One of the greatest features provided by the internet is the ability for people to connect with others who share common interests. The expanding presence of social networking sites has seen huge leaps in recent years, but the idea of social networking goes back further. One of the first sites to use the potential of a community-driven network was Threadless. Launched in 2000, the site is an online apparel store centered around user-submitted t-shirt designs.

In the past decade, the site has grown and developed significantly. However, it remains a site dedicated to its fans, with products designed and chosen by members of the Threadless community.

The website was founded by Jake Nickell and Jacob DeHart. The duo had a desire to develop a website that doubled as both a community and as a business. Therefore, they developed Threadless as a “crowd sourced” site, where any member of the community would be able to post their own t-shirt design for the world to see.

After being posted, designs are able to be rated and critiqued by other members of the community. Every few weeks, the scores and ratings given to the top 300 designs are considered for print. Finally, the selection process leaves ten designs ready to be printed and sold on the site.

This system has worked well for Threadless over the past decade, and despite numerous expansions to what the site has to offer, the community submission process remains the core of it all.

Cam Balzer, vice president of marketing, commented on how important the community is to Threadless in a recent interview.

“One key differentiating factor for Threadless is a cultivation and dedication to our design-based community,” Balzer said. “We bring designers and their stories to the foreground, and attach that story to the product whenever possible.”

In keeping with community interest, the online store has introduced numerous new sections of the site over the years, which provide different creative outlets for its fans.

One of the most popular sections is the Design Challenge, which gives users a specific theme to incorporate into a design. The challenges usually have an outside sponsor, which often provide extra rewards for the winning designer on top of the usual cash prize awarded by the business.

Elizabeth Hyde, a junior in animal science, commented on the benefits for artists supported by Threadless.

“It gives artists a chance to make money off of their work, which is a nice thing for them,” Hyde said. “It can be hard to make it as an artist, so every opportunity counts.”

Other shirt series include Type Tees, which feature quotes submitted by the community, instead of designs, and the Select Series, featuring new designs from Threadless designers who have had their work printed four or more times.

The site has also become a hub for creators to find inspiration and form connections with other designers.

Rob Gould, a member who has won the main competition several times, has been able to develop numerous creative relationships through the site.

“Through Threadless, I have found a small network of friends via the forum,” Gould said. “I will either e-mail a specific group of peers with sketches of possible ideas and ask for feedback or I will post a blog in the Threadless forum and ask for advice. This is where I receive the most insightful and candid comments.”

Threadless’ success has spread beyond just the main site. In 2007, a spin-off site, ThreadlessKids.com, was launched, focusing on designing clothes for babies and young children.

Perhaps the most notable success Threadless has achieved was in 2007, when they opened a retail store in Chicago. The store features popular designs from the website, and the inventory changes on a weekly basis. A Threadless Kids store was also opened the following year.

Most recently, the business celebrated its ten-year anniversary by publishing a retrospective book. The book, titled Threadless, is an in-depth look at the beginnings and growth of the site over the past decade.

As it stands, Threadless is one of the most successful and important online design communities, and the company shows no signs of slowing as it enters into its second decade. It remains dedicated to providing a source for creativity and competition, while providing new innovations in the often-competitive online market.