Impressions - September 2009 - (Page 10)

Apparel in a New ‘Lite’ West Palm Beach, Fla.-based ThreadLites has found a way to make T-shirts shine. “ThreadLites provides full digital color capability,” says Rich Butler, president of U.S. Branding Group. “We liken it to putting Times Square billboard advertising on apparel.” ThreadLites Illuminated Branded Apparel is a joint venture between U.S. Branding Group and Luminous Media Optoelectronics Ltd., pioneer of electroluminescent (EL) products in Southeast Asia. U.S. Branding Group is working to bring EL shirts and caps to the United States. EL uses organic phosphor powder sandwiched between electrodes or thin PVC panels that are printed in full digital color. When electricity passes through, the phosphor powder expends its energy by emitting light, brightly illuminating the panels in a display of flashing colors. EL panels can be die-cut, and are soft, lightweight and ThreadLites Illuminated Branded Apparel uses EL technology to produce customizable apparel that becomes illuminated in a display of flashing colors. Most PoPular ImpressIons Web articles Most saved 1. Add Dimension To Enhance Clip Art 2. Regular Maintenance Avoids Embroidery Machine Repairs 3. How to Apply Oversized Heat Transfers 4. How to Tackle T-Shirt Embroidery 5. 2009 Top-Volume Shops Stay Strong in Tough Economy Most Printed 1. Regular Maintenance Avoids Embroidery Machine Repairs 2. Add Dimension To Enhance Clip Art 3. Off the Cuff: Issues in Industry Specific Accounting — Part 2 of 2 4. Off the Cuff: Issues in Industry Specific Accounting — Part 1 of 2 5. File Fixes Avoid Poor Sewouts pliable when sewn onto a shirt or cap. “ThreadLites is all about customization,” Butler says. “Our in-house graphic art and design team brings logos and brands to life through illumination.” EL apparel uses low-voltage AAA or button cell batteries that are tucked away under each shirt, or hidden inside the brim of a cap. The company’s other non-apparel products, such as illuminated cocktail tables and floor mats, require a direct current and outlet. Another of the company’s innovations, TechnoThreadz shirts and caps, incorporate a battery pack with a miniature microphone that picks up sound. The illumination reacts only to that sound, producing an equalizer effect. Butler says EL plush toys, sewn bags and other soft goods like hoodies, sweats and polos are expected to be introduced later this year. For more information, visit threadlites.com. — Jennifer Morrell Imprintables Warehouse Reveals Contest Winners Imprintables Warehouse, Masontown, Pa., has announced the winners of its Spectra Patterns contest. Spectra Patterns are CAD-cut materials that come preprinted with a design, such as candy canes, holiday lights, skulls, checkerboard, retro diamonds, snowflakes and more. There are 34 patterns now available, with others slated to be added. Taking first place was Bridget VanGinkel, B&D Embroidery & Screen Printing, Two Rivers, Wis., who used Spectra Patterns to decorate a doll house, including the bed spreads, wallpaper and doilies. She won a Hotronix Most e-Mailed 1. Vend a Tee 2. Add Dimension To Enhance Clip Art 3. New vs. Used Embroidery Machines 4. Regular Maintenance Avoids Embroidery Machine Repairs 5. How to Sell Decorated Apparel to School Organizations to read any of these articles, visit impressionsmag.com. Find the search box at the top of the page and input the article title (in full or in part) — in quotation marks — and hit enter on your keyboard or click the blue circle next to the search box. Bridget VanGinkel, B&D Embroidery & Screen Printing, won first place in the Imprintables Warehouse Spectra Patterns Contest. She decorated items in a doll house with the Spectra Patterns material. Auto cap press with standard and children’s size platens, as well as 10 yards of Spectra Patterns material. Second-place went to Mark and Lisa Schultz, Logowear Extrordinaire, Somerset, Ky. They received a Phoenix mug press and 10 yards of Spectra patterns material. Diane Brown, Sport Connection, Salem, Ohio, placed third and she received 15 yards of Spectra Patterns material. The criterion used in determining winners was the most creative use of Spectra Patterns. Imprintables Warehouse staff judged all entries. To see images of the winning entries, go to imprintableswarehouse.com. — J.l. impressionsmag.com Impressions >> September 2009 http://www.threadlites.com http://www.impressionsmag.com http://www.imprintableswarehouse.com http://www.impressionsmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - September 2009

Impressions - September 2009
Contents
First Impressions
FYI
Product Gallery
Decorators Open Up on DTG Workflow, Profits
Jacket Sales Stay Warm
Online Directory
Diversifying Your Customer Base
Graphics & Design
For Screen Printers Only
Business to Business
Classifieds
Ad Index
On Design

Impressions - September 2009