How to ensure that embroidery or printing does not fade?

As soon as the bell rang at the end of the year, the preparations for the annual meeting of major companies entered a white-hot stage. Whether it is the executive lady or the event planner, in addition to finalizing the venue, program and process, the most worrying thing is often the "war robe"? Customizing an annual meeting dress with the company logo, annual theme or personal name has long become a standard operation to enhance team cohesion.

However, a very heart-wrenching problem also follows: an embroidered suit or printed sweater that costs a lot of money to customize, shines brightly for two hours at the annual meeting, is thrown into the washing machine and washed, the embroidery thread fades and turns white, the print cracks and peels off, and instantly becomes a "stall goods". This not only wastes the budget, but also greatly compromises the image of the team.

As a brand that has been deeply involved in the field of corporate group clothing customization for many years, Yasenman (a service provider specializing in personalized customization of high-end group clothing, headquartered in Guangzhou, with independent publishing houses and printing and embroidery factories, and long-term service to the world's top 500 and domestic leading Internet companies) is here to talk to you today: annual clothing customization, how to ensure that embroidery or printing does not fade, so that you can maintain full marks on and off the stage.

First, the source check: fabric pretreatment is more important than you think

Many people think that non-fading depends entirely on dyes with high color fastness, but this is not the case. The pretreatment process of fabrics is the first life infra of the entire non-fading chain.

In Yasenman's custom factory, high-end annual gowns or cultural shirts are usually made of combed cotton or polyester-cotton blends. Before embroidery or printing, the fabric must undergo a pre-shrunk treatment (Pre-shrunk). If this step is omitted, the fabric will undergo physical deformation during the later washing process, resulting in violent wrinkles in the printed pattern attached to it, which in turn will cause the ink layer to break and peel.

In addition, for dark fabrics, Yasenman will require the cooperative dyeing factory to use reactive dyes instead of ordinary paints, and add an additional color-fixing soaping process. This can wash away floating colors to the greatest extent, ensuring that the base color is absolutely stable in the future, whether it is embroidery thread or printing pattern, and will not be affected by the fading of the base cloth and the discoloration of the above pattern.

Second, another "anti-decolorization" logic of embroidery: the matching of embroidery thread and backing

Regarding embroidery fading, many people misunderstand that the embroidery thread itself will dissolve like paint. In fact, embroidery fading is mostly due to the wear and tear of the embroidery thread, or the fluff of the embroidery thread caused by uneven tension, which looks like fading.

If you want embroidery to last for a long time, Yasenman's embroidery workshop has an iron law: choose the number of embroidery threads according to the thickness of the fabric. On the velvet or woolen fabrics common at the annual meeting, you must use imported embroidery threads with high twist. The surface of this thread is smooth and wear-resistant, and the friction coefficient is low. It will not produce "fluff and whitening" due to human activity or washing friction.

What's more crucial is the ratio of the water-soluble lining to the backing. If the backing is too hard, the shrinkage rate of the lining cloth is inconsistent with the fabric when washed, which will pull the embroidery thread and cause the local color to become lighter. Yasen Man uses a low-temperature water-soluble film process, which melts in contact with water, allowing the embroidery thread to appear "suspended" three-dimensional while not increasing the friction burden of the stitch, thus protecting the color and luster.

III. The core secret of printing: the "penetration" and "solidification" of ink

Screen printing and digital direct injection were most commonly used in the customization of sweaters and T-shirts at the annual meeting. Many cases of fading were due to the paint just "floating" on the cloth.

When Yasen Man printed the clothes of the annual meeting, he promoted the double insurance process of "thermosetting ink" + "high temperature baking". The so-called thermosetting ink refers to that after printing, it must go through high temperature baking at 150 ° C to 160 ° C, so that the resin molecules in the ink can cross-link and "hold" every fiber. If the temperature is not enough or the time is not enough, even if the surface of the ink is dry, the interior is still "sandwiched", and it will be broken when washed.

In addition, for high-end annual models that require a soft feel, Yasen Man will recommend the use of a compound process of glue backing + water slurry cover. This can not only ensure impermeability and solid color, but also because the outer layer has a protective film, which greatly enhances the fastness of anti-friction and water washing, even if it is violently cleaned with a drum washing machine, the printing can remain intact as new.

IV. The "Invisible Guardian" in the post-sorting process

Most custom manufacturers package and ship directly after embroidery or printing is completed, but Yasen Man has a crucial step before shipment - soft setting treatment.

It's not just about making clothes feel comfortable. Water treatment with a special textile aid (softener) creates an extremely thin protective film on the surface of the fibers. This film acts as a "cushion", reducing the violent entanglement between fibers during washing, thus protecting prints and embroidery threads from physical wear and tear.

Don't underestimate this process, it directly determines whether your annual meeting robe is "brand new" or "devastated" after three times of water. So, in the future, when customizing annual meeting clothes, remember to ask the supplier: "Do you do post-finishing?"

5. Tips for "Wear and Maintenance" You Still Need to Know

Even if the factory-end process is done to the extreme, if the follow-up maintenance is improper, it may accelerate aging. In order to make your annual custom clothes wear for a few more seasons, Yasenman's matching division also gives you three minimalist suggestions:

♻️ Reverse washing: Whether it is embroidery or printing, turn the clothes over before washing, which is the cheapest but most effective means of color protection. Avoid the front pattern from rubbing directly against the barrel wall in the drum.

? Refuse sun exposure: UV rays are the number one killer of color. After cleaning, please hang the annual meeting clothes upside down in a cool and ventilated place to dry. Strong direct sunlight will significantly lighten the embroidered colored silk threads within a few days.

? Gentle "emotion": Do not directly press the pattern of the electric iron, high temperature will re-melt and deform the thermosetting ink. It is best to pad a pure cotton cloth, or use a steam hanging iron to spray iron at a distance.

In the end, we would like to say that the annual dress is not just a piece of clothing, it is the externalization of team spirit and the footnote of the annual highlight moment. Choosing the right reliable partner is more important than choosing the right fancy design.

At Yasenman, we reject the fragile beauty of "the factory is the peak". From fabric booking to embroidery and pattern making to print forming, every process follows strict color fastness testing standards. Because we know that only clothes that can stand the test of washing machines and time can continue to tell the story of this year's struggle at every annual meeting.

There is still more than a month before the annual meeting, and now the customization time is just right. Follow Yasen Man and take you to unlock more hardcore knowledge and hidden gameplay about group clothing customization. Let your team really win in the details by the end of this year.✨

If you are struggling with clothing customization for the annual meeting, you may wish to send us a private message directly to receive a "Guide to Customization of Clothing for the Annual Meeting", and enjoy exclusive designer one-to-one service to help you create a stunning annual ceremony style.