How to Make Your Custom Printed Apparel Last Longer

Faded color. Unraveling seams. Unreadable logos. Peeling printing. Ugh! You invested in custom clothing for your business only to find the garments are fading fast. 

Now what? You can’t afford to replace embroidered uniform polos or screen-printed Tees every quarter. You need items that will last. That means investing in high-quality products. 

Mama always said, “You get what you pay for.” So, if you’re looking for the least expensive T-shirt, sweatshirt or jacket, there’s a good chance you’ll get a subpar product that won’t stand the test of time. You’ll wind up placing a new order sooner than you anticipated (or budgeted for!). 

Whenever possible, choose the highest quality

We recommend looking at a variety of options so you can make the best choice. Don’t make a decision based on price alone. Our team is knowledgeable about the brands we carry. We can suggest garments that are made well without blowing your apparel budget. We know which products last, giving you a more cost-effective choice in the long run. 

Plus, you should take into consideration the everyday use of the garments you select. For example, if your employees are working outdoors doing manual labor or cooking meals in a kitchen, you want quality items that can withstand sweating, stains and washings. 

Here are three of our favorites: 

• Sport Tek (style: st420): It’s moisture wicking and has UV protection (UPF rating of 50).
• Paragon (style: paragon 200): It’s moisture wicking and has UV protection (UPF rating of 50+). It’s also antimicrobial with a wrinkle-free finish. 
• New Era (style: NEA200): It’s moisture wicking with an odor-fighting performance material.

Once you’ve selected the best quality garments for your budget, you can go a step further in extending the life of your items. Knowing how to care for garments based on fabric, color and printing style will go a long way toward keeping your designs looking new for a long time. (Also, OK to call your mom for additional laundry tips.)

Here are our best tips for extending the life of your custom apparel: 

• Opt for a 50/50 cotton blend. While you might be tempted to go with 100% cotton apparel, you should know 100% cotton fades. A 50/50 blend (usually cotton and polyester) and even tri-blends hold their color better. Plus 50/50 blends don’t tend to shrink or lose their shape.
• Avoid bleach. It doesn’t matter what kind of fabric or thread color you choose, bleach will bleach. Bleach is great for all-white clothing, but it will ruin anything of color. Yes, even the thread of an embroidered logo on a white shirt. 
• Go inside out. Always wash your garments inside out. This adds an extra layer of protection to screen-printed or direct-to-garment printing. And be sure to use a mild detergent. 
• Hand wash. For the first two washes, we recommend hand washing your garments in cold water. (Washing in the bathroom sink is fine; no need to stop by the antique store for an old-timey washboard.)
• Keep it cool. When washing your garments, use a low-temperature wash cycle (we recommend 90 degrees maximum). Opt for a gentle wash setting as well, such as a delicate or a hand-wash setting if your machine has one.  
• Skip the dryer. Whenever possible, avoid drying your screen-printed T-shirts in a dryer. The added heat can damage the screen printing.
• Iron with care. When you need to iron a screen-printed garment, turn it inside out. Or hang it up neatly so you don’t have to iron it at all. Because no one likes ironing. 
• Don’t pull the string! If you see an errant thread, don’t pull it. Trim it with scissors or get it repaired. Like, seriously, don’t pull the string.