Are Blank Sweatshirts Suitable for Custom Printing?

Wondering if blank sweatshirts create a good canvas for custom printing? The brief answer is a resounding yes. But there is a lot more to the story. It's not only about putting a design on apparel. The material of your sweatshirt, the printing method you choose, and even the color all play a crucial role in the final result.

Are you running a clothing brand? Organizing a team event? Or have a custom printing business? Then, it's time to dig deep into the matter. You need to understand what makes blank sweatshirts ideal for printing. Don't know? Don't worry. That's what we are going to discuss in this article.

Smooth Surface For Clear & Bold Prints

First, get this, blank sweatshirts are designed to be customized. Manufacturers make the hoodies with a flat, smooth surface so that printers, embroiderers, and designers can do their magic without any interference. The quality of the fabric also plays a huge role here. Most high-quality blank sweatshirts are made from cotton or cotton-poly blends. Cotton absorbs ink perfectly, making it perfect for screen printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) methods. On the other hand, polyester works great with sublimation printing. And a cotton-poly blend? That gives you the best of both worlds. And it actually holds up well even after washing.

At The Clothing Space, you can find wholesale blank sweatshirts in different styles such as crewneck, hoodies, zip-ups, oversized fits, and so on. With this versatility, your custom project won't have to be centred around only one style. You can pick the silhouette that fits your vision and then personalize it the way you want.

Screen Printing, DTG & Embroidery

The printing method you are going to choose should depend on factors such as budget, complexity of design, and order quantity. Because every method is different, and they require different materials to work on.

Screen printing

This remains one of the most popular options for all the custom printers. It produces bold, vibrant colors that last a long time. If you are printing a large batch with the same design, screen printing will be the best deal for you since it offers the best cost per unit. However, it is not ideal for designs with tons of colors or minute details because each color requires a separate screen.

DTG Printing

This is where things get exciting for small batch orders or detailed artwork. Think of it like a giant inkjet printer for fabric. It works perfectly on cotton blank sweatshirts and can recreate photographic-quality images.

Heat Transfer

Heat transfer is a solid method for names, numbers, and simple graphics. They are affordable and quick. Thus making them popular for sports teams and events. Just be aware that the quality and the feel on the fabric is quite different compared to screen or DTG printing.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation is the wildcard. It is incredible for all over prints. It produces results that become part of the fabric. The catch? It only works on polyester or polyester-coated materials. So keep that in mind when you are choosing your blank sweatshirts.

What Material Should You Choose?

Now that you know all about printing methods, let's talk about quality. This is where most people take things casually. You find a cheap blank sweatshirt, print on it, and then wonder why the design cracks after three washes. That's why the quality matters. You should choose blank sweatshirts with a fabric weight of at least 7 to 8 ounces if you want something premium. Lightweight options are also available. But they work fine only for casual projects. The heavier fabrics hold prints better and last longer.

When shopping for blanks, always go for preshrunk fabrics. Imagine printing a gorgeous design and the next day, when you wash it, everything is distorted. That's why The Clothing Space provides high-quality, pre-shrunk sweatshirts from premium brands like Gildan, Hanes, Bella Canvas, and Champion. So, you have one less thing to worry about.

Stitching quality is another important factor. Go for double-stitched seams, reinforced shoulders, and ribbed cuffs. They are the indicators that your piece can handle the printing process well, and the print won't fade after repeated washes.

Savings With Bulk Orders

Here is where we come shining like a bright star. At The Clothing Space, we offer bulk buying discounts that can reduce your per unit cost drastically, sometimes by 40% or more. Also, that is not it. The bulk pricing also comes with a tiered discount, meaning the more your order quantity increases, the higher the discount you can avail. And when you combine that with screen printing, which gets cheaper as quantities increase, you have got yourself a really affordable custom merchandise strategy.

Conclusion

Are you stocking up for an online store? Need employees' outfits? Or prepping for a merch event? Bulk blank sweatshirts will give you the flexibility to scale without burning a hole in your pocket. The most successful brands have already figured this strategy out a long time ago. And, honestly, you should take advantage of the same opportunity too.

FAQs

Which fabric is best for printing on sweatshirts?

For printing on sweatshirts, 100% ring-spun cotton, cotton & polyester blends work perfectly. They can handle DTG printing, DTF printing, and screen printing really well, respectively.

Can blank sweatshirts handle large front or back designs?

Yes. Blank sweatshirts have a large, smooth canvas for printing. So, they can easily handle large fonts or any sort of back designs. In fact, sweatshirts are the best option for back designs.

Do printed sweatshirts fade after washing?

Yes. If the quality of the print or the fabric is low and cheap, the prints will easily fade after washing. Even the fibers would start peeling along with the prints as well.

Which is better for sweatshirts, screen printing or embroidery?

If we're talking sweatshirts strictly here, embroidery takes the dub by a small amount. Embroidery actually provides a neat and premium look. On the other hand, screen printing works well for large, vibrant designs, which often can look cheap.

Are blank sweatshirts suitable for bulk promotional orders?

Yes. Blank sweatshirts are perfectly suitable for promotional merchandise and orders. They provide a versatile, large canvas for low-cost branding.