Branded shirts are very effective in promotional marketing. They offer a simple and cost-effective way to optimize your brand exposure and awareness to potential customers. It is an excellent strategy to avoid looking like a small business, even as a startup.
However, if you want to produce promotional t-shirts for your brand, you may wonder which fabric to use. You want a comfortable, durable fabric that maintains a perfect print to ensure continuous use and effective promotion. This article will help you select the best fabric for branded shirt printing.
Understanding Fabric Types
All t-shirts aren’t created equal; different fabrics with unique features and characteristics are used for t-shirt production. It’s important to know your available fabrics to choose the best type for t shirt printing. Below are some popular fabrics used in shirt printing and how they fare with ink and print:
Linen
This material is excellent for hot and sunny climes. It is breathable, lightweight, and has a unique texture. Linen absorbs ink perfectly to produce natural prints. However, you must handle it carefully while printing because it wrinkles easily.
Cotton
Cotton is another comfortable, breathable t-shirt material that absorbs ink well to produce vibrant prints. It is also durable and easy to maintain. Unfortunately, cotton shrinks easily, making it selective to printing techniques for optimal prints.
Polyester
This is a popular shirt material for its moisture-wicking ability, durability, and wrinkle resistance. It is also a popular material for gym apparel. It is also good with prints, allowing durable and vibrant prints. However, it doesn’t absorb moisture well, so ink might remain on the surface longer.
Spandex
While spandex requires special inks and printing techniques, it is a good t-shirt material for its flexibility. Prints on spandex t-shirts can expand without cracking, making them durable for branded t-shirts.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Fabrics
When branding t-shirts for business promotion, your success in printing and brand promotion depends on some key factors. Some of these include:
Printing Technique
The effectiveness of a printing technique depends on the fabric used. Some fabrics may even require a specific printing technique, such as screen printing or Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing. Always confirm the printing technique available to you and its compatibility with your fabric choice.
Print Quality and Aesthetics
Different fabrics absorb ink and produce prints differently. Some produce excellent textual prints but poor image prints, while others do well with both. Verify your expected print quality for your specific design before choosing a fabric.
Durability and Wearability
The length of your t-shirt promotional campaign lasts until the useful life of each shirt unit. It’s reasonable to choose a durable fabric for branding. Similarly, it’s important to choose a wearable fabric. The t-shirts will do you no good if they’re uncomfortable and not worn by the intended users.
5 Tips for Successful Shirt Printing
The main aspect of t-shirt promotional campaigns is producing the shirts. It can be an overwhelming task with room for many crucial errors. Nevertheless, here are five tips to help you ensure successful printing:
- Choose the right fabric
- Select a good printing technique
- Use an effective design that is comfortable for wearers
- Work with an expert printer
- Make text prints before bulk prints
Endnotes
T-shirts are effective for promotional marketing. However, your campaign’s success depends on the success of your shirts; hence, the need to choose a good fabric for shirt printing. Select from popular fabrics like linen, cotton, or polyester. Consider printing techniques, print quality, wearability, and durability when choosing fabrics for a successful shirt printing and promotional campaign.
