In a world of mass-produced merchandise and faceless online retailers, Fat Cats Design is something genuinely different — a small, handcrafted rhinestone apparel shop in Derby, Kansas, where every single shirt is built by hand, one stone at a time, by a real person who takes real pride in what they make.
Who Is Fat Cats Design?
Fat Cats Design is a Derby, Kansas-based rhinestone and vinyl apparel company specializing in handcrafted rhinestone t-shirts, vinyl lettering tees, and custom rhinestone designs. Founded on the belief that clothing should feel personal and special — not interchangeable and disposable — Fat Cats Design has built a growing collection of over 300 unique designs covering everything from music icons and pop culture legends to classic American muscle cars, sports teams, cocktails, holidays, and beyond.
Every shirt that leaves the Fat Cats Design shop was touched by human hands. Every rhinestone was placed individually. Every design was heat-pressed with care and inspected before it shipped. That’s not a marketing phrase — it’s simply how the work gets done, every single time, for every single order.
The Art of Handcrafted Rhinestone Apparel
Most rhinestone shirts you find online are made using pre-made heat-transfer sheets — entire designs pre-set on a backing material that gets pressed onto a shirt in one automated step. The result is fast, cheap, and it shows: flat stones, stiff transfers, designs that lift and fade after a handful of washes.
Fat Cats Design takes a fundamentally different approach. Every rhinestone design starts as a blank shirt and a vision. Each individual stone is positioned by hand, one at a time, and heat-pressed individually into the fabric. This process takes significantly longer than mass production — but the results are in an entirely different category. The stones lay naturally with the fabric. The designs have real depth and dimension. The sparkle is genuine, multi-directional, and built to last through years of regular wear.
When you hold a Fat Cats Design rhinestone shirt, you can feel the difference immediately. This isn’t merchandise. It’s something made.
“If you can dream it, we can put it in rhinestones. That’s been our promise from day one — and every shirt we make keeps it.”
A Collection Built for Every Passion
Fat Cats Design has grown its rhinestone collection to reflect the full range of American passion and personality. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find at fatcatsdesign.com:
Music Icons
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones, Prince, and more — the greatest names in rock and roll, country, and pop culture immortalized in hand-set rhinestones. These are shirts for fans who want to honor the music that changed their lives in the most sparkling way possible.
Classic American Muscle Cars
From the 1964½ Ford Mustang to the mid-engine C8 Corvette, from the first-generation Camaro to the Eleanor Mustang — Fat Cats Design celebrates the cars that define American automotive culture in rhinestone silhouettes and detailed designs that car enthusiasts immediately recognize and love.
Pop Culture Icons
James Dean. Marilyn Monroe. Bettie Page. The Wizard of Oz collection. The Duck Duck Jeep community. Pop culture has given us images that transcend time, and Fat Cats Design brings those images to life in handcrafted rhinestone apparel that fans wear with genuine pride.
Sports Teams
From the NFL to college programs, Fat Cats Design carries rhinestone team shirts that let fans show their loyalty in the most sparkling way possible. Because any fan can wear a jersey — but only the real ones wear rhinestones.
Cocktail Collection
Cosmopolitan, Bloody Mary, Mojito, Margarita — for the woman whose favorite drink deserves its own rhinestone tribute. These shirts were made for girls’ nights out, bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, and every Sunday brunch worth attending.
Holiday Collection
The Grinch, Halloween ghosts, Jack-O-Lanterns, Happy New Year, and a full birthday collection — because every holiday and every celebration deserves a little rhinestone sparkle.
Custom Rhinestone Designs
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Fat Cats Design specializes in custom rhinestone work. If you can dream it, we can put it in rhinestones. Contact us at sales@fatcatsdesign.com with your idea and we’ll bring it to life.
Rhinestone and Vinyl — Two Ways to Shine
Fat Cats Design offers two distinct types of custom apparel, each with its own character and appeal.
Rhinestone T-Shirts
Our signature product. Hand-set rhinestones that create genuine sparkle and depth, available in an enormous range of rhinestone colors — from classic crystal clear to deep sapphire, bold topaz, vibrant fuchsia, and beyond. Rhinestone shirts are the choice for fans who want maximum impact, maximum sparkle, and a shirt that genuinely glows under any lighting.
Vinyl Lettering T-Shirts
For a clean, crisp, bold look, our vinyl lettering shirts deliver. Heat transfer vinyl in sharp, durable designs that hold up through regular wear and washing. Duck Duck Jeep sayings, custom text, team names, and more — vinyl lettering is the choice for fans who want a shirt that’s clear, direct, and built to last.
Quality You Can See and Feel
Fat Cats Design shirts are built on quality Gildan base tees — the V-Neck, Crew Neck, and Long Sleeve options that provide a comfortable, lasting foundation for the rhinestone or vinyl work applied on top. Available in a wide range of shirt colors, sizes from Small through 3XL, and offered in Ladies cuts designed for a flattering fit.
Men’s tees, tank tops, and sweatshirts are available by request — simply call or email sales@fatcatsdesign.com and we’ll take care of you.
Made in Derby, Kansas — Shipped With Care
Every Fat Cats Design shirt is made right here in Derby, Kansas. When you order from us, your money stays in a small Kansas community, your shirt is made by a real person who cares about the work, and your order is inspected before it ships to make sure it meets our standards. We’re not a warehouse. We’re not an algorithm. We’re a small shop that takes genuine pride in every shirt we make.
We offer fast shipping, a straightforward refund and return policy, and real customer service from real people. If you have a question, a custom request, or anything else you need, reach us at sales@fatcatsdesign.com or by phone at 316-737-5171.
Why Choose Fat Cats Design?
- Every rhinestone is placed by hand — no automated transfers, no mass production
- Over 300 unique designs covering music, cars, sports, pop culture, holidays, and more
- Premium rhinestones in a wide range of colors for maximum customization
- Quality Gildan base shirts in a full range of sizes and styles
- Custom rhinestone design service — if you can dream it, we can make it
- Made in Derby, Kansas by a real craftsperson who inspects every shirt before it ships
- Real customer service, fast shipping, and a no-hassle return policy
- A small business worth supporting — your order matters to us personally
Find Fat Cats Design Online
Browse our full collection of handcrafted rhinestone and vinyl t-shirts at fatcatsdesign.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for new designs, behind-the-scenes looks at the handcrafting process, and exclusive offers.
Fat Cats Design. Derby, Kansas. Handcrafted rhinestone apparel for people who believe that what you wear should mean something — and sparkle while it’s doing it.