June 25, 2024
But here's the thing – you're not the average consumer. You're here because you care about the planet and the future we're shaping. Whether you're a conscious shopper or a thoughtful producer of merch, you know that every purchase is like casting a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.
That's why it's so important to create merch that can stand the test of time. We want our products to be part of that top 10% of your customer's closet, the stuff they reach for again and again.
Remember the #30WearsChallenge that took over social media a while back? It was all about raising awareness that fast fashion just isn't sustainable. The idea was to get people to think about whether they'd wear something at least 30 times before buying it. Turns out, if you wear your clothes for at least nine months and hit that 30-wear mark, you can slash a garment's environmental footprint by 20-30% and save 20 kg of CO2 – that's like planting a tree!
To make your garments truly sustainable and ensure they reach that 30-wear benchmark and beyond, choosing the right production methods is key. By focusing on techniques that guarantee vibrant, durable results, you can ensure your clothes withstand countless washes and maintain their place in your buyer's wardrobe rotation. In this blog, we'll cover some of the most durable methods that not only enhance the longevity of your custom merch but also make sure it stays planet-friendly with each wear.
First up, we have screen printing—a classic method that’s here to stay. This technique uses a stencil (or screen) to layer ink on fabric, resulting in vibrant, durable colors that remain vivid through countless washes. (Need a visual? Check out our Instagram for a full look at our state-of-the-art high-volume printers.)
If you're looking to produce large batches of garments that benefit from a meticulous printing technique and you want those prints to stand the test of time, screen printing will always be our bread and butter.
But our take on screen printing is more of a whole-grain bread, grass-fed humanely raised butter kind of approach.
We work with eco-friendly inks and high-efficiency equipment to keep our environmental footprint low.
Water-based inks are softer and ideal for high-quality fabrics because they soak into the material, keeping it breathable and providing a natural feel. Customers love the softer, more natural feel these inks provide.
Screen printing offers the flexibility and quality needed to ensure your designs not only look great but also last a good long time, helping your merch make it to that coveted top 10% of your customer's closet.
Screen printing is renowned for its durability because the ink is applied in thick layers that bind strongly to the fabric fibers. This method creates a robust print that withstands frequent washing, friction, and the rigors of daily wear. The inks used in screen printing are specially formulated to maintain their color and integrity over time, ensuring that your designs look as good on the 50th wear as they did on the first.
Screen printing is an excellent choice for various industries, particularly for custom merchandise for bands. Bands need merch that can handle the intensity of tours, multiple washes, and enthusiastic fans. The vibrant, long-lasting prints provided by screen printing are perfect for creating eye-catching band t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel that fans will cherish. Band merch often becomes valuable over time, rising with the popularity of the band. So, the t-shirt printing method needs to be able to stand up to years of obsession by fans.
It's also a top pick for sports teams, corporate apparel, and event merchandise, where high-quality, durable prints are essential. Whether you're outfitting a team, promoting a brand, or creating unique pieces for your fans, screen printing ensures that your designs remain vibrant and intact, making it a versatile and reliable choice for high-quality custom merchandise.
Next up, we have Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing—a modern marvel in the world of apparel decoration. DTG uses advanced inkjet technology to print designs directly onto the fabric, allowing for incredibly detailed and vibrant prints.
If you're looking to produce small batches or custom pieces with intricate, colorful designs, DTG is your go-to. This method excels at capturing the fine details and gradients that other techniques might miss, making it perfect for high-resolution images and artwork.
Our approach to DTG is like crafting a perfect cup of single-origin, fair-trade coffee—carefully sourced and expertly executed. We use water-based, eco-friendly inks that bond with the fabric at a molecular level, resulting in prints that are not only vibrant but also soft to the touch and breathable.
Water-based inks used in DTG are free from harmful chemicals, making them a more sustainable choice. These inks penetrate the fabric fibers, ensuring that the print feels as good as it looks and maintains the garment’s natural softness.
DTG printing stands out for its ability to create long-lasting, high-quality prints. The water-based inks used in DTG printing bond directly with the fabric fibers, ensuring that the design becomes part of the garment rather than sitting on top of it. This deep integration makes the prints less prone to fading, cracking, or peeling over time, even after numerous washes. The result is a soft, breathable, and durable print that looks and feels great for the long haul.
DTG is also a great choice for fashion brands, boutique shops, and anyone looking to create high-quality, custom apparel with complex designs. It’s ideal for limited edition runs, personalized items, and on-demand printing, offering a flexibility that other methods can't match. With DTG, your designs will not only look amazing but will also endure, securing a top spot in your customer's wardrobe.
Let's talk about heat transfer printing—a versatile and efficient method that's perfect for producing custom designs on demand. Heat transfer involves printing your design onto a special transfer paper and then using heat and pressure to adhere the design to the fabric.
We love our partners at Supacolor for producing high-quality, sustainable heat transfers. Complete with OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, made with eco-friendly water-based inks and they are known for their 80+ wash reputation that the heat transfer will stretch and return to normal without cracking or fading for at least 80 washes. How's that for exceeding the 30-wear challenge? Booyah!
If you're looking to produce small batches or need a quick turnaround for custom orders, heat transfer is your go-to. This method allows for intricate, multi-color designs with photographic quality, making it ideal for detailed artwork and logos.
Heat transfer prints are known for their vibrant colors and durability. They maintain their brightness and detail through numerous washes, making them a reliable choice for lasting merch. Plus, this method works well on a variety of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and blends, giving you the flexibility to print on different types of garments.
Heat transfer printing is built to last because the design is embedded into the fabric using heat and pressure. This process ensures that the print adheres firmly to the fabric, resulting in a vibrant, durable finish that can withstand repeated washing and wearing. The inks and materials used in heat transfer are designed to resist fading and cracking, ensuring your designs look fresh and sharp over time (at least 80 times!).
Heat transfer printing is an excellent choice for a wide range of industries. It's perfect for creating personalized items, promotional products, and branded apparel for businesses. Whether you're producing custom t-shirts for an event, stylish uniforms for a team, or unique pieces for a retail store, heat transfer offers the flexibility and quality you need. Its ability to handle detailed and multi-color designs makes it a versatile option for producing high-quality custom merchandise that stands out and lasts.
Finally, let's talk embroidery—a technique that stitches designs directly onto the fabric with thread, creating a textured, durable finish.
Embroidered designs are the epitome of quality and durability. They can often outlast the garment itself, giving your merch a timeless, high-quality look. It’s ideal for logos and simple designs, adding a touch of sophistication and professionalism that stands the test of time.
Our take on embroidery is like crafting a fine piece of jewelry—every stitch is precise, and every detail is meticulously placed. We use high-quality threads and state-of-the-art embroidery machines to ensure that each piece is not only beautiful but also built to last.
Embroidery also lends itself to the application of custom patches. A cost-effective and detailed alternative to traditional embroidery. Custom patches can be salvaged if the garment itself wears out and can go on to live another life!
Embroidery lasts because it involves stitching threads directly into the fabric, creating a robust and resilient design that can endure wear and tear. The high-quality threads used in embroidery are designed to withstand multiple washings without fraying or fading, ensuring that your designs remain vibrant and intact over time. This technique produces a textured, 3D effect that adds depth and durability to your merch, making it a preferred choice for long-lasting, high-impact designs.
Embroidery is perfect for a wide range of industries. It’s a top choice for corporate apparel, school uniforms, sports team jerseys, and promotional products. The technique’s durability and professional look make it ideal for creating high-quality branded merchandise. Whether you’re outfitting employees with company logos, creating stylish team gear, or producing elegant promotional items, embroidery ensures that your designs stand out and last, securing their place in that coveted top 10% of your customer’s closet.
So there you have it! With the average piece of clothing getting tossed after just seven wears and only 10% of a closet in regular rotation, it’s clear that to stand up against fast fashion and stand out in the fashion industry, durability and quality are key.
Most consumers will make the responsible choice, given the option of protecting the planet. Make a difference with your merch production and give your brand the reputation it deserves with high-quality garments that will speak to the next generation of consumers. Because, hell yeah, it'll be around that long!
Whether it’s custom merchandise for bands, corporate gear, or stylish team apparel, each method—screen printing, DTG, heat transfer, and embroidery—brings something unique to the table. Screen printing offers vibrant, long-lasting colors perfect for bulk orders. DTG excels at detailed, high-resolution designs for small batches. Heat transfer is versatile and efficient, ideal for on-demand production. And embroidery provides a timeless, high-quality look that lasts.
By choosing sustainable practices and high-quality techniques, we can create merch that stands the test of time, making it to that top 10% of the closet. Let's make sure your designs are not only loved but also worn over and over again, contributing to a more sustainable future and showing that we can care for the planet while looking great.
