T-shirts that Sizzle

One of In Your Face Apparel’s most recognizable embellishment techniques is the Crystal Transfer, a four-color process using caviar beads. In addition, the company utilizes other equally fascinating decorating techniques, including rhinestones (rhinestuds and nailheads), litho, plastasol, foil, felt, flocking, woven appliqués and glitter.

Consumer trends are not exclusive to style. Socially conscious end-users care about manufacturing trends as well. With a greater focus given to environmental sustainability across the globe, eco-friendly apparel is popping up all over the industry. “With the success of the organics [market], we felt it crucial to broaden our organics line,” said Giannulli-Chavez. Article.1 offers a new organic extended-length beater tank. “It is a very current style with a super-soft, silky feel and over-lock stitching on the side seams. We also offer an organic youth T-shirt.”

New at Target Graphics this year are leather and foil inks. Foil ink prints foil-like material onto a T-shirt rather than having to transfer actual sheets of foil onto the garment. But, it was the leather ink process that generated a great deal of interest at January’s PPAI Expo in Las Vegas. “It has to do with how we engineered the art and the print,” explained Vann. “When you look at it, it looks like a leather appliqué, but it’s actually screen printing.”

“In today’s market, we are finding the more you can do to a tee, the better it sells,” noted Giannulli-Chavez. “Gone are the thick, stiff shirts, and here to stay are the lighter, softer replacements.”

Today's shirts look, and sell, better than ever before. As they become more noticed, so will their embellishments. If these manufacturers are right, then the lights of fashion photogs may find their way to distributors’ doors.