The technology available to today’s decorated apparel manufacturers is absolutely incredible. However the rush to take advantage of new technology that broadens a manufacturer’s range of potential decorating options appears to be no rush at all. Perhaps the economic downturn of 2007 thru the present has diminished the possibility of capital investment for many custom t-shirt companies, embroidery companies and their digital t-shirt printing counter parts.

According to the latest data from SGIA only 6.7% of all respondents are exclusively using digital printing to decorate apparel such as custom tee shirts and custom sweatshirts. Companies claiming to exclusively decorate apparel by screen printing methods stood at 30.8% while companies that claimed embroidery as their exclusive method of decorating stands at 66.70%.

The marketplace has changed dramatically since the introduction of direct-to-garment printing.  Many non-screen printers have entered into the decorated apparel world. Retailers and internet marketing companies have led the way in the digital t-shirt market. One of the primary reasons this segment has adopted digital t-shirt printing is the low minimum order quantity that can be generated with relatively little hassle. Embroiders have adopted the technology due to the fact that they often sell in small quantities and see custom digital printing as a means to compete with screen printers.


End Part One

Blue Heron is the nation’s leading digital t-shirt printer. We print exclusively with Kornit Digital Equipment. We also screen print and do embroidery in-house.

07/14/2010
Little Falls, New Jersey 07424