T-Shirts
It’s all about choice when
selecting the right T-shirt for your needs.
You’ll need to decide
between 100% cotton and a cotton/polyester blend. An all
cotton garment “breathes” better than the blends and
absorbs more perspiration. Blends, on the other hand,
are more stain resistant and come out of the dryer
looking more “finished”.
Cotton shirts come in a
variety of weights—measured in ounces-per-square-yard.
Heavyweight T-shirts range from 5.4 to 5.6 ounces. The
next weight range is 6.0 to 6.2 ounces and, at the top
of the scale are shirts weighing in at 7.0 to 7.5 ounces
per square yard. Cotton/polyester blends are generally
available only in the 5.4 to 5.6 ounce range.
There are two basic types
of fibers used to produce cotton fabric: open-end and
ring-spun. The additional processing of ring-spun cotton
gives the resulting fabric a softer, richer feel and
greater strength. More costly and fashion-oriented
T-shirts often go through an additional process like
mercerizing which produces a finer and silkier-feeling
fabric.
The basic All-American
T-shirt has a crewneck collar and short sleeves. In
addition, this apparel category includes long sleeve
crewnecks, v-necks, sleeveless Ts, tank tops, ringers
(with a contrasting color band at the collar and cuffs),
and two-button henleys.
Ladies’ styles have grown
in popularity over the years. Today you can choose from
ladies’ T-shirts and tanks with scoop and v-necks,
shirts with cap sleeves, spaghetti strap and crop tops
in both smooth jersey-knit fabric and in a 1x1 ribbed
fabric.
All T-shirts are perfect
for screen printing designs while the heavier shirts
should be utilized for embroidery, especially when there
are higher stitch counts.
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Sweat
Shirts
The variety of sweatshirt
weights and fabric choices has grown dramatically over
the past few years.
The basic shirt—termed a
mid-weight—ranges between 7.5 and 8
ounces-per-square-yard in a 50% cotton/50% polyester
blend. It is available in youth and adult sizes, in
crewneck, pullover hooded and drawstring
pants.
A step up to the most
popular grouping—the heavyweights—weighs in between 9
and 10 ounces-per-square-yard. The basic fabric is also
50% cotton/50% polyester. But, there are also adult
garments available in 90%/10%, 80%/20% and 95%/5%
combinations.
Heavyweight styles include
crewnecks, pullover hoods, zipper-front hoods, ¼-zip
pullovers and drawstring pants. Youth sizes are also
available in the basic styles.
At the top of the spectrum
are the UltraHeavyweights—weighing in at between 11 and
12 ounces-per-square-yard, generally in a 95% cotton/5%
polyester combination. Both crewnecks and hooded
pullovers are available in this weight. Finally, the
pinnacle of fleece is the reverse-weaves or cross-grains
with the fabric specially cut to control shrinkage
across the body and with gussets down both sides to
assure a comfortable fit for the life of the
garment.
From year to year a variety
of fashion-orient styles with knit trims, v-necks and
specialty fabric finishes come into style, often for
just a year or two.
Most sweatshirts and fleece
garments can be utilized for both screen printed designs
and embroidery.
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Golf
Shirts
No garment category offers
more variations and varieties than golf shirts. There’s
one designed and priced to meet every need. All-cotton
shirts account for the vast majority of styles offered.
Cotton/polyester blends have far fewer
options.
Less expensive shirts will
be made of open-end yarn; better garments will be combed
and ringspun cotton. At the top of the line are pima and
mercerized cottons. Each price level offers its own
features that contribute to the quality and durability
of the garment.
The two most popular fabric
finishes are pique and jersey knit. Pique is a high/low
weave comparable to the surface of a waffle while the
jersey knit is a smooth finish, much like a pancake.
There are a host of other weaves available: herringbone,
jacquard, needle-out or drop-needle being just a few.
Each fabric style will also come in a variety of trim
combinations: striped and patterned collars, jacquard
collars, tri-colors and the like.
Unlike T-shirts where
weight equates with the quality and price of the
garment, golf shirt fabric weights do not necessarily
reflect this aspect. Finer fabrics weigh less than
coarser weaves.
All golf shirts can be
decorated with embroidered designs. All smooth finished
jersey knit garments can be printed. While rough weaves,
such as piques, can be printed, care must be taken that
the design does not have a lot of fine lines and detail
which could be lost in the texture of the
fabric.
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Wovens
Today’s casual workplace
has given birth to a host of woven shirts, many with
button-down collars at a multitude of price points to
meet virtually any requirements.
From classic denim to the
traditional oxford, from brushed or sanded twill to
poplin to soft chambray there’s a shirt to satisfy every
taste and need. Many are 100% cotton while others are
easy-care cotton/polyester and smooth-as-silk polynosic
rayon/polyester blends.
Many styles come in both
short-sleeve and long-sleeve, others offer matching
ladies’ styles as well.
All are just perfect for
embroidery.
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Outerwear—Jackets, Polar Fleece, Windshirts
& More
Every need, every weather
condition, every fashion can be satisfied with today’s
incredible range of garment offerings. Whether you’re
outfitting a team, exhibiting at a trade show, hosting a
golf tournament or creating a look for employees—just
about any purpose, there is a style that will meet your
needs.
Jackets of every style and
description, with heavy linings for winter or lighter
linings for spring, summer and fall. Fabrics range from
luxurious microfiber to cotton poplin to a wide range of
nylons to fit every requirement.
Polar fleece, the warm but
lightweight 100% polyester fabric, makes a great custom
decorated garment. Available in several fabric weights,
there are three basic styles available in both adult and
youth sizes: full-zipper jacket, full-zipper vest and
¼-zip pullover.
A style rapidly gaining in
popularity is the windshirt, a lightweight pullover
perfect for those early mornings on the golf course or a
walk on the beach. Fabric choices range from oxford
nylon to luxurious microfiber, lined and unlined. A
perfect garment for embroidery, styles include v-necks,
henleys, crewnecks and more.
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Headwear
One of the fastest growing
and most popular categories of custom-decorated apparel,
there’s definitely a style to fit every taste and
promotional need. The first choice is between a
five-panel cap and a six-panel.
A panel is the pie-shaped
piece that makes up the crown of the cap. A traditional
golf cap, a five-panel style, has a double-sized front
panel that provides a smooth surface for decorating.
Some baseball caps also feature five-panel fronts. Newer
caps feature six equal panels with a seam in the center
of the front portion. These have become, by far, the
more popular style.
The next choice is between
constructed and unconstructed style. All five-panel caps
have some form of fabric stiffener behind the front
panel. Six-panel caps offer you a choice.
Generalizations usually cause trouble, however both
young men and women prefer the unconstructed style.
Unconstructed hats more closely follow the contours of
the head while the construction forces the hat to
conform to the manufacturer’s desired shape.
There are a host of
fabrics. Among the choices: cotton twill, cotton poplin,
wool blends, brushed cotton and cotton/polyester blends.
You’ll be able to select from yarn-dyed—the color is in
the yarn—and pigment-dyed where the finished fabric is
dyed and washed to produce a softer, more fashionable
color.
There truly is a hat to fit
any season, any occasion and any market. In addition to
the traditional “baseball” style there are “floppy”
vacationers, cycling styles, straws with bands that can
be printed or embroidered, knit watch caps and even
beanies (with or without propellers).
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A host of
other apparel…
Bags—So many
styles, so many uses. Our account executives can help
you plan your promotion with tote bags, sports bags,
fanny packs, garment bags, equipment bags, plastic bags
for trade shows, paper bags and even Halloween
bags.
Aprons—Size,
style, color; whatever you need for your restaurant,
cooking school, gourmet shop, company picnic or
barbeque, we’ve got the ideal choice for either
screenprinting or embroidery.
Shorts—For every
sports team, gym, camp and a host of personal
activities, you’ll find the right garment for your
needs. From jersey knits to boxers—regular and flannel,
plain or plaid, in fleece, nylon twill and micromesh,
the choices are fantastic.
Kidstuff—Infants
to toddlers—you’ll be able to choose from tees, sweats,
jackets, bibs, playsuits, rompers and even dresses.
>From 6 to 24 months, toddler 2 right on up, Active
has the perfect garment for all your needs.
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