Inking About Jersey Making

There are only a few ways that jerseys are decorated. Here’s a short explanation about each of them.

lightspeed magic

Images are printed using a special high resolution, full-color technology. While the prints are pretty soft, we’re able to use a special technique to remove very tiny lines or dots of ink to make the jersey feel even softer and make sure the design more durable. With this technique, the image may lose a little vibrancy, but we think it’s totally worthwhile to make the jersey feel as soft as a unicorn’s mane while adding breathability for the best athletic performance.

Benefits

Speed

Turnaround time is less than a week. Usually, we get your jersey shipped in 1-2 business days.

Quantity

No minimums. Order 1 or 1,000; it's all the same.

Color

Full color printing. No need to count colors or limit your creativity

Price

Simple, low-cost pricing. Single-sided jersey is $35 and double-sided is $40

Screen Printing

Ink is pushed through a silk screen with a design on it. Only the clear parts of the screen let the ink through. The ink sits on top of the fabric where it’s heated and set in place permanently.

Pros

Price

You can get cheap prints since they don't require expensive equipment to make

Color

Vibrant colors since the ink is printed on top of the fabric

Quantity

The process can be repeated quickly making large quantities easy to produce.

Cons

Price Scaling

Each color is printed separately so more colors costs more $$$ and the prices add up quickly

Feeling

Large prints feel heavy and don't breathe well

Minimums

Each color requires labor-intensive setup so so companies usually have minimum orders of 12+

Sublimation

Ink is turned directly from a solid into a gas using high heat and is absorbed by the fibers of the apparel.

Pros

Color

Vibrant and unlimited colors since the ink is printed in CMYK and infused directly into the fabric

Feel

Ink is infused into the fabric so you won't even feel it

Durability

The image lasts as long as the jersey

Cons

Price

Full color jerseys require expensive technology and specialized labor to print, cut, and sew the jersey so they're more expensive

Minimums

Given the labor-intensive setup, companies usually have minimum orders of 12+

Long Turnaround

To save money, most companies outsource to China or other countries, but that means it takes longer to get your jersey