Hoodie Decoration Trends

Aug 1, 2008

Royal Apparel produced several thousand of this Dave Matthews Band fleece hoodie to mark the start of the band's new tour. The lettering is partially shredded, similar to the Abercrombie look [at retail], says Morey Mayeri, president. The company sewed down the applique, shredded it, then washed it to get the full effect.

Once a popular street or hip-hop item, the hoodie has now infiltrated all markets. "It started out as a more rugged, street look, but now, a lot of retail designers have been buying it," says Morey Mayeri, president of Royal Apparel, New York. "Distressed and vintage looks are probably the hottest treatments that people are doing to our hoodies. You can do an enzyme wash or a stone wash. There are so many ways to make it look worn." Edge grinding has been popular, he adds, but it's more for the designer market.

For full-zip style fleecewear, Royal usually decorates on the chest or across the zipper, says Mayeri, adding that the hood also is popular. "We have put embroidererd patches on the hood," he says. "Also, appliqué across the chest is popular. We decorate fleece using plastisol inks, water-based inks, appliqué and foil."

Cindy Sims, public relations and promotions manager for Heritage Sportswear, Hebron, Ohio, says decorators should look for kiss-close zippers so the design on the front is uninterrupted. "Be creative!" she says. "Decoration can wrap around the entire side, be added to the hood and embellished with sequins, studs, metallics and more." — H.H.

Shining Stars
Despite an overcast economic forecast for many industries worldwide, the decorated apparel trade continues to glimmer through the clouds, as is evident by the finely crafted entries Impressions received for the 30th annual Impressions Awards competition.
January 05, 2009

The Next Level: A Business Expansion Case Study
Raw Talent Inc. co-founders share the experience of a recent upgrade from one manual and one entry-level automatic press to two high-output, 8-color automatics.



On a good day's worth of production, Cody Murray and Corey Bramlett, president and vice president of custom apparel company Raw Talent Inc., Bethlehem, Ga., pull in what a majority of their peers earn in one salaried year.
December 17, 2008

DIGITAL EDITION

Buckle Up for a Thrill Ride
The decorated apparel industry, despite substantial challenges in the U.S. economy, is alive and…well, we could be doing better. Wall Street — and the economy in general — are on a wild roller coaster as the credit crunch continues and decorated apparel is not exempt. While no one can predict the future with certainty, this survey-based analysis suggests we'll be along for the ride, but perhaps on a smaller coaster that doesn't rise as high or plunge as fast as the monster whipsawing the rest of the U.S. economy.
December 01, 2008

Ink-Matching Tips
Screen printers have two options when it comes to ink color-matching systems: pigment concentrates (PC) or finished inks. Using pigment concentrates, printers can measure concentrated pigments according to the ink manufacturer's formulation guide and mix them with a plastisol carrier base. A finished ink system already has the correct base-to-pigment ratio, so the inks come ready to print.
December 01, 2008

How to Handle Dissatisfied Customers
Learn the best ways to handle customers who are unhappy with your shop's work.
Even the best decorators in the industry occasionally are confronted with customers who are unhappy with their work. The real question isn't who's at fault. The issue is: How should you handle a dissatisfied customer?
December 01, 2008