About Driftwood Design Co.
We’re a small, family-run custom apparel shop serving Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and the surrounding Tri-State area. What started as a one-person side project has grown into a full production studio built on craftsmanship, reliability, and pride in the work we do.
Where It All Started
Driftwood Design Co. began with Derek Drifmeyer — long before the shop had its current name.
Back in 2005, Derek was making vinyl decals for race cars at Florence Speedway and window graphics for local businesses in Florence, KY. He loved the creativity, the hands-on work, and the feeling of helping people bring their ideas to life.
In 2011, the demands of a corporate career pulled him away from the trade. But in 2020, with layoffs looming, he knew it was time to bet on himself again. He bought an industrial vinyl cutter and launched Driftwood Decals, planning to return to the world of vinyl graphics.
Then one customer asked a simple question:
“Can you make shirts?”
Derek made the shirts using heat-transfer vinyl — and immediately knew the quality wasn’t what he wanted to deliver. So he took a risk, invested in professional screen printing equipment, and taught himself from the ground up.
Soon came another request:
“Can you embroider hats?”
Derek got a loan from a close personal friend, bought his first embroidery machine, and learned every detail of the craft — even rebuilding machines and dialing in stitch quality to get it exactly right.
The business shifted from decals to high-quality custom apparel, and the name changed to Driftwood Design Co.
Family-Owned. Quality-Driven.
Today, the business is powered by our whole family:
| Team Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Derek | Owner / Production — screen printing, embroidery, DTF, quality control |
| Marissa | Administrative support — customer communication, scheduling, invoicing |
| Alexia | Website + social media — online presence, project showcases, content |
| Finn & Fiona | Shop helpers — tasks around the shop, learning the trade |
Every order that leaves our shop has been touched by someone who cares about it.
What We Believe
We’ve built our business around a few simple values:
- Quality over shortcuts: If we wouldn’t wear it ourselves, we won’t deliver it to a customer.
- Honesty in pricing: No surprises — clear quotes and no hidden fees
- Reliable deadlines: Your event, fundraiser, team, or business needs apparel on time — that matters to us.
- Constant improvement: We reinvest in the business to stay current with equipment, materials, and techniques.
Ultimately, our mission is to make apparel people love to wear, not just “have to wear.”
Proud to Support Our Region
We’ve been fortunate to provide apparel for:
- Local businesses and nonprofits
- Schools, teams, and clubs
- Bands and event organizers
- Community fundraisers and cycling groups
From short-run embroidery to large-scale print jobs, we treat every project with the same level of care and attention.
Ready to Work Together?
Whether you already have artwork or just an idea, we’re here to help you turn it into apparel that people are excited to wear.
Start your project today → Get a Quote