Custom Printed Clothing: Flocking, Screen Printing, Embroidery or DTF?

Customising clothing starts with choosing the right printing technique. Each one has its own strengths. Here's how we decide, project by project, in our workshop.

Flocking (heat transfer vinyl)

A coloured film is cut out and then heat-pressed onto the fabric. Best for simple designs, numbers and small runs. Crisp finish, bold colours, budget-friendly. Less suited to gradients and highly detailed visuals.

Screen printing

Ink is applied through a stencil (one screen per colour). Best for medium and large runs: vivid colours, outstanding wash durability and a unit cost that drops as quantity rises. Setting up a screen per colour makes it less cost-effective for single items.

Embroidery

The design is stitched in thread. Best for polos, jackets and caps: a raised, durable, upscale finish, perfect for company logos. More expensive for highly detailed or large-format designs.

Digital printing: DTF / DTG

The design is printed and then transferred (DTF) or printed directly onto the fabric (DTG). Best for photographic visuals, gradients and complex designs, even for a single item: no limit on colours.

How to choose?

• Small quantity, complex visual → DTF.
• Large run, few colours → screen printing.
• Professional logo, premium finish → embroidery.
• Numbers, simple visuals → flocking.

The simplest approach? Tell us about your project and we'll point you to the best technique right from the quote stage. See our custom clothing service or request a quote.