10 Custom Apparel Decoration Styles

There’s more than one way to print a custom T-shirt! 

From embroidery to debossed leather patches, using different apparel decoration styles when ordering custom T-shirts and other merchandise shirts can help your message shine. Here are 10 of the most popular styles and how to incorporate them for your business or organization.

Placing an order for custom T-shirts? Use this easy checklist to manage your project from start to finish.

1. Direct-To-Film

Direct-to-film transfers are a newer technology, making it easier than ever to reproduce designs on demand. To create these designs, a special film is applied to the shirt using a heat press and adhesive powder for quick and flawless application. It’s the perfect apparel decoration for T-shirts, polos, sweaters, outerwear, headwear and bags.

2. Screen-Printing

With a sweep of the squeegee, this time-honored technique applies detailed decorations to apparel of all kinds. To screen-print a T-shirt, special ink is pushed through a mesh screen stencil onto the fabric for a vibrant, long-lasting design. It’s a great choice for T- shirts, tanks and sweatshirts.

Why is Screen Printing So Popular?

Screen-printed T-Shirts are certainly one of the most popular options, but are they worth the hype? Here are five reasons why this method is enduringly popular: 

1. They’re affordable. Because one prepared stencil can print an unlimited number of T-shirts, many people hail screen-printing as one of the most cost-effective printing methods out there.  
2. The colors really pop. The screen-printing ink, which is thicker than most other inks, sits on top of the fabric instead of being absorbed into it.
3. They look great in action. Because the ink sits on top of the fabric on a screen-printed T-shirt, the ink (and therefore, the design) can bend and move with the fabric of the shirt, making it easier to read.  
4. They’re uniquely fade-proof. With proper care, the design on your screen-printed shirts will likely outlast the fabric they’re printed on.
5. Dark fabric? No problem. Because screen-printed designs turn out so bright and bold, the ink really stands out – even on darker fabrics.

For these reasons and more, it’s no wonder that screen-printed T-shirts have stood the test of time.

3. Simulated Stitch

Simulated stitch decorations have the varsity-inspired look of a sewn-on patch – yet the illusion of stitching in the design means you don’t need to break out the needle and thread. This is a great cost-effective option if you love the look of embroidery, but it doesn’t fit into your current project budget. It works particularly well with T-shirts, polos, headwear, bags and accessories.

4. Dye Sublimation Patches

Inspire awe in your audience when you reveal the beauty behind a dye-sublimated patch. These decorations are designed for a full range of color and are easily applied via heat transfer or embroidery. This apparel decoration method pairs nicely with polos, sweaters, cardigans, headwear and accessories.

5. Heat Transfer

Heat transfer is one of the most versatile tools in a decorator’s bag of tricks. Designs are printed onto transfer paper and then applied to the apparel with heat and pressure for a polished final product. It’s a great option when ordering T-shirts, tanks, polos, headwear, outerwear and bags.

6. Chenille Lettering Patches

Spell it out with a clear message that invokes a bygone era. Chenille lettering patches create a nostalgic vintage look with bright colors and bold letters, applied through heat transfer or embroidery.  It looks especially good on T-shirts, fleece, outerwear, headwear and bags.

7. Embroidery

Always a crowd-pleaser, embroidery uses the timeless tools of needle and thread to weave a charming decoration packed with depth, movement and detail. It looks great paired with your company’s T-shirts, polos, headwear, outerwear and bags.

What is the Best Fabric for Embroidery?

While many custom apparel items can be embroidered, there are several factors to take into consideration when selecting one.  Cotton, linen, silk and wool are all popular choices because they are tightly woven fabrics. This creates a stable surface – perfect for embroidery. These fabrics can support denser and more complex patterns than lightly woven fabrics. 

Cotton is often a popular choice for embroidering handkerchiefs, T-shirts and aprons. Jersey fabric is a bit more stretchy, but is usually made from some combination of cotton, wool and synthetic fabrics, which makes it another great choice of fabric for embroidery (especially with the help of a stabilizer). Cotton/polyester blends are another great T-shirt option with more breathability than cotton.

8. Puff Embroidery

Create even more depth in your decorations with this enhanced embroidery style. Adding a puffing agent under the sewing creates a raised decoration area that’s sure to impress. This is a popular design choice when ordering headwear, outerwear and bags.

9. Laser-Etched Leather

To create this Apparel decoration style, a laser creates designs in a leather patch which is then sewn onto the garment. A timeless touch for any design, this works particularly well with polos, sweaters, outerwear, aprons, headwear, bags and accessories.

10. Debossed Leather

This method is similar to laser-etched leather but instead of using a laser, the design is pressed into a piece of leather using pressure to create a sunken image. It’s also a popular choice for polos, sweaters, outerwear, aprons, headwear, bags and accessories.

Want to keep track of your different options for custom Apparel decorations? Download or screenshot this quick cheat-sheet.

Find Your Perfect T-Shirt Design at Full Press Apparel

Want to stay up to date with the newest and best trends in custom apparel and promotional items? Our team at Full Press Apparel can help guide you through popular items and how to incorporate them into your budget. From small projects to big orders, we’re backed by decades of experience and commitment to getting it just right. Call or send us a message today to discuss your big dreams and how we can make them happen.