local education.

The store also serves as a hub for donations, activism, and grassroots efforts, reinforcing its strong connection to Las Vegas residents. Beyond material contributions, Customistic has hosted meetings, workshops, and supply drives for a variety of causes.

“We are, have always been, and will always be your overly involved and helpful auntie,” said Angie. “Not only have we been a drop off location for Project 150 for over a decade, but we have used our shop for everything from activist meetings, wildfire supplies drop off, covid mask giveaways, grassroots political involvement, poster making, covid supplies, and a ton of other initiatives we have done over the years.”

This continued dedication to giving back reinforces Customistic’s reputation as more than just a business.

Start Small, Dream Big: Advice from Customistic’s Founder

Angie encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to start small, learn continuously, and treat employees well. Leadership, patience, and community involvement are keys to long-term success.

“Start small and slow as a side hustle. Learn everything you can before you expand,” said Angie. “Go to all the tradeshows, all the networking opportunities you can, and make sure you treat your employees as they should be treated. The most important part of your business is its core. Being a boss means being a leader. Make sure you are taking time to learn about how to be the best leader you can be for Gen Z to Boomers, and never stop learning how to be a better boss.”

Her personal motto, inspired by Bruce Lee, reflects her philosophy for life and business. “Bruce Lee said, ‘The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.’ I would take it a step further and add the word ‘fondly’ at the end. I just want to leave this store, this city, this life, my employees, and clients better than when I started.”