Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 19

Sublimation could help
your business break into the
performance apparel market.

self. Run around the block on a hot summer day wearing a 100%
cotton T-shirt, then switch to a poly-performance garment and
do it again.)
Many poly-performance garments have the look and feel of
traditional polyester - shiny, slick and stretchy. However, there
also is a version that looks and feels like cotton - spun polyester. This provides multiple options for dealing with different
customer preferences. Both styles are quite popular, but with
different demographics.

A Preferred method

A

s the popularity of poly-performance apparel grows,
so does the interest in sublimation, since it's the ideal
method for decorating anything made of polyester.
Though it does have a few limitations, such as a lack
of white ink, sublimation delivers stunning, full-color
images on white and light-colored garments with ease. Plus, it's
one of the only decoration processes that won't fade, crack or
peel when laundered, due to the molecular nature of the sublimation process. Combine these perks with the low entry cost of
apparel sublimation equipment and it's easy to see why sublimation is such a hot topic in the apparel decoration industry.
So what exactly is poly-performance?
Poly-performance is a polyester fabric that is composed of tiny
moisture-wicking cells that pull perspiration away from the skin
and transfer it to the outer surface of the garment where it evaporates. In a hot environment, this creates a cooling effect on the
skin. In a cold environment, the wicking process keeps skin dry,
which makes the wearer feel warmer.
Though 100% cotton has a reputation of being the coolest
fabric to wear in a hot environment due to it's breathability,
poly-performance apparel actually is more comfortable, even
though it's made of polyester. (Don't believe it? Try it for yourA Supplement to Impressions

Poly-performance apparel can be decorated using several different methods, but sublimation is the best form of embellishment as
it permanently bonds with polyester fibers at a molecular subsurface level.
In comparison, processes such as screen printing and directto-garment printing rely on chemical additives called binders to
adhere the ink to the surface of the garment. Wear and tear from
stretching and releasing of the fabric caused by everyday activity,
taking a garment on and off, and repeated washings, will cause
the binders to gradually lose their grip, which in turn results in
cracking and peeling.
In addition, surface-based inks tend to block some of the
moisture-wicking cells in the garment, which then reduces its effectiveness. Sublimation recolors fibers and does not block the cells.
Sublimation is applied via a heat-transfer process. The image is
created and printed onto sublimation transfer paper using a
sublimation-capable printer loaded with sublimation inks. The
transfer is then applied to the garment using a heat press. The combination of heat (400°F), time and pressure causes the ink to turn
into a gas. At the same time, the heat causes the polyester fibers to
open up so that the sublimation ink (actually a dye) permeates the
fibers rather than coating the surface of the fabric like ink. When the
fabric cools down the fibers close up, permanently retaining the new
color of the sublimation dye.

obstAcles & chAllenges

Sublimation, like other processes has a few challenges of its own.
The first is that white ink is not available for sublimation. Thus, it has
developed a reputation of being limited to white garments, which is
not completely true.
Sublimation works fine on light colors and even some medium
colors depending on the colors of the design. Obviously, without
white ink, you cannot apply the color white to a colored garment, but
as long as the ink colors are significantly darker than the fabric itself,
you can work with colored garments. In addition, because sublimation is a dye, it is transparent, which means you must experiment to
find the best color combinations for a given garment color. But when
done properly, the results are excellent.
But what about dark garments? True, without white ink, the
standard sublimation process will not work with dark garments, but
there is another process that can be used: all-over printing.
Spring 2018 * 19



Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018

Impressions - Team & Spirit Apparel - Spring 2018
Contents
Apparel Tech Trends
What Millennials Want
Sublimating Performancewear
Locker Room
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Impressions - Team & Spirit Apparel - Spring 2018
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Cover2
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Contents
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 2
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 3
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Apparel Tech Trends
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 5
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 6
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 7
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 8
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 9
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - What Millennials Want
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 11
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 12
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 13
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 14
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 15
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 16
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 17
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Sublimating Performancewear
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 19
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 20
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 21
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 22
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Locker Room
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 24
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 25
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 26
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 27
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - 28
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Cover3
Impressions – Team & Activewear – Spring 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20231011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com