The Transfer Print Column
How to heat print denim jackets T
he fi rst recorded denim jacket was created in the late 1800s by Levi Strauss to complement his invention of jeans just a few years earlier. Jean clothing was intended to be a newer hard-wearing type of work apparel for cowboys, miners and railroad workers and was estimated to have a 50-year lifetime guarantee in each denim jacket. Over the next 50 years, Strauss released many versions of the jacket all intended for different purposes and weather conditions. As time went on, denim jackets permeated popular subcultures like punk and pop and after being popularised in fashion by celebrities, the denim jacket became an everyday wardrobe essential with retail brands still churning out Levi Strauss lookalikes to this day.
Keeping in mind the original longevity expectations of the denim jacket, it’s no surprise that these garments are not the cheapest to purchase. High street stores sell these garments between £35 to £100 depending on the brand, with designer pricing extending upward into the thousands. When each customer is likely to purchase just one of two in their lifetime, no matter the status of your heat printing brand, you should consider denim jackets as a premium addition to your product range.
So how do you get started printing denim jackets?
All denim jackets have a large space on the back which is perfect for fusing. Most will fi t an A4 size print on this section. Denim jackets also have fl at panels on the left or right chest area as well as having sleeve spaces without seams that make a great area for design.
To print denim jackets that offer your customers longevity, you need a reliable heat press and heat applied material. Having a heat press with accurate and adjustable pressure is key for printing on denim jackets. Using a heat printing pillow is a great way to create a fl at printing surface, because it the seams to sink into the pillow as the heat press comes down. Of course, adding this
| 54 | June 2024
extra accessory under the heat press will affect the pressure, so always remember to adjust the pressure of your heat press to allow for the pillow before heat applying the garment.
Place the pillow into the platen and test the pressure before placing the garment under the press. This avoids scorching and applying too much unnecessary heat to the garment. Once you have accurate pressure, you can load the garment onto the platen and pre-press your garment. Three to fi ve seconds at the recommended temperature of the transfer will remove any excess moisture and creases from the jacket, getting the print area ready for the decoration method.
What’s the best decoration method?
1-5 Colour Screen Print Transfers are made with real plastisol inks, so you can real screen print fi nishes without the need for actual screen printing equipment. Create high-quality fi nishes, especially speciality inks such as neon and metallics. 1-5 Colour Screen Print Transfers take just 10 seconds to apply, so a short time for the garment to be under the heat press, reducing the risk of scorch marks on denim jackets. With any heat transfer decoration, there will be a specifi c time, temperature, and pressure you’ll need to apply them at. Having a heat press that can accurately measure these elements will ensure you
With retail trends making their way through to the print industry, it’s no surprise we’ve seen an increase in variety of garment types and decoration methods. One item in particular which has grown in popularity is the denim jacket. Here Molly Harmon, senior marketing executive at Stahls’ UK, explains more.
get a perfect result every time. Place your transfer onto the pre-pressed garment while avoiding the seams. Fuse for the recommended time and peel either hot or cold depending on your decoration method. If you’re using a high quality decoration method you will not need to fuse your transfer twice.
Increase profits with additional print locations
When was the last time you saw a denim jackets in a retail store with just one decoration location? Denim jackets have multiple areas you can decorate, as well as the classic back print. By adding multiple print locations, you can make your products stand out from competitors as well as increase profi ts as you can charge for each additional print locations.
Heat print pillows come in four different sizes, including a leg sleeve and a 25x25cm. So, you can easily add screen print transfers to sleeves, left chests, collars and more. For the leg sleeve platen, test the pressure of your heat press with just the pillow fi rst, as with the main back print. Once your pressure is set, thread the pillow into the sleeve of the jacket, pre-press and apply your screen printed transfer. You may fi nd it useful to use heat tape for this application, to ensure the transfer doesn’t move during application. For a left chest, if your jacket has a pocket with a button, a pillow will also help here with the raised areas sinking into the pillow during application.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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