Fashion designers, buyers, and consumers are consistently looking for new ideas and unique products. A great way for a piece of clothing or accessory to stand out from the crowd is to decorate using an uncommon decoration process like applique. Additionally, accessories are necessities in the fashion world so it is essential to understand the decoration process most commonly used for them. Laser etching, laser engraving, and embossing are some of the most common non print or embroidery decoration methods.
Applique
Applique is a piece of fabric that is sewn or pressed onto another fabric to create a new design. Applique is often used in quilt making when a detailed design, like a rose, is sewn onto a larger piece of fabric. Applique is a common decoration method for sweatshirts and jackets (think letterman jackets). Applique is first cut using a laser to cut the design instead of a metal blade so that the edges do not fray. The applique then must be sewn onto the product using an embroidery machine.
Embroidery Patches
Patches themselves are typically embroidered or printed using a sublimation transfer and then can be transferred to a garment by either being heat pressed or sewn using an embroidery or traditional sewing machine. It is also common for patches to use velcro so they can be removed / switched out. Patches that do not require sewing must have a very strong adhesive backing in order to withstand the test of time of washing. Police officers are one of the most common professions in which you see a patch of some kind apart of their uniform. Patches that are printed using a sublimation printer are very light and typically are not sewn. Higher quality patches are embroidered and often contain a lot of detail. These patches can either be sewn to the garment which will ensure it is durable on the product, or sometimes using a strong adhesive. Beyond patches being used for uniforms, they are also used to enhance a basic T-shirt.
Tie-Dye
Tie-dye is a popular fashion choice for teens, artists, and many others. Tie-dye apparel is dyed with a rainbow of ink colors to typically form swirl or kaleidoscope patterns. The name tie-dye describes the creation process itself. Garments are twisted and tied with elastic bands, and dye is strategically placed on the fabric.
Laser Etching
A newer decoration method is laser etching, which involves the design being burned into a fabric with a laser, creating an image that is just a few shades darker than the garment itself. Laser etching works best on medium-colored garments, as the resulting image will struggle to stand out from darker garments and whites. This method is most commonly used for one-color corporate logos or names.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is not often applied to apparel, but used more often with accessories. Laser engraving is the process of using a laser to burn an image, text, or both, into a product. Laser engraving is a fantastic method for decorating a small place with pristine detail. Jewelry, especially rings, are often decorated using laser engraving. For example, couples sometimes want their anniversary date and/or their spouses names on the inside of their wedding bands, so laser engraving is the perfect decoration method for this. Zippers on apparel and purses are also typically decorated with laser engravers.
Embossing / Debossing
These, again, are decoration processes not often used for apparel, but commonplace when decorating accessories. Embossing is the process of raising the material of an object to make up a design and/or text. Debossing is the process of imprinting the material of an object with a design and/or text. For instance, wristbands for events and/or causes are often debossed with a relevant name or slogan. Higher end designers also use these decoration process for their accessories. Wallets make great examples for commonly embossed items. Additionally, the designer tags that hang off of Coach purses are usually embossed.
