Terrence Okafor

Terrence Okafor brings over two decades of hands-on printing expertise to RareCustom. His career began at age 19 as an apprentice screen printer at a family-owned shop in Detroit, where he learned the craft from masters who had been printing since the 1970s. That foundation in traditional techniques gives him an edge that purely digital printers simply can't match.

Over his career, Marcus has worked with every major printing technology: screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG), dye sublimation, heat transfer vinyl, and direct-to-film (DTF). He spent six years as Production Manager at PrintCraft Industries, overseeing a facility that produced over 2 million garments annually, before joining a DTG equipment manufacturer as a technical specialist where he trained print shops across North America.

Marcus holds certifications from the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and the Screen Printing Technical Foundation. He's a regular speaker at printing industry conferences including ISS Long Beach, Impressions Expo, and the SGIA Expo, where his talks on color management and print longevity consistently draw standing-room crowds.

At RareCustom, Marcus oversees all production partnerships, sets quality standards, and personally evaluates every new supplier before they print a single shirt. His philosophy is simple: "If I wouldn't wear it myself, it doesn't ship." He also writes RareCustom's technical blog content on printing methods, garment care, and material science—turning complex technical topics into guides anyone can understand.

Outside of work, Marcus restores vintage letterpress equipment, coaches youth basketball, and maintains an impressive collection of vintage band t-shirts dating back to the 1980s.