Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 40

ON DECK

Retail Trends: Sublimation
By Jimmy Lamb, Contributing Writer

H

ave you ever seen a polyester garment with a design
that is so soft to the touch, it's
almost as if it's sunken into
the fabric? Ever wondered how such designs are produced? The answer is sublimation, a unique digital printing process that is making its mark on polyester
performance apparel, especially at retail.
Rather than bonding to the fabric like
most digital and screen printing inks,
sublimation dye penetrates the surface
to bond at a molecular level with polyester and/or polymers. (It does not work

Sublimation
Selling Points

➤ HD imaging on performance
garments
➤ Virtually unlimited color range
➤ No cracking, fading or peeling
➤ Competitive production costs

40 June 2015

on cotton.) The result is an image that
won't crack, peel or fade when laundered.
Essentially, the graphic will outlast the
garment - a huge selling point to customers who may balk at buying apparel
with designs that will break down over
time. Following are some other advantages of the process.
The HD Factor: In addition to being long-lasting, sublimation is a highdefinition (HD) application, such that it
can reproduce images and photographs
at high levels of detail and vibrancy. In
fact, sublimation is also used for many

non-apparel applications, such as wedding portraits.
The Garments: In terms of decorating poly-performance garments, which
rely on moisture-absorbing cells within the fabric, sublimation delivers toplevel graphics without blocking the cells,
which would inhibit the garment's performance factor.
The Colors: Sublimation dye - like
most digital inks - is transparent, such
that the background color impacts that of
the image. Thus, the fabric color of choice
for sublimation is white. However, it also
can be used on light colors, but does not
adapt to dark-colored garments. In addition, sublimation cannot be used to print
the color white. Thus, when sublimated
onto a white garment, a design's white
area is left "open" so that the garment
color creates the color white.
Full Coverage: All-over printing is a
popular technique that eliminates the
issues of fabric color and white imaging.
With this process, an image is created that
covers the garment's entire surface from
edge to edge. It may simply be a graphic
on top of a solid background or a large
logo (think licensed apparel). When applied to a white garment, it creates the
desired color for the shirt while applying
an image at the same time.
Sublimation is fairly simple, meaning
that costs are comparable to most traditional garment-decoration processes. The
result is an extremely sellable product
that customers will repeatedly crave.
Jimmy Lamb has more than 20 years of
apparel decoration experience. He currently is manager of communications
for Sawgrass Technologies, Charleston,
S.C., which specializes in digital printing
technologies. For more information, visit
sawgrassink.com.
SportsFan Retailer


http://www.sawgrassink.com

Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015

Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015
Contents
For the Record
From the Show Director
Starters
First & 5
MVPs
Fashion at the Forefront
When Inventory Gets Excessive
Apparel Takes Top Billing
Around the Leagues
Retailer Focus
On Deck
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Cover2
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 1
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Contents
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 3
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - For the Record
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 5
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - From the Show Director
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 7
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Starters
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 9
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 10
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 11
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 12
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 13
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 14
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 15
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - First & 5
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 17
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - MVPs
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 19
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Fashion at the Forefront
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 21
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 22
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 23
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - When Inventory Gets Excessive
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 25
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 26
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 27
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Apparel Takes Top Billing
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 29
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 30
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 31
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S1
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S2
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S3
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S4
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S5
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S6
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S7
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S8
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S9
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S10
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S11
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S12
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S13
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S14
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S15
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S16
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S17
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S18
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S19
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S20
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S21
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - S22
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Around the Leagues
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 33
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 34
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 35
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Retailer Focus
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 37
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 38
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - 39
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - On Deck
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Cover3
Impressions - Sports Fan Retailer - June 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
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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