The 3 Essential Garment Decoration Techniques You Need to Know: Embroidery, Screen Printing & Transfer Printing

Whether you’re looking for custom garments for your business or a big event, picking the right decoration technique is key. Embroidery, screen printing, and transfer printing are the big players in the world of garment design, and each brings something unique to the table. In this guide, we’ll break down these three popular methods, so you can confidently choose the perfect fit for your next project!

1. Embroidery

What is Embroidery?

Embroidery is all about stitching your design directly onto the fabric, creating a textured, raised look. Whether sewn straight onto the garment or crafted as a patch, embroidery gives your design real depth. It’s a go-to for professional and high-end items like uniforms, caps, and jackets when you want to impress with a polished finish.

How Does Embroidery Work?

It starts with digitisation, where your design is converted into a file that the embroidery machine can read. Once that’s done, colourful threads are used to bring the design to life on your chosen fabric.

Why Choose Embroidery?

Durability: Embroidered designs are built to last, handling washes and wear without losing their shine.

Professional Look: It gives a premium, sleek finish that’s perfect for corporate gear or classy apparel.

Versatile: Suitable for a wide range of fabrics, from thick jackets to lightweight polo shirts.

Best For...

Business uniforms, sports kits, and anywhere you need a long-lasting, premium look. Embroidery is perfect when durability and style matter most.

2. Screen Printing

What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing involves pushing ink through a mesh screen onto fabric, creating bold, vibrant designs that pop. It’s a favourite for mass-producing t-shirts and other casual wear—think event tees, band merch, and more!

How Does It Work?

A stencil of your design is placed on a mesh screen, and ink is pressed through onto the fabric, one layer at a time. Each colour needs its own screen, and once it’s all printed, the ink is heat-cured to make sure it stays put, even after repeated washes.

Why Choose Screen Printing?

Cost-Effective for Bulk Orders: The more you print, the cheaper it gets, making it perfect for big runs.

Vibrant Colours: Screen printing delivers eye-catching designs that age well with wear and tear.

Versatility: Works on a variety of fabrics, making it great for everything from cotton tees to polyester blends.

Best For...

Screen printing is ideal for bold, simple designs with a limited colour palette. It's your go-to for event merchandise, promotional clothing, and large bulk orders.

3. Transfer Printing

What is Transfer Printing?

Transfer printing lets you take a design from special transfer paper or film and heat-press it onto the fabric. If you’ve got a design packed with details, multi-colours, or even photographic images, this is the method for you.

How Does It Work?

Your design is printed onto a transfer sheet, which is then heat-pressed onto the garment. Thanks to advanced Direct to Film (DTF) technology, modern transfer prints offer amazing durability and vibrant colours, even for the most complex designs.

Why Choose Transfer Printing?

Intricate Designs: It’s perfect for detailed logos, multi-colour gradients, and even photos.

Unlimited Colours: You’re not restricted by colour count, so go wild with full-colour designs!

Quick Setup for Small Orders: Minimal setup means it’s ideal for short runs and custom orders.

Best For...

Transfer printing shines when you need detailed, full-colour designs—think personalised gifts, promo items, or sports kits. It’s great for smaller orders or when you want a one-off design that still packs a punch.

Conclusion

So, which garment decoration technique should you choose? Here’s a quick recap:

Embroidery: Ideal for high-quality, long-lasting designs that add a touch of class to uniforms, jackets, and premium items.

Screen Printing: The best choice for bold, vibrant designs, especially when you need to print large quantities like event t-shirts or merch.

Transfer Printing: Perfect for intricate, colourful designs on smaller runs, from custom gifts to promotional pieces.

Still not sure which method is right for you? Get in touch with us! We’ll help you choose the perfect technique to make your garments stand out, whatever the occasion.