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Dyeing: Our white
100% cotton styles 976C, 479WC and 905BWC are sewn
with cotton thread and this means they can be dyed.
We suggest you work with your dyer to strip and
scour these garments prior to dyeing. Due to
irregularities that may occur after dyeing, we
assume no responsibility.
Wash Instructions:
-
Machine wash warm with like
colors
-
Only non-chlorine bleach when
needed
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Tumble dry medium
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Do not iron if decorated
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Dry-clean: any solvent except
trichloroethylene
Shrinkage: Tolerance
for wash shrinkage is 8% for width and 10% for
length. This is an industry standard in the
wholesale/imprintable marketplace.
Ghosting: Ghosting
is a problematic issue that is due to fading only on
100% Cotton fabrics. Fading occurs from using ink
with Free Radicals, used on 100% cotton, coupled
with excessive heat over 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bleeding: Bleeding
occurs on 50/50 blends when an ink that does not
contain Free Radicals is coupled with excessive heat
that will release dye particles from the fabric.
This dye will combine with the ink to appear as the
base color bleeding through the white print area.
FYI:
*Inks manufactured for 50/50 must not be used for
printing 100% Cotton.
*Inks manufactured for 100% Cotton should not be
used for printing blends (50/50).
*In all cases the printer should check on samples or
scrap before printing large numbers of garments.
Other suggestions:
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Use a Transfer Print made for
100% Cotton shirts, 1.e. without Low Bleed inks.
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Use a piece of paper or board
between layers of the shirt.
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Lower the temperature.
Color to Light Fastness:
This is a problem to be expected from various light
sources over varying lengths of time. Do not leave
the shirts in direct sunlight- or, expect if the
shirts will be worn outside for numerous hours,
fading and discoloration can occur. Auto wash spray,
fertilizer and sun tan lotion may also cause dyes to
fade when exposed to sunlight.
General Printing
Suggestions: Always check to see if the
plastisol ink is cured. Print on a test sample or a
scrap identical to the planned printing project.
To prevent dye migration: tightly
control the temperatures of flash and final cures
and pay close attention to the fabric your printing.
Printing On Camouflaged
Bags: The nature of the camouflage printed
bag is to bleed through any other print placed over
the camouflage base print. Dye migration will occur
as the heat in drying causes the camouflage printed
dyes to revert back to a "liquid" state.
To improve on this problem the
printer must:
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Use an ink formulated for 100%
Polyester fabric.
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Use an 86 mesh count
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Print
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Flash
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Print
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Dry no higher than 300 degrees
Fahrenheit
-
Dry for a minimum of 1 1/2
minutes
By following the above procedure
the printer will have done everything possible to
reduce the bleeding. Using the lower heat setting
will lessen the tendency of the camouflage inks to
migrate through the over print. By printing and
flash drying the printer builds a print surface that
will help stop the migration to the final coat of
ink. The increased dwell time will allow the ink to
cure.
Printing on Camouflaged
Tees: The nature of the print on the
camouflage is to bleed through any other print
placed over the camouflage base print. Dye migration
will occur as the heat in drying causes the
camouflage printed dyes to revert back to a "liquid"
state.
To improve on this problem we
suggest the following:
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Use an ink formulated for high
bleed resistance like a poly white or ultra
white
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Use a 140 or lower mesh count
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Print
-
Flash
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Print
-
Dry no higher than 300- 320
degrees Fahrenheit
-
Dry for a minimum of 1 to 1 1/2
minutes
By following the above procedure
the printer will have done everything possible to
reduce the bleeding. Using the lower heat setting
will lessen the tendency of the camouflage inks to
migrate through the over print. By printing and
flash drying the printer builds a print surface that
will help stop the migration to the final coat of
ink. The increased dwell time will allow the ink to
cure.
Towel Printing Techniques:
Towel Art: A classical use for water base inks, but
one that requires printers to make a lot of
adjustments. Remember that you are coloring loops
that can be moved in any direction. This eliminates
fine lines from consideration, because they will
disintegrate into a scattering of dots when loops
are disturbed. Lines finer than three times the
length of the loop must be avoided (the shorter the
loop the finer the detail).
Inks: Water base inks from a wide
range of manufacturers can be utilized. Mixing
instructions to achieve multiple colors will
accompany these products. Water base inks will dry
in the screens.
Meshes: A wide variety of mesh is
used in towel printing. We recommend that you use a
range from 60 to 160 mesh in full contact with the
substrate. This should give adequate penetration to
color the bottom of the loops.
Emulsions: A wide variety of
emulsions are available. When ordering emulsions ask
your local distributor for a water resistant
product.
Squeegee: 60 to 70 durometer dull,
rounded or slanted shape is required to achieve
adequate penetration.
Print speed: A fast stroke with
heavy pressure works best.
Softener: Can be added to inks for
a softer hand. Contact ink manufacturer for these
products.
Drying: Towels are best dried in a
gas or forced hot air oven because the loops
insulate ink from infrared energy. Even with a
proper oven, 3 to 4 minutes at 330° F (165° C) is
usually required to achieve wash fastness. Printers
with only infrared dryers can rack or line dry prior
to running towels through the oven. Additives can be
purchased and added to inks to ensure wash fastness
if an adequate oven is not available or when rack or
line drying. Please note that additives only work
after the water has evaporated and stops working in
less than 24 hours. Air drying must be completed
within a few hours to ensure wash fastness when
using additives.
Silk Screening Plastisol Inks onto dri-release®
Fabrics
It is very important to follow
these instructions for printing onto dri-release®
to insure that the fabric is processed properly, in
order to maintain a cotton-like feel and achieve a
quality print.
-
Load your dri-release®
garment onto the pallet. (Because of the
softness of your dri-release® t
shirt, be careful not to over tack the pallets
and pull the shirt out of shape while loading).
-
Flash the garment for about 10
seconds prior to printing
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Flash the garment between each
successive print, or each screen
-
Print your dri-release®
garment according to the ink suppliers
instructions. (Follow the printing instructions
supplied by your ink manufacturer and your
dri-release® t shirt will respond
brilliantly)
-
Dry your dri-release®
garment according to the ink manufacturers
instructions. (Most plastisol inks are cured
with a gas or an electric infrared dryer by
rapidly bringing the ink up to curing
temperature. Curing times vary from dryer to
dryer, but most printers use 20 to 40 seconds at
300-325 degrees Fahrenheit to provide a complete
cure and is a recommended optimal drying
temperature for Dri-release fabrics)
*Please note that the
temperature refers to the temperature of the ink
deposit achieved, not the control settings. This is
best checked with temperature tapes or with a laser
thermometer.
Ink Selection:
Since dri-release®
is a combination of natural and synthetic fibers,
plastisol inks work very well. However, if for some
reason additional adhesion is needed, you may want
to add 10-15% (by weight) plastisol bonding
catalyst.
While printing
on dark colored Dri-release garments make sure to
use Low Bleed Inks and Low bleed Whites.
Note:
Please allow 24 hours for the plastisol/ink
combination to set before packing the garments.
*Always remember to check for
scorching, burning or fabric shrinkage from
excessive heat.
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Adidas Hat Clip
- a conveniently portable ball marker clips
right to a cap or visor for golfers to mark their ball location when
the ball has to be moved for instance to clear the path for another
golfer.
Air mesh -
a mesh that has multiple layers to allow
air to pass through the fabric.
Airjet yarn
- cotton and polyester garments which
provide for a virtually "pill free" look, wash after wash.
Allen Solley
placket - a one-piece placket that's
hidden after being sewn. This process utilizes the existing fabric
for the outside placket face. This is an upscale placket type.
Award jacket
- a baseball-style jacket with contrasting
striped trim.
Anatomically
correct straps - Straps on a golf
bag that are designed to fit the shape of a person's shoulders for
maximum comfort.
Ballistic nylon
- a thick, durable, synthetic nylon fabric.
Banded self collar
- a type of collar made of the same
material as the shirt. The two basic kinds of this collar are the
simulated, made of two pieces, or the true, made of four pieces.
Baseball shirt
- a shirt style that features a crew
collar, white body, and three-quarter-length raglan sleeves in a
contrasting color.
Basket weave
- a variation of the plain weave in which
two or more threads are woven side by side to resemble a "basket"
look. Fabrics have a loose construction and loose appearance.
Besom pocket
- reinforced top seam found on the pockets
of golf shirts. This reinforced top seam keeps the pocket in shape
and more durable.
Binding -
a strip of material sewn or attached over
or along the edge of something for protection, reinforcement or
ornamentation.
Blanks -
undecorated items or apparel; also refers
to "blank" goods.
Breeze Knit
- garment-washed cool knit. By garment
washing, the cool knit gets a softer hand and reduced shrinkage.
Brim -
a sun screen that goes all the way around a
hat. An example would be a tennis hat.
Broadcloth -
a close plain-weave fabric made of cotton,
rayon or a blend of cotton or rayon with polyester.
Buckram backing
- stiff fabric used to give shape and form
to items like caps, belts, etc. Also used to stabilize embroidery
edges.
Cabretta leather
- a leather made from the skins of sheep
that grow hair rather than wool, tougher than other sheepskins and
used chiefly for gloves and shoes
Calendaring
- essentially an ironing process that adds
sheen to the fabric by the use of heavy rollers (or calendars),
pressure and steam heat.
Chambray -
a plain weave fabric, usually of cotton or
rayon, or a blend of these.
Chino Cotton
- A coarse twilled cotton fabric used for
uniforms and sometimes work or sports clothes.
Clean-finished
placket - typically the interfacings
of plackets are raw or edged, which means they can look ragged or
uneven, particularly on light-colored shirts. By cutting the
interfacing in a rectangle, turning the edges under and fusing them
in place, there is a straight placket with no raw edges. All that
shows inside the shirt is the smooth edge.
Coach's jacket
- style of jacket, comparable to a basic
windbreaker, with fold-over collar and slash pockets.
Color blocking
- merchandising and/or cutting term whereby
a certain type or block of colors ends up in the same place every
time on the finished garment.
Combed cotton
- cotton yarn that has been combed to
remove short fibers and to straighten or arrange longer fibers in
parallel order.
Combing -
a secondary cleansing process performed to
remove additional impurities from the staple fibers after carding.
This is a better, more refined cotton than carding.
Compacting -
process that compacts the space between
fabric fiber pockets. This will prevent cotton shrinkage.
Comprehension straps - straps which securely hold the inner contents
of a bag.
Compression molded
- a solid, pre-formed molded panel that is
created using compression.
Constructed
- a constructed cap has buckram backing.
Cool knit -
a variation of pique that results in a
different texture and surface appearance. It resembles a "waffle"
pattern.
Cotton sheeting
- plain-weave cotton fabric, usually
prelaundered, used for fashion sportswear. It's wrinkled to create
crinkle cotton.
Crestable panels
- panels that are available for custom
branding.
Crew collar
- a rounded, ribbed collar cut loose to the
neck.
Crinkle cotton
- wrinkled or puckered cotton obtained by
cloth, construction or finishing. It is prelaundered and made from
cotton finishing.
Crop top -
a shirt style made to expose the midriff.
Cross cut -
fabric knit on a pique machine, which is
altered slightly to provide a unique stitch. The face of the fabric
is two-toned, which gives it a dimensional, textured look and feel.
The garment stitching will have a horizontal appearance rather than
a vertical one.
Cross grain
- this term is used for heavyweight fleece
fabric. The fabric is sewn between ribs or panels on the side part
of the garment for extra thickness and durability.
Crown -
the upper-most part of the cap of a hat
that is sewn to either a hatband, brim or sweat band.
Debossed silicone
- a stamped, soft silicone process versus a
raised mold; this material is often used for colored bracelets
Denier -
600 vertical threads and 600 horizontal
threads that help make a garment more durable and stronger.
Denim -
a basic or cotton or blended fabric with
right- or left-hand twill constructions. The wrap is usually dyed
blue with a white filing.
Divot Repair Tool
- a useful tool for any golfer, this item
is used to replace and mend any divots created in the grass with the
swing of a club
Double-needle
- a double row of stitching at the
seam.
Draw cord -
a cord or ribbon run through a hem or
casing and pulled to tighten or close an opening or drawstring.
Drop seam -
a seam that is cut and lays below the
shoulder of the garment.
Drop tail -
a design feature found in upscale products
where the back of the garment is longer than the front, sometimes
referred to as an "elongated" back.
Egyptian Cotton
- Cultivated in Egypt's Nile River Valley,
this cotton is considered the best cotton in the world. The
particular growing season gives the cotton the longest and strongest
fibers, making it ideal for weaving into smooth, strong yarn.
Commonly used in high-end towels and linens.
End on end -
a weave in which the warp yarn (the yarn
running lengthwise) alternates between two colors.
Enzyme wash
- washing process that uses a
cellulose-based solution to obtain garments that appear to have been
stonewashed or acid washed. The solution physically degrades the
surface of the cotton fiber. The appearance and hand of the garment
are identical to stonewashed and acid washed garments. However, the
fabric surface is not damaged to the extent of a stonewashed or acid
washed garment.
EVA molded -
a type of foam with softness and
flexibility that yet can be processed like other thermoplastics. The
material has good barrier properties, low-temperature toughness,
stress-crack resistance, hot-melt adhesive waterproof properties and
resistance to UV radiation for maximum durability.
Fabric memory
- a term used for cotton fabric. When
washing instructions are followed, it will always come back looking
as if it were brand new.
Face yarn -
the exterior yarn of a fleece garment.
50/50 -
50 percent cotton/50 percent polyester
fabric; also referred to as "polycotton".
Fleece -
a fabric with a pile or napped surface,
sometimes of a unit construction; commonly used in sweats.
Football jersey
- a jersey shirt with a slight v-neck,
stitched yoke and one-half-length to three-quarter-length sleeves.
Fused lining
- a lining that is fused to the two outer
plies with solvent, heat and pressure. It's used to stabilize or
stiffen parts of a garment, such as a pocket or collar.
Garment wash
- process of industrially washing garments
after they have been manufactured to remove sizing; it also softens
and pre-shrinks.
Grommet -
an eyelet of firm material to strengthen or
protect an opening.
Gusset -
triangular inserts in sleeve seams to widen
and strengthen.
Hand -
quality or characteristic of fabrics
perceived by sense of touch, e.g. softness, firmness, drapeability,
fineness (i.e. its tactile qualities).
Heavyweight
- fabric heavier than 10 ounces per linear
yard, equal to 1.60 yield. Standard weight in the industry is 8
ounces (2.0 yield) or lighter.
Henley style
- shirt featuring a banded neck and button
placket; may be ribbed.
Herringbone
- a decorative pattern of rows of slanted
parallel lines alternating direction row by row.
High cotton
- type of cotton fabric that results in a
soft hand. Therefore, it has little or no lint and a tighter knit,
which makes for ideal screen printing.
High profile
- determines the look of a cap. A
high-profile cap's arch begins at 3 inches.
Honeycomb pique
- a knit fabric that is characterized by a
wider waffle-like appearance, which actually allows the wearer more
comfort.
Indigo dyeing
- indigo dye is a substance taken from the
indigo plant. There are many chemical imitation indigo dyes. Indigo
dye color can only be achieved through a process of dyeing where
yarn is dipped into a dye bath and is then allowed to oxidize. The
number of dips determines the depth of the indigo color-the more
dips, the darker the color.
Interlock -
a fine-gauge knit fabric produced by
interlocking or interlocking stitches on a circular knit machine.
Similar to a jersey, except both front and back of fabric look
identical. Interlock is a variation of rib knit construction. The
fabric is extremely soft, firm and absorbent.
Jacquard knit
- dyed yarn knit on sophisticated equipment
to produce a desired pattern and/or texture.
Jaspe pique
- two color yarns create subtle tone
variations on the surface of the fabric. This will allow exceptional
embroidery surfaces.
Jersey -
a type of fabric with a flat appearance,
knit on a circular, single-knit machine; its principal distinction
is that it is not a fabric with a distinct rib.
Kasha-lining
- a lining principally for jackets
featuring cotton flannel, napped face and imitation chambray back.
Lap shoulder
- Lap shoulder - an infant's shirt where
the back panel or body parts overlap the front panel at the neckline
where the set-in sleeves start. See style 101 Bella Baby
Short-Sleeve T-Shirt.
Lisle -
high-quality cotton yarn made by plying
yarns spun from long, combed staple.
Locker loop
- a self-fabric loop sewn into the center
of the back yoke seam for a functional styling detail.
Logo -
an artistic interpretation of a company's
sign or symbol. These figures can be copyrighted or trademarked.
Permission is needed for duplication.
Low profile
- determines the look of a cap. A
low-profile cap's arch begins at 2 to 3 inches.
MAG pockets
- magnetic access pockets.
Marbled -
a texture that involves a body color with
contrasting highlight flecks on the surface. These flecks give the
garment a heather-like appearance.
Mercerization
- a process that eliminates all of the
small "hairs" of yarn, which adds to its luster. This yarn is then
additionally run through a caustic solution, which further smoothes
and adds gloss to the yarn surface by burning off additional fabric
hairs.
Microfiber -
very fine fibers, which give a unique
appearance and soft hand. Microfiber fabrics are generally
lightweight, resilient and resist wrinkling. They have a luxurious
drape and the body retains its shape and resists pilling. They are
also very strong and durable.
Mock turtleneck
- a shortened version of the turtleneck
where the neck of the garment does not fold over.
Nailhead woven
- consists of a solid background and color
and little pinheads' (or small nailheads) of fabric spaced at
regular (and very small) intervals. The effect of this pattern is
that the background color tends to overshadow the nailhead pattern.
NuBlend fleece
- a three-end fleece made of 50% cotton and
50% polyester with an anti-pilling surface.
Nubuk -
a synthetic leather with its finished
surface buffed to a slight nap or suede-like appearance.
One-ply yarn
- one strand of thread is used to form the
yarn that is woven into terry loops.
Open-end yarn
- a process that eliminates some
manufacturing steps needed for ring-spun yarn. This cost-saving
process is passed on to the garments produced.
Ounces per sq. yd
- a measurement of fabric weight, a weight
that customers usually ask for when making a comparison to
competitive brands.
Oxford -
soft, somewhat porous, cotton shirting
weave that creates a soft, nubby texture.
Peach finish
- a soft hand (feel) usually obtained by
sanding the fabric lightly; it can be achieved with chemical or
laundry abrasion.
Peruvian Pima
Cotton - Peruvian Pima Cotton is
often referred to as the "cashmere of cotton" the softest,
smoothest, "silkiest" fabric you can wear. Shrinkage standard for
Peruvian Pima fabrics is a maximum of 5 x 5 if the garment is washed
following directions on the label.
PFD -
prepare for dyeing. It indicates that the
garment has been specifically prepared for the garment-dyeing
process.
Piece dying
- fabrics that are dyed solid colors after
they have been woven or knitted, but before they are sewn into a
garment.
Pigment dyeing
- a class of dye used on cotton or
poly/cotton. Neon or fluorescent colors are done with pigments.
Dyers also do a distressed look using pigments. Pigments have the
least degree of fastness of all the dyes, but create the brightest
colors. Pigment dyes will typically stay in the pastel range unless
it's neon. You cannot deepen color with a pigment.
Pima cotton
- high-quality yarn made by plying yarns
spun from long combed staple.
Pinpoint oxford
- two fine yarns that are wrapped together
for a fine and luxurious hand.
Pique -
a knit fabric that is characterized by its
waffle-like appearance.
Placket -
the construction that forms the opening in
the front of the shirt, allowing the wearer to put it on and take it
off with ease.
Plain weave
- simplest, most common of all basic
weaves. The surface provides a smooth surface for printing.
Polar fleece
- knitted using 100% fine denier polyester
yarns. The pile is napped on the front and back to promote a very
soft hand with exceptional loft. This is a fine denier knit that
also allows the fabric to dry quickly.
Polynosic -
a type of microfiber that is a blend of
polyester and rayon fibers and having a soft finish.
Poplin -
a medium-to-heavyweight unbalanced plain
weave. It is a spun yarn fabric that is usually piece dyed.
Powder dyeing
- process that allows polyester to blend
with cotton to give a garment a dyed appearance. Powder dyed
garments ensure consistent color, wash after wash.
PrintPro -
fleece fabric construction with a two-end
yarn system that allows for an increase in the amount of stitches
per square yard.
PU construction
- a synthetic split leather with a layer of
polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed.
Quarter turned
- an additional manufacturing process where
the mill rotates 1/4 of a turn to put a crease on the side of the
product rather then the front of the product.
Raglan -
a raglan sleeve is stitched under the arm
and in two parallel lines leading from the armpit to the neck; it
makes for ease of arm movement.
Ramie -
a strong, staple fiber of cellulose yielded
by the inner bark of the ramie plant. It's often used as a less
expensive substitute for linen or cotton, and is usually blended
with cotton, flax or silk.
Reactive dye
- special dye used on a garment which
produces, when the label's wash instructions are followed, a more
set-in color tone.
Resin treatment
- the addition of thermosetting resins
applied in the finishing process, used to control the shrinkage of a
fabric and add durable press characteristics.
Rib -
a stretchy fabric normally used for trim.
This stitch is formed by two sets of needles at right angles to each
other. The face of the fabric appears to be the same as the
backside.
Ring-spun yarn
- yarn that is reproduced on ring frame
equipment. This yarn produces a softer hand when knit.
Ringer tee -
a shirt, usually white bodied, featuring
ribbed crew neck and sleeve bands in a contrasting color.
Sandwich hat
- a hat where there is contrasting trim
between the upper and lower part of the visor.
Scoop neck -
a rounded neck, larger than a crewneck, but
smaller than a boatneck.
Seamless collar
- a collar that is knit in a circle and is
set in circular. There are no joining seams on the collar, found in
better-made t-shirts.
Set-in sleeve
- a style of sleeve that is sewn into the
shoulder, as opposed to the neck.
Sheared -
refers to the towel's finish. A sheared
surface is created clipping the loops on one side of the towel.
Sheared terry is often referred to as having a velour finish. The
shearing process creates a plush and smooth finish, which is great
for printing or embroidery. The weight of the fabric has a big
impact on the overall appearance of the shear. A heavier weight
fabric enhances the velour appearance because there is more material
to shear.
Sheeting -
a plain-weave cotton fabric usually made of
carded yarns.
Shoddy -
clippings of extra fabric from the
production of tees is gathered, sorted by color, then processed into
a pulpy material called shoddy. This material is then respun into
yarn and used to create recycled apparel.
Side seams -
seams that join the front and back
together. This feature is not found on T-shirts and some placket
shirts.
Single-needle
- a stitch, requiring a single needle and
thread, characterized by its straight-line pathway. A single-needle
shoulder seam has been finished with a visible row of stitching,
single needle, for additional reinforcement and fashion.
Sonic weld logos
- A type of logo treatment, where the
graphic is applied without the use of stitches. A direct injection
of material is applied to the fabric to create the logo.
Staff bag -
a style of bag used on the PGA Tour and
other professional tours.
Standard Athletic
Team Colors - standards for all
primary team colors to better control uniform standards; used to
ensure consistency across product lines
Staple -
the actual length of a cotton fiber.
Stonewash -
a finishing process that creates a
distressed appearance, including a softer texture, puckering at the
seams and slight wrinkling. Garments are tumbled together with
stones (usually pumice stones) in larger washers. This process is
usually applied to indigo-dyed denim garments. Different sizes of
stones can be used and length of washing time can be varied to
achieve different effects.
Sublimation
transfer - method of subliming a dye
pattern, through the use of heat, onto polyester fabric from a paper
carrier.
Sueded fleece
- a very smooth and luxurious fleece that
is made with an 80/20 cotton and polyester blend; a unique finishing
process wherein the fabric is gently "sanded," which causes the
fleece to become very soft.
Taping -
a design feature whereby a piece of fabric
is used to cleanly cover a seam. The term is used when referring to
shoulder-to-shoulder taping.
Taslan -
100% nylon fabrication with a
water-resistant coating that has been woven as a twill and washed to
provide a soft hand.
Tencel -
a fiber made from wood pulp. Tencel gives
fabric a very soft, smooth and luxurious hand.
Thermoplastic
- a plastic that is soft and pliable
when heated without any change of the inherent properties.
Tour Preferred
- TaylorMade's top level product.
TPR rubber -
a specific form of rubber used on logos.
Tubular knit
- a golf shirt style with no side seams.
The bottom is rounded all around.
Twill -
characterized by a diagonal rib. Twill
weaves are used to produce a strong, durable, firm fabric.
Two-ply yarn
- two strands of thread are used to form
the yarn that is woven into terry loops.
Unconstructed
- an unconstructed cap has a relaxed fit
without backing. It fits closely to the wearer's head.
Waterproofness
- the ability of fabric to withstand
penetration by water. Conventional waterproof fabrics are generally
coated with chemicals or laminated with a film that closes the pores
in fabric. (See waterproof/breathable).
Waterproof/breathable - ability to
keep water from penetrating but permits water vapor to pass through.
There are over 200 fabrics of this type available today, offering a
varied combination of waterproofness and water vapor permeability.
Water repellency
- the ability to resist penetration by
water. Not as rigorous a standard as waterproofness. Water repellent
fabrics cause water to bead up on their surfaces while allowing
insensible perspiration to pass through. Water beads up and rolls
off a water-repellent fabric.
Water resistant
- a treatment to fabric that actually
allows water to "bead" and fall off a garment.
Weather resistant
- a loose term referring primarily to a
fabric's wind-resistant and water-repellent properties.
Water-resistant fabrics are those that resist the penetration of
water. The greater the force of impact as the water hits the fabric
surface, the greater the likelihood that it will penetrate the
fabric.
Welt cuffs -
cuffs on short sleeve garments formed from
a single ply of ribbed fabric with a finished edge. Fabric for welt
cuffs is knit in a bolder stitch construction than that of standard
1 x 1 ribs.
WindPro -
tested perforated umbrellas.
Woven -
fabric constructed by the interlacing of
two or more sets of yarns at right angles to each other.
Wrinkle-free
- the basic process for imparting the
wrinkle free finish into fabric involves applying a resin into the
fabric, drying and curing at extremely high temperatures to the
desired dimension, scouring to remove any residual chemicals, and
final drying. The application and curing of wrinkle-free may occur
before or after the garments are produced. "Precured wrinkle-free"
means that the finish has been applied to the fabric before the
garment has been manufactured. Because the "postcure wrinkle-free"
means that the finish has been applied after the garment has been
manufactured and because the "postcure wrinkle-free" process is set
into the final, pressed garment, it is more popular.
Yoke -
contoured portion of a garment, usually at
the shoulder or hip.
It's true what they
say: "Knowledge is Power." And when
you're faced with the challenges of
dressing your team for success, a little
knowledge can go a long way from knowing
what's popular and why... to what terms
mean when you see them on a label or in
a catalog... even to fun tidbits of
information people find interesting. All
this can simplify your decision making,
streamline your process, and show your
team you've done your research. And that
will build their confidence in you,
boost pride in their work, and virtually
guarantee a more productive, powerful
performance in the office and on the
field.
Here, we've provided you with some of
that knowledge... peruse it, have fun
with it, use it in whatever way you can
to put the power to work for you.
Casual Fridays and Dress Down Days
In order to compete in the employment
marketplace, employers in the 90s searched
for creative options to attract new
employees and retain present ones.
So, what happened?
Wearables shot to the #1 category in
Promotional Products, up 3 points from 24%
to 27% in one year.
Why did this happen?
- 90% of all US companies have casual day of
some kind
- 1/3 of all companies allow casual clothing
every day
- More than 40% of all companies have
expanded their casual dress options in the
last three years
Casual wear Business wear Human
Resources Survey
- 87% - improves morale
- 81% - perceived by employees as a benefit
- 51% - employees save money because of
casual dress
- 47% - improves productivity
Given the chance, 96% of employees take
advantage of dressing casual.
What employees said
- 81% - improves morale
- 57% - I'm judged now more on my
performance than appearance
- 57% - better camaraderie with managers and
co-workers
- 51% - do best work when casually dressed
- 43% - boss is more approachable
46% reported that if they were offered two
equal positions, the employer who offered
casual days every day would get preference.
The 4 basic
classifications of Corporate Casual at work
today are:
Boardroom Casual
Apparel that's different than the
traditional business suit, but still
appropriate for the boardroom. Blazers,
oxfords, vests, ties, and scarves are the
operative words here.
Business Casual
Professional dressing that's perfectly
suited to attend a meeting, conduct a
seminar or to meet a client. Banded collar
shirts, oxfords, denims, vests, sweaters and
turtlenecks are your main menu here.
Relaxed Casual
Office-appropriate attire that's
professional enough to face customers, but
comfortable enough to sit in front of the
computer. Golf shirts reign supreme in this
area, as well as denims, chambray shirts,
fashion fleece, sweaters and turtlenecks.
Dress Down Casual
Casual apparel for a labor-intensive day
such as cleaning out files or organizing
your area. Tees, sweats and denim are your
directions on this one.
When holiday time
rolls around, showing appreciation to
clients and the people on your team can
prove to be a smart move for encouraging
more business and productivity in the
office. Give gifts of golf shirts, woven's,
tees, fleece, or caps tastefully decorated
with your logo, and you can increase the
benefits to corporate identity programs.
Consider these opinions of small business
owners when asked about holiday gift giving:
- Over 75% feel it helps improve their
business
- Over 55% believe it leads to increased
sales
- Over 70% consider it an important part of
their marketing effort
- Over 85% believe it improves employee
morale
Still not sure if
golf shirts are right for your team? As the
game itself continues to skyrocket, so does
the popularity and acceptability of golf
shirts as a staple of corporate casual dress
codes. And, with the numbers of people
playing golf today, the odds are in your
favor that the majority of your team will
-at the very least- be wearing your golf
shirt on the green. Just consider these
stats about golfers:
- 21.5 million men
- 5.1 million women
- With 2.1 million, juniors (aged 12-17)
represent the fastest-growing group
- With 7 million, the 30-39 year age group
is the largest percentage at 26.4%
- 1 in every 4 golfers is a senior (2.7
million aged 65+)
- 43% hold
Professional/Management/Administrative
occupations
Question:
Why do women's shirts button on the opposite
side than men's?
Answer:
Way back in Medieval times, women did not
usually dress themselves. They had handmaids
to help them. Therefore, the dressmakers
designed the garments so the buttons were in
the proper position for the dressers, the
person USING the buttons. The tradition
continued throughout the ages and even into
today's styles.
Question:
What percentage of the American workforce is
female?
Answer:
60%, making Ladies' style shirts
increasingly popular for all types of
corporate casual decision makers.
Question:
What does "pre-shrunk" really mean?
Answer:
It is NOT pre-washing the fabric. It is a
process where the bolted, uncut fabric is
run through rollers containing tiny nubs
that press the fabric over the nubs,
creating grooves which condense it. This
puckered shrinking effect then allows for
real shrinking when washed. Therefore, the
fabric . not the shirt . is pre-shrunk
before it is even cut and sewn.
Question:
Where did the word "jersey" in jersey knit
come from?
Answer:
It is called that because it was first
knitted in the Jersey and Guernsey Islands
in the English Channel.
Question:
What type of garments are embroidered more
than any other?
Answer:
Golf shirts. They comprise 53% of all
garments embroidered, followed by caps at
21%.
Question:
What is the origin of the pouch pocket
that's so popular in today's fleece styles?
Answer:
It actually dates back to the 1800s when
muffs became a fashionable accessory for
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to keep
their hands warm and conceal money and small
treasures when traveling.
Question:
What makes Microfiber so much softer
than other fabrics?
Answer:
Most other fabrics have 70-80 tendrils of
yarn per strand. Microfiber has 216 tendrils
per strand. It's more finely woven, more
luxurious, also windproof and waterproof.
Question:
Where does the name "Henley" come from?
Answer:
Copies of this shirt, a no-collar knit with
buttoned placket, were worn by rowers in
Henley, England. It was originally a rower’s
shirt.
Question:
What is a "half moon sweat patch" and what’s
it really for?
Answer:
The inset back yoke of many upscale-type
golf shirts. While called a "sweat patch,"
it is actually there for decoration purposes
and extra collar support.
Question:
Name three colors that are popular for trade
show "uniforms" today?
Answer:
Any three bright colors. The brighter the
color, the more booth staffers stand out as
a team, so they can be found anywhere in the
booth. The trade is calling them "Crayola
colors."
Question:
Where did the American T-shirt originate?
Answer:
The "great American T-shirt" actually
originated overseas when American soldiers
in WW I took a lesson from their European
counterparts and started wearing cooler,
light-weight, cotton undershirts instead of
their wool uniforms in the hot summer
climates.
Question:
Where does the term "denim" come from?
Answer:
From the French "serge de Nimes," a twill
fabric made in Nimes, France from blue
vegetable dyes from the indigo plant, which
is why deeper hues of blue denim are called
"indigo."
Question:
What does the term "ounces" of fabric refer
to?
Answer:
The weight of the fabric based on one yard
of fabric.
Question:
How does the fabric "sanded gabardine" get
its soft finish?
Answer:
It is run through an actual belt sander so
that the fabric is extra soft before it is
cut and sewn.
Question:
Where does the word "khaki" come from?
Answer:
From the Hindu word meaning "dusty," which
applied to the light brown cotton of the
Indian army uniforms. Troops in 1850’s India
found their white uniforms would be dusty
within hours and began soaking them in mud
to turn the same practical khaki color.
Question:
Do recycled bottles actually play a role in
apparel manufacturing?
Answer:
Yes! Recycled plastic bottles are cleaned,
crushed, melted and extruded into the
polyester fibers that make many of today's
most popular fleece clothing. It's every bit
as warm and durable as virgin polyester...
but conserves more energy in processing.
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Logo Design
Following the tips below can help assure
the artwork you provide will achieve the
dynamic results you want when your logo
is screen printed or embroidered on your
wearables. It can also help increase the
efficiency and quality of the decorating
process. Art that is "ready" for use is
provided in an electronic file that can
be used for pre-press and printing
without making modifications. Below are
a number of important considerations and
tips to help get your art ready for
decorating.
Acceptable Artwork Formats
Art may be provided in any of the
following formats. Please note the
modifications that may need to be made
it order to make each format ready for
decorating.
For all three formats, proper
resolution is critical for clean
results. The standard resolution
for printed artwork is 300 dpi (dots per
inch).
Mechanical artwork
The traditional standard for acceptable
mechanical artwork is "camera-ready
black and white." Mechanical artwork can
be supplied on a sheet of white paper or
bromide, and should be no larger than
8.5" x 11".
Hand-drawn artwork
A logo that's been drawn by hand is a
great starting point, but it will need
to be digitized and modified for
practical use.
Digital artwork
Images created in Adobe Illustrator,
QuarkXPress, Adobe Acrobat Reader,
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Powerpoint are
preferred over mechanical and hand-drawn
artwork for quality of the end result
and efficiency. However, digital artwork
may still require modification and/or
preparation for the decorating process.
File suffixes: If your digital
artwork file ends with any of these
suffixes, it can be used to properly
prepare your art:
.bmp, .eps, .gif, .pct, .pdf, .tiff
Proofs: Any time you supply
digital artwork, be sure to include a
printed proof for reference.
Disk formats: When providing your
artwork on disk, it is best to use one
of these more standard disk formats:
CD-Rom, 100-megabyte Zip, or regular
floppy. 250-megabyte Zip, Jazz drive
disks, and Syquest disks are also
acceptable.
E-mailed art: When sending your
artwork via e-mail, be sure to provide
all of the basic elements, including:
- fonts
- layers
- paths
Unacceptable Artwork Formats
Artwork provided in the following
forms, or similar forms, will not be
able to be modified into ready art...
therefore delivering extremely poor
results when translated into decoration
for a garment:
- on a fax sheet
- scanned into a computer
- on a business card
- on a printed promotional item such as
a napkin or matchbook cover
Logo Placement
Consider these lesser-used, but
highly-noticeable garment locations for
a unique logo/artwork placement.
Estimating Stitch Count
Here is an easy way to estimate the
amount of stitches you'll need for great
looking logos.
- Print out the grid below
- Cut out your artwork and place it over
the grid
- Count the number of boxes it fills,
then find that number in the chart
- If your design goes outside the grid,
estimate the extra grid space you need
and add it to your original total.
Other Points to Remember when
Estimating a Stitch Count
- 1 solid square inch of embroidery
equals approximately 2,000 stitches.
- 1 solid square 1/4 inch of embroidery
will equal about 125 stitches.
- No letter should be smaller than 3/16"
each letter 1/4" in height equals about
100 stitches.
- Drop shadows in your logo will
translate to 200 extra stitches per
inch.
- Straight lines under logos typically
require 200 extra stitches per inch.
- Fabrics, colors, and artwork detail
will affect the amount of stitches.
It is important to remember that
these stitch-count tips, and the
stitch-count grid, provide
estimates only. They are a good
starting point to arrive at a ballpark
count, but the precise figure can only
be determined when the actual embroidery
of your design is performed.
Note: Due to differences in computers
and printers, the size of the grid may
be distorted when you print it out. Be
sure to check that 1-inch squares
actually measure 1 inch on your printout
(do the same for 1/4-inch squares). If
such a size distortion occurs, you can
scale your printout of the grid to a
more accurate size using a photocopier.
It's important to remember that every
color you want used in your artwork
means another screen to create, set-up,
and print through. The costs connected
with these screens depend on the
techniques used.
It's always beneficial to print more
items than less because of the set-up
charges involved. If in doubt about the
final quantity of screen printed items
you'll need, it's often more economical
to order more than you think will be
required.
Every color has an associated cost;
different colors have different chemical
make-ups, which make them more or less
expensive than others.
Drop shadows, shading and anything that
blends from light to dark will probably
end up looking like a series of dots and
should be avoided. (This does not apply
to single-color halftone gradients).
Most likely, the following special
requirements will add to your
screen-printing costs:
- If you need your screen-printing to
match an exact color, requiring inks be
custom-mixed to achieve that PMS color
- The process that allows colors to show
correctly on dark goods
- Additional locations on a garment
- Special (not the normal) logo
locations
The following guidelines can help you
streamline your buying and, therefore,
boost your profits.
Buying for Men: Any style listed
as Adult are sized for men. Adult
Golf-cut styles generally offer a better
fit for beefier male builds.
Buying for Ladies: Styles listed
as Ladies' are women's sizes. If the
women on your team prefer a Men's or
Adult style, select one size smaller
than what they would wear in Ladies'
sizes.
Buying for Groups: Use the charts
below for a general percentage to help
you determine how many shirts in each
size you need when buying for a group.
To calculate your buying quantities
by size, simply multiply the number of
people in your group by the percentage
in the chart for each size.
These are general guidelines only and
should only be used as a starting point
for determining necessary quantities.
Your group sizes may vary greatly.
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