Some years ago there was a trend presentation in NYC and hearing that screen printed tees with bold designs and messaging were soon to be the rage at retail. Ever since, it’s been an exciting progression in our industry. From a cheap promo option to full-blown brand billboards, the category and the designs have really exploded. Oversized logos are a popular request right now with the FAQ “how big can you print?” When utilizing a max-size screenprint design, geometric prints and patterns are often used as background for the main logo. Menswear-inspired patterns like argyle, windowpane plaids, houndstooth or checks bring an element of sophistication to t-shirt designs and help sell the process to clients accustomed to buying more upscale apparel.

For most audiences, “bling” has moved to the background with foil, metallic or glitter inks being used as design accents instead of primary ink choices. Tonal distressed screen prints are a good option for the masses as well as other vintage designs created with chipped, cracked paint and ripped paper looks. Faux technique looks such as printing lettering with outline or border prints that simulate embroidery tack down stitches or for younger crowds, paint splatter and paint brush lettering with bright and fluorescent ink colors are also popular.

Additional design trends in screen printing are vintage tattoo artwork inspired by the Ed Hardy clothing line, stained glass, mosaic tile, Celtic elements, nautical images like anchors and patriotic red, white and blue colors. Nature-inspired colors and prints with trees, plants, flowers, globes or leaves are also popular at retail along with inspirational icons and positive messages.

Many of today’s eco-inspired designs and messaging are well suited for the direct-to-garment, 4-color process of digital printing. Digital printing is an environmentally-friendly process as it uses water-based inks and prints without screens, thus utilizing less ink and creating less waste. The designs have a slightly washed down look and a soft hand. From an economic standpoint, it’s a great option for small orders, orders with multi-colored logos or photo-realistic prints. Pricing is the same no matter how many colors are in a design and the set-up is cheaper than screen printing since there are no screens to burn.

While we’re on the subject of burning, the next hot topic decoration technique, laser etching, makes use of laser technology to burn a logo or design right into the fabric of a garment. The end result differs by fabric but is always a precise, clean mark. On polyester knits and wovens laser etching burns the top layer of fabric resulting in a darker, tonal mark on the garment with dimensional effects produced on pile fleece. It’s important to point out that medium-colored fabrics achieve a more distinguishable design than light or dark fabrics. On denim garments, the process removes the pigment as it burns the fabric.

Since laser etching produces an upscale tonal mark it is appropriate for many audiences. Unique placements such as vertical, full split-front, or hip areas can be used to bring extra attention to the logo. Laser etching is the easiest process to quote since set-ups and run charges are usually based on overall design size (Vantage includes up to 36 square inches in its standard design charge.) For clients that want something extra, mixed media designs that combine laser etching with standard embroidery or laser appliqué (think logo etched appliqué) can provide an extremely trendy look.

Laser bridge equipment which runs in conjunction with traditional embroidery machines has really revolutionized the appliqué process, making it more production friendly and therefore more cost effective to use in a variety of forms and applications. Most of us are familiar with the traditional varsity appliqué look, the most popular being 1 or 2-colored twill lettering names. Today we’re seeing more multi-layer and multi-color appliqués including mixing different fabrics within a logo or lettering design.

Thanks to brands like Abercrombie there’s more attention on natural looking appliqué materials like cotton rib, jersey and twill. A bean stitch or running stitch tack down is used to give these appliqués a raw edge. Another similar retail-inspired embellishment method is a reverse appliqué technique that involves placing a piece of appliqué on the back side of the garment fabric. The design is then laser cut into the front side of the garment. The cut pieces are pulled away to reveal the appliqué underneath. It’s a unique and interesting way to add dimension and color to a garment.

Patches in the collegiate market and preppy emblems are also important trends for many product categories including polos, wovens, sweaters and jackets.

Even embroidery, an industry tried and true decoration option, can be sold with a new twist. Open embroidery designs that use outlines for copy or a logo icon allow you to cover a larger area with a lower stitch count and cost. Next time you’re in a clothing store, look for full-back embroidery on patterned woven shirts and knits. It’s a fun look that appeals to the “hip crowd”. Tone-on tone thread colors, especially white on white and black and black are also strong looks along with stitch-blending techniques for color gradation and complex art.

For ladies, sequin embroidery is great for flashy looks that are accomplished with metallic and holographic sequin colors. Current artistic trends in this medium include sporadically placing sequins throughout a design or using sequins as accents combined with embroidery to look hand sewn. You can also accomplish a great look when semi-clear and transparent sequin colors are used with embroidery threads that are tonal to the garment color.