Decoration Techniques / Flock Printing
Flock Printing for Custom Apparel
The velvet-touch print: thousands of tiny fibres stand upright in adhesive, creating a soft raised surface that flat ink cannot imitate. Retro, premium, tactile — and approved on a physical strike-off before bulk.
Overview
One Design. Several Layers.
Flock printing glues upright fibres to the garment in the shape of your design. The result is judged as much by touch as by sight.
Artwork
Bold shapes and lettering flock beautifully. Very fine detail and small text lose definition in the fibre surface.
Quantity
Screen-based process — setup per colour, best value from 100 pieces up.
Surface
Cotton, fleece and stable knits flock well. Stretchy or heavily textured fabrics weaken adhesive contact.
Result
A dense velvet surface with soft raised feel. Fibre length sets the character: short is suede-like, long is plush.
Suitability
Is This a Flock Printing Job?
Flock is a statement finish — strongest where touch matters.
T-Shirts
Retro logos and varsity lettering are the classic flock applications on cotton tees.
Hoodies & Sweatshirts
Excellent on fleece — the velvet print complements the brushed fabric.
Kids & Fashion Pieces
Soft-touch graphics for children’s wear and fashion collections where tactile quality sells.
Performance Wear
Not recommended — stretch and moisture management conflict with the adhesive layer. Silicone printing is the better raised route there.
How It Works
How Flock Printing Behaves on Fabric
Adhesive is screen-printed in the design shape, then fibres are driven into it electrostatically — standing on end like a carpet.
Adhesive Layer
The adhesive is the print: its screen defines the design edges. Deposit control decides both sharpness and bond strength.
Fibre Application
Charged fibres shoot upright into the wet adhesive. Density and length are set by fibre choice and flocking time.
Materials
Choose Materials After the Fabric
Fibre and adhesive are matched to the garment and the target feel.
Nylon Flock
The standard: dense, resilient velvet surface in a full colour range.
Rayon Flock
Softer, more lustrous pile for a dressier vintage look.
Adhesive
Plastisol or water-based adhesives chosen against fabric and wash requirements — the bond is the product.
Process
From File to Finish
From artwork to velvet print — adhesive control is where quality is decided.
Review
Artwork is checked for flock feasibility: minimum detail size, gaps and text height.
Make Screens
One screen per colour for the adhesive layers.
Print Adhesive
Adhesive is printed in the design shape with controlled deposit.
Flock
Fibres are applied electrostatically into the wet adhesive until fully covered.
Cure
Heat bonds adhesive and fibres permanently to the garment.
Clean
Loose fibres are vacuumed and brushed from the finished print.
Inspect
Coverage density, edge sharpness and adhesion checked; rub and wash tests per batch.
Pricing
What Changes the Quote
Flock prices like a specialty screen print with a material premium.
Setup
One screen per colour, same as screen printing, plus flocking station setup.
Run
Fibre material cost scales with print area. Large velvet areas cost more than small logos.
Conditional
Multi-colour flock and flock-over-print combinations need test strike-offs before final pricing.
Quality Control
What a Failed Print Looks Like
We inspect against these known failure modes — agreed before production.
Bald Patches
Thin fibre coverage showing adhesive beneath. Flocking time and adhesive deposit are checked at first-off.
Fibre Shedding
Loose fibres after washing — under-cured adhesive. Cure is verified and wash-tested per batch.
Ragged Edges
Fibres landing outside the design edge. Adhesive screen quality and cleaning process are the controls.
Crushing
Pile flattened by poor packing or ironing. Care instructions are set and packing protects the print face.
Adhesive Bleed
Glue spreading past design edges under the pile. Deposit and viscosity are controlled at print stage.
Colour Variation
Fibre lots differing in shade. Fibre from one dye lot is reserved per order.
Sampling
Approve the Physical Result
Velvet cannot be judged on a screen. Touch the strike-off.
Artwork Approval
You confirm design, dimensions and fibre colour on a mockup.
Strike-Off
A physical flock print on the actual fabric checks density, feel and edges.
Pre-Production Garment
The finished garment is your sign-off standard.
Bulk Checks
First-off approval, then in-line sampling with rub and wash tests.
Decision Boundary
Flock Printing or Another Route?
Three soft or raised routes — by feel and by garment.
Flock Printing
Upright fibres in adhesive — velvet touch, retro look.
Best for: Logos and lettering on cotton tees and fleece
Puff Printing
Expanded ink — smooth rounded 3D rise.
Best for: Bold graphics with smooth raised surface
Silicone & Rubber
Moulded precise 3D — technical, stretch-safe.
Best for: Performance wear and sharp 3D branding
FAQ
Questions Before Sampling
What does flock printing feel like?
Like velvet or suede — thousands of tiny fibres standing upright in the print area. It is the most tactile print finish available, which is exactly why retro and premium brands use it.
What is the MOQ for flock printing?
From 50-100 pieces per design — it is a screen-based process with per-colour setup, similar to screen printing economics.
Is flock printing durable in the wash?
Yes, when the adhesive is properly cured — the fibres are bonded permanently and survive normal washing. We run rub and wash tests per batch. The pile should not be ironed directly.
Can flock do fine detail or small text?
The fibre surface softens fine detail, so bold shapes and lettering work best. Very small text and thin lines belong to flat print routes — we flag this at artwork review.
How much does flock printing cost?
A premium over standard screen printing: roughly $1.00-$2.50 per garment for a one-colour flock print at 100+ pieces, scaling with print area. Send artwork and quantity for an exact quote.
Send the Actual Job
Send what you have — artwork, a reference image or just an idea. The more of this list you include, the sharper our quote. We reply within 24 hours.
✓ Vector artwork (AI, EPS or PDF)
✓ Print dimensions in cm
✓ Placement (chest, back…)
✓ Garment style and fabric composition
✓ Garment colour(s)
✓ Fibre colour reference
✓ Quantity per design
✓ Delivery country