17 Dec Embroidered vs Vinyl Printed Workwear

Embroidered vs Vinyl Printed Workwear

We often have customers ask us for embroidery.  This used to be the go-to method for garment branding, but these days there are so many other options.  The new DTG (Direct to Garment) machines offer a really viable alternative for bulk orders and offer a full colour solution that screen printing struggled with.

We offer three types of branding onto textiles – and there are good reasons why this does not include embroidery.  Perhaps it still has a place on knitted hats, but to be honest, clothing branding has come on a lot that there is not much to recommend embroidery over vinyl printing these days.

Embroidered vs Vinyl Printed Workwear:

• Is a method where an image is stitched onto a fabric – this is the method and the only method.
• It is priced by the thread, so for individual or short runs, the set up cost can be prohibitive
• It creates a rear patch through which the stitches are fixed. This can cause irritation and nipple rash
• It also creates sag on light weight fabrics
• The very method of its stitching makes it unsuitable for modern stretchy fabrics
• It is liable to bunching and fading over many washes, especially on cotton
• Your design will not have crisp edges as the threads lead to bluring on small lettering
• There are limitations on multi-colour logos or very small lettering
• It works well on woollen and fleece products
• Hygiene can be an issue for sterile situations as germs/matter can be caught in the threads
• And most importantly, many outer garments have their waterproofing damaged by use of embroidery
• If you have never seen a commercial embroidery machine in action, take a look here

Vinyl Printing vs Embroidered Workwear:

• This method has really developed over the years, with lots of different types of vinyl made for different types of garment
• We use a leading brand called Siser, which has a longer life and does not crack
• Vinyl printing is really better for smaller designs and logos.  It can feel stiff on larger single patches
• It sits on the surface of the garment so there is no internal irritation
• Ideal for short runs or single items as there is no set up fee.
• Very cost-effective for print-to-order or on-demand
• Works best for single or double colour overlay – not suitable for full colour unless printed onto vinyl
• Not suitable for woollen products and some fleece – although recycled microfleece responds well
• There are vinyls suitable for stretchy material
• Adheres well to light fabrics
• Lots of lovely colours and specialist finishes such as mirror, glitter etc
• Washes well at modern low temperatures, do not tumble dry
• Hygienic to wipe or spray with antibac.
• Works well on caps and bucket hats

At Griffin Designs we offer:

1. Block cut vinyl printing – using the new Siser stretch vinyls – ideal for single or dual colour designs
2. Printed vinyl – full colour designs on nearly all types of fabrics
3. Ink transfer system using the Uninet colour – so detailed it can even print photos

So whatever type of garment you want printed, we have you covered.

If you have any doubts or would like to see a sample of our work, please ">get in touch.