Whether you're starting a t-shirt business or designing hats to distribute as holiday gifts, it's important to understand the best fabrics for screen printing. While one of the great things about screen printing is its versatility and the ability to customize a wide variety of fabrics, some work much better than others. Choosing the right fabric for your project ensures a positive outcome and takes the frustration out of customizing clothing and accessories. Read on to learn more about the best fabrics for screen printing.
Natural Fabrics
People have used natural fabrics as clothing for thousands of years. Cotton fabrics estimated to be more than 7,000 years old have been found in Mexico and Pakistan. These fabrics are derived from plants and animals and are ideal for screen printing. Wholesale t-shirts and sweatshirts made from cotton absorb color well and are comfortable to wear, making them perfect for this project. Other plant-based natural fabrics also work well, including hemp and linen.
Cotton is considered the best fabric for screen printing, but it has its drawbacks. It is prone to wrinkles and shrinkage. It also lacks moisture-wicking properties, so it can feel pretty sticky on a hot day. Although fabrics made from animal fibers are not used very often, they are also suitable for screen printing. But there are some disadvantages. Silk, for example, has a wonderfully smooth surface but does not absorb color well. As a result, screen-printed silk tends to have a more pastel, softer appearance. Wool is thick and absorbs color well, but it can be difficult to get ink evenly into all those nooks and crannies.
Synthetic Fabrics
Synthetic fabrics include man-made materials such as nylon and polyester. While they were once notorious for being uncomfortable, many modern synthetic fabrics are just as beautiful as their natural counterparts.
When it comes to screen printing, it is possible to use synthetic fibers. Yet in many cases, it is not encouraged. Synthetics also do not absorb color, and since most of these fabrics are very flexible, special inks are sometimes required.
Athletic shirts made from 100% polyester are often screen-printed by professionals. It still takes some serious effort to get it right, so we don't recommend this fabric for beginners. If you're thinking about it though, you'll have to pay close attention to the construction of the shirt. Woven shirts are usually best, but if the weave is too tight it may be impossible to get a good print. You'll also want to pay attention to heat resistance and flexibility.
Natural and Synthetic Blends
Fabrics that blend natural and synthetic fibers have become increasingly popular in recent years and for a few good reasons. Combining fibers such as cotton and polyester results in a fabric that has the best properties of each fiber while compensating for potential disadvantages. A shirt made from a cotton and polyester blend absorbs color as well as a shirt made of 100% cotton. And it has the shrink resistance of polyester, which means it will likely last much longer.
Although polyester does not absorb color well, it removes sweat from the skin and allows it to evaporate. Cotton, on the other hand, absorbs color and sweat and can be quite uncomfortable on a hot day.
When choosing shirts or even wholesale baseball caps for screen printing, it's often a great option to look for ones that contain a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. Many products, including plain sweatshirts, are often made from fiber blends and offer exceptional quality and comfort.
Fabrics to Avoid
While it's technically possible to screen-print almost any type of fabric, it's best to avoid some, especially for beginners. Clothing and accessories made from 100% polyester, Lycra, or Spandex are difficult to print and require special ink. Therefore, your best bet is to avoid them for your screen printing projects.
In addition, new fabrics such as faux fur are not suitable for screen printing. You need a relatively smooth surface, so any overly textured fabric is not suitable for the job.
Result
Whether you're making wholesale hats, wholesale t-shirts, wholesale sweatshirts, or anything else, the right fabric is important in the screen printing method. Get support from our professional team to get more detailed information on this subject.