Printing clothing for brands, universities, charities and bands
Printing clothing for brands, universities, charities and bands
Embroidered wholesale clothing for brands, universities, charities and companies - copy
Screen printing T-shirts and clothing
Not all screen printing is created equal. With us, you get years of screen printing experience, premium grade inks and some of the latest print technology ensuring the best quality and finish. Here are some of the reasons why you can trust us with your brand.
No minimum order
No matter how big or small your business is, we can help.
Premium standards
Industry-leading machinery, inks and threads mean retail quality, every time.
Built on sustainability
From day one of business it’s been our focus, it's in our DNA.
Responsive support
Our team of print and design experts are here to support you every step of the way.
When speed matters
Our pioneering technology means you can order online, or get a quote in seconds, 24/7.
What is screen printing?
Our screen printing service is relatively simple. It's a process of transferring a stencilled design by pushing ink through a mesh screen and onto a product, most commonly, fabric.
The versatility of the process combined with the use of specialised inks means that screen printing services are not just limited to garments. It is also possible to print onto many other objects, such as wood and plastic.
Unlike with DTG, ink is printed onto the fabric (not into it), leaving you with a slightly raised finish. This means that screen printing has a slightly textured feel to it. This textured finish is often the favoured choice for branded logo T-shirts found in retail stores, band T-shirts as well as classic university hoodies and merchandise.
Screen printing is perfect for...
Pantone matching
Large order quantities of 50 to 25,000+
Less complex designs
Merchandise and retail products
The benefits of T-shirt screen printing
When purchasing custom clothing, it is important you choose a decoration method that fits your requirements. To help you decide, some advantages of our screen printing service include:
Extremely economical when printing in large volumes
Fast turnaround times on large orders
Pantone matching available
Eco-friendly inks and low waste process
Works on almost all fabrics
The disadvantages of screen printing
Like all decoration methods, screen printing services have disadvantages. The main ones are:
Not suitable for orders under 25 garments
Less suitable for complex designs with lots of colours
Slower than DTG on small/mid-sized print runs
Unsure of which decoration method to choose? Don't worry, our experienced team will ensure you get the appropriate print method for your order.
Our business was built on sustainability from day one, with a commitment to sustainable screen printing and organic products woven into the DNA of our company. We use some of the most advanced screen print technology, ensuring minimal wastage, optimal production efficiency and superior quality. This is why some of the world's most environmentally conscious businesses trust us with their brand.
When it comes to inks, we aim to be as eco-friendly as possible. Many cheaper solvent-based inks contain harmful compounds and endocrine disruptors (phthalates), that are damaging to the environment. That's why we use 100% Phthalate free screen printing inks. We also use renewable energy at a number of our facilities here in the UK and overseas. We’re not simply adapting to the needs of the future, we are the future.
Your brand is everything and first impressions count, so when it comes to your screen printed clothing, don’t settle for second best. Our expert team uses some of the leading screen print technology available in Europe, ensuring unrivalled precision and quality.
Screen printing is one of the most economical print methods when printing in bulk, and with all production done here in our UK screen printing facilities, it can be one of the fastest ways to produce large orders of printed garments.
How much does it cost to screen print T-shirts and hoodies?
T-shirt screen printing can start from as low as £2.24. The price for a screen printed hoodie can be as low as £8.70.
For the best price, keep your designs simple with as few colours as possible.
Products that can be screen printed
The beauty of our screen printing service is that it works on almost any product. T-shirt screen printing, as well as hoodies, tote bags and coats are all excellent garment choices for this decoration method.
We’re proud to have partnered with some of the biggest brands in Europe. Get inspired with case studies from some of our other customers' screen printed products below.
Find out how we produced a range of ethically sourced merchandise including masks, hoodies, T-shirts and polo shirts that students, staff and supporters would want to wear. >>
Frequently asked questions about screen printing T-shirts and clothing
Is screen printing eco-friendly?
Sustainability is in our DNA and has been the basis of our business since day one. We do all we can to ensure our screen printing is as eco-friendly as possible.
We utilise some of the most advanced print technology in the industry and eco-friendly inks to ensure optimal efficiency, minimal waste, and the smallest possible environmental footprint. You can find more information on our approach to sustainable printing on our eco-friendly printing and embroidery page.
Is screen printing ethical?
Our screen printing is done here in the UK, where our small but close-knit team are paid a fair (and living) wage with good working conditions.
This, combined with our organic and ethical product ranges, ensures that from start to finish, your order is made in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
How long does it take to screen print a T-shirt?
As the old adage goes, how long is a piece of string? There are a number of variables that have an impact on the length of time it takes to print your order. However, the most important one is the Production Queue.
The production queue is the number of orders that are scheduled before your order; this is our way of ensuring every order is treated fairly. In some instances, we might be able to turn your order around in a matter of days, during busier periods it may well take a few weeks.
If you have a deadline for your bulk order, always let us know at the quoting stage, so we can ensure it can be met.
Do screen printed T-shirts last?
The durability of a screen printed T-shirt is often down to what inks were used and the proper application and curing of the print. Our expert team only uses the best screen print inks, ensuring optimal quality and durability.
If cared for properly and washed according to the garment’s instructions, your screen print should last as long as the clothing it is attached to. If you have had cheap screen printed T-shirts crack in the past, this may be a result of the inks used.
Which is the best T-shirt printing method? Screen printing compared to other print methods
Screen printing vs DTG printing (digital)
One of the most frequent questions we get is “should I go for screen printing or DTG printing?”.
In regard to quality, DTG is on par with screen printing; so when it comes to choosing the right print method, it’s less about which is ‘better’ and more about which is most suitable.
Many print companies try to argue that one method is better than the other but, generally, this is because they only offer one option. The reality is that both serve different purposes and work better in different situations.
If you’re bulk printing large volumes with a simple design, then screen printing is likely the best option for you. However, if you want smaller volumes or have a very complex design, DTG may be better suited.
What lasts longer screen printing or DTG?
DTG and screen printing are both fantastic print processes and have their own unique benefits and use cases. However, one thing that is consistent is their durability, both processes should last the lifetime of the garment.
Is screen printing better than heat press?
For simple designs on large volumes, screen printing is likely a more suitable choice than heat press transfers. However, if you’re printing a complex design with lots of colours onto a small order of polyester coats or sportswear heat pressing a vinyl transfer or digital transfer would likely be the best option.
This is just one example of where the design and quantity plays a significant role in dictating the best production method. If you’re ever unsure on the best print method for your order just ask our expert team.
T-shirt screen printing and embroidery
There are a few factors that come into play when deciding between screen printing and embroidery, the first is the fabric type and design size.
If the fabric is light (such as a T-shirt), but the design is large, then we’d generally recommend screen printing. A large embroidery can be very heavy, especially on something like a T-shirt.
On sweatshirts, hoodies, coats and other heavier items, a large embroidery wouldn’t be a problem and might actually be the best option. With fabrics like fleece, screen printing isn’t possible, so embroidery is the only choice.
The second element to consider is design intricacy. For intricate designs with finer details screen printing is generally the best option as the ink pigments are far smaller than threads. With threads being a lot thicker than ink pigments, it’s harder to get the same level of detail. So if you have small intricate text or design elements it’s likely best to choose screen printing.
The last factor to consider is personal preference. In some instances, like a simple design on a cotton hoodie, both print or embroidery would work well. In that case, it’s entirely down to which one you prefer, as both decoration methods are highly durable and look great.
T-shirt screen printing minimum order quantity?
The minimum order for T-shirt screen printing, sweatshirts and other garments is generally 25 products per style. However, if you’re not quite ready to place an order of 25 units, it’s no problem. We have an array of other print methods like DTG and transfer printing which have no minimum order and can be purchased quickly and easily online.
If you’re unsure of what print method is right for your order quantity or the number of colours in your design you may find our help centre article explaining what print method will be used on your order helpful.
How much does it cost to screen print hoodies?
The price for a screen printed hoodie can be as low as £8.70. This price is based on our most popular ethical hoodies.
The more colours you have in your design and the smaller the order quantity, the higher the price will be. For the best price, keep your designs simple with as few colours as possible.
Can I have my design at multiple sizes across an order?
Unless you’re placing a very large order of hundreds/thousands of products we’d advise against having multiple sizes of your design. Choosing to do that means you miss out on economies of scale.
For example, if you buy 50 T-shirts, but 25 of those items have the print at one size, and 25 have the design at a different size, you’ll end paying for two 25-unit orders and not one 50-unit one.
Ultimately people buy and wear products because they either love the brand or design, not because the design is 10mm larger than the competing brand’s design.
Please note, in almost all instances an order can be a mix of T-shirt sizes, without an impact on the price.
How does screen printing work?
When screen printing T-shirts or any other clothing items, there is generally a 6 step process that is followed. After your design is received, it will be used to create a stencil. The screen will be prepared by coating the screen with a light reacting emulsion. Your design will then be placed onto the screen and exposed to a bright light. The emulsion will react to the light, causing it to harden. This will leave a clear imprint of your design on the screen, ready for the ink to be transferred through.
Your chosen printed garment will then be lay flat onto the printing board, below the screen. The screen will then be lowered down onto your garment and a squeegee will be used to pull ink along the full length of the screen.
The ink will transfer through the open areas of your stencilled design, leaving a print of it on your garment.
This process can also be referred to as silk screen printing or silkscreening.
Where can I find more information about screen Printing?
If you want to find out even more about screen printing you may find the following blog posts a good place to start.
To explain this we need a brief look into the history of the T-shirt. While T-shirts are a comparatively new idea, screen printing dates back to the 900s AD in China and other Asian countries. Its age is why it’s one of the most well-known print processes.
Screen printing is a relatively simple process. It works by pushing ink through a mesh surface (the screen) onto a product, adding your design.
The versatility of the process means that it isn’t just limited to garments. In fact, screen printing onto T-shirts didn’t become popular until Disney began using the technique to add its famous cartoon characters onto garments that it later sold as merchandise.
Today, the process is a little more complex with automated machinery and advanced technology but the basic principles are very much the same. Unlike with DTG, the ink is printed onto the fabric (not into it), leaving you with a slightly raised finish, this means that screen printing has a slightly texturised feel to it. This is why it is often the process of choice for branded logo T-shirts found in retail stores, band T-shirts as well as the classic university hoodies and merchandise.
If you’re unsure on whether screen printing is right for you, don’t worry, our expert team will always help advise you on the best process for your order.
Are most T-shirts screen printed?
The economies of scale that come with custom screen printing mean that this process is still a firm favourite for producing bulk orders of printed T-shirts. Due to the nature of the screen printing method, it is best suited to less complex designs with fewer colours, however, it becomes extremely cost-effective on orders over 50 units and can be applied to almost all types of fabric.
Additionally, we can Pantone match our inks to your requirements.
While many people want to know what “the best print method” is, it’s important to remember that there isn’t really a ‘best’. It’s more about what is fit for the purpose.
If you’re looking for small volumes or have a complex full-colour design like a photograph, DTG printing is likely a better option.
What inks do you use?
As specialists in eco-friendly screen printing, we prefer plastisol as they generate far less waste and use much less energy than water-based inks. However, we can offer both options if you have a preference.
Many cheaper solvent-based inks contain harmful compounds and endocrine disruptors (phthalates) that are damaging to the environment. When you buy screen printed garments from us, you can be sure that our inks are 100% Phthalate-free.
For environmental and ecological reasons we would always recommend 100% Phthalate-free plastisol inks over water-based and special inks when screen printing T-shirts or other garments.
Is screen printing cheap?
Screen printing is one of the most economical print methods when printing in bulk, and with all production done here in our UK screen printing facilities, it can be one of the fastest ways to produce large orders of printed garments.
Behind the scenes
You can get a behind the scenes look at all of our market leading print technology in the video below.
How many products do you need?
We keep things simple, just select the quantity you need below, and our experienced team will ensure you get the appropriate print method for your order.
For print, embroidery & blank garments, our Online Shop is the fast & easy way to order. Every order (of any size) is checked by our print experts ensuring the best results every time.
Whether you're a startup brand, or a charity looking to sell merchandise, we provide an easy, risk free way to sell t-shirts online. Fulfilment on bulk orders also available.
Want to use a specific print process?
If purchasing custom printed garments, our system will use a number of variables to calculate the best and most appropriate production process. This keeps things nice and easy for you, and ensures you don’t have to spend years gleaning the knowledge of a printer before making your order. Your order is then checked over by our expert team, ensuring the most appropriate process has been assigned and that your artwork is in the suitable format. Please note all of our print processes are of the highest quality and durability, so perfect for whatever you need. If you do require a specific print method to be used, you’ll find details on how to do this & more information here.
Featured in:
"The go-to supplier for ethical and environmentally sound custom clothing & branded uniforms."
"Leading the way in Fairtrade with A.M. Custom Clothing"
"Another business with a canny growth strategy is Chester based, A.M. Custom Clothing, which provides personalised, printed garments."
"What sets this company apart is their option of fair-trade, organic and recycled garments to choose from"
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