How Soft Top Co. built a premium custom apparel brand with intention

Jeyson Paez launched Soft Top Co. to create a premium fashion brand rooted in intention.

A Dallas-based introvert, Jeyson spent years dreaming up creative clothing ideas he couldn't find on the market. With a background in photography and creative direction, he had the vision for a feeling-first brand, but not the outlet to bring it to life.

"I wanted to offer something that would help people wear what they feel. Soft Top Co. came from this idea of softness as a strength, you can be soft through clothes or the way you carry yourself."

In 2025, he decided to turn that vision into reality. His philosophy became the foundation of the brand, anchored by its core message: wear what you feel.

Over the past year, he's grown Soft Top Co. into a premium custom apparel brand defined by minimal design, clean silhouettes, and the belief that dressing is an act of expression, connection, and care.

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Why quality comes first in custom apparel

Turning Soft Top Co. into a reality meant finding the right foundation.

Jeyson knew his philosophy wouldn't translate to cheap blanks, and the clothing needed to look and feel premium.

But when he began researching production platforms, he quickly ran into a problem.

“I went through the print on demand platforms that people already know, but the quality was always so cheap. I wasn’t trying to build an Etsy shop - not to speak badly of Etsy - but for a clothing brand, the quality should be premium.”

Jeyson knew that his brand needed elevated silhouettes, intentional fabric weight, and pieces that looked and felt great.

After a lot of searching, he found Tapstitch.

“The photos looked really good and it was super easy to use. Tapstitch was able to offer premium blanks, and they are more fashion-forward - not the same clothes you see on every other website.

Being able to find a place that was offering that already was like jackpot. I found what I needed, I found what I wanted.”

Tapstitch: a fashion on demand platform built for simplicity

When Jeyson first started researching production platforms, he expected the process to be overwhelming.

“I thought it was going to be complicated because other places make it really hard. It's like you have to go to school to learn how to use their platform.”

Instead, Tapstitch felt intuitive.

From uploading designs to tracking orders, the platform removes friction rather than adding it. Even built-in design warnings - flagging low-resolution files or colour clashes - help him refine his creations.

As a first-time founder building a premium custom apparel brand, that simplicity mattered. It meant he could focus on creative direction instead of technical hurdles.

Fashion-forward blanks for premium brands

While most print-on-demand platforms offer safe, basic t-shirts and hoodies, Tapstitch builds around modern silhouettes and elevated cuts.

“I feel like some brands keep it a little safe or a little too traditional, but Tapstitch are really working hard on providing new and fresh ideas. I love the boxy cuts.”

Instead of building on standard blanks, Jeyson creates collections on elevated foundations. Real fashion pieces made from high-quality materials, curated by an expert merch team. An ever-evolving catalog of trend-led styles, ready to be transformed into branded apparel that reflects his vision.

For a premium custom apparel brand like Soft Top Co., that distinction matters.

“I love the unisex feel to all the blank options, because I want someone to go to my website and be able to see themselves in the clothes regardless of their gender or how they express themselves.”

Some of his go-to fashion-forward blanks include:

The details that make a brand legit

There’s a clear difference between selling merch and building a clothing brand. For Jeyson, that difference lies in both the quality of the garments and the branding details Tapstitch makes possible.

“The custom labels are great and I think they really upgrade my brand — they make me legit.”

That small detail changes how customers experience his designs. When they see a branded label instead of a generic tag, it reinforces everything Soft Top stands for: intention, care, and premium execution.

“The main feedback that I get is the quality. The first thing they say when they touch the clothes is, ‘Wait, this is not just merch. This is actual clothes.’ It feels premium.”

That moment matters.

For Jeyson, this was never about fast drops or low-cost print-on-demand. It was about building a premium custom apparel brand that people could genuinely live in — pieces that hold their shape, feel substantial, and reflect the intention behind the design.

And when people experience that quality in person, they talk about it.

“I love having friends over and letting people see the clothes. When they see them in person, or when they see their friends wearing the brand, they ask where to get them.”

That’s how Soft Top Co. grows - quietly but confidently, the same way it was designed.

What’s next for Soft Top Co.?

Soft Top Co. is built gently, but it’s growing steadily.

With a spring collection on the way, Jeyson is leaning further into what makes the brand distinct: minimal silhouettes, thoughtful typography, and clothing designed to feel personal. At the heart of the new release is Soft Energy Club Member — a phrase that captures the brand’s identity in three words.

“People are seeing it and they’re loving it. This design speaks to the brand. It speaks to myself. It speaks to whatever they’re feeling.”

And with Tapstitch continuing to release new blanks and customization options, the roadmap feels clear. Over time, the relationship has evolved into something closer to partnership.

“Every time new blanks are introduced, it gives me more opportunity to expand my brand. You guys worry about blanks, I worry about the designs.”

That’s the balance. Tapstitch handles the product foundation. Jeyson builds the brand on top of it.

Ready to build a premium custom apparel brand - your way?

With Tapstitch, you can design high-quality custom apparel and sell it globally.