[Mister Fantastic]

I was wondering if anyone here has experience of sublimation via transfer paper or other methods onto tennis shoes?

I am expanding our sublimation towards custom shoes, and I am creating price points.

Any pricing advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[SilentPenguin]

Im sure you know you would need white (or light coloured) polyester based shoes? are you think Vans style trainers? either way you need to find a way to fit this onto a press to get enough heat onto the sub paper and pressure to transfer the image.
Sound like a great idea if it were me doing it i might start with a hat press and do the sides of the trainers?

 

[Mister Fantastic]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes like colored Vans and Converse would make a great canvas (pun intended). There is a company, The Ave, out of Venice Beach California that uses direct to garment on them. He is making a killing out there doing it.

I was thinking of pretreating the shoes in a Polyurethane spray. I have sourced a company out of China that I use currently for the non poly products we sublimate.

My greatest challenge will be to find/ make molds for the various shoes to place in the heat press. I will experiment with the platen and 3D heat presses to see what I can come up with.

 

[paintersspouse]

How about trying Avatrex. I am printing and applying it to leather for bags and totes. They use it on shoes in the crafting industry. It is called Shoe attitude.

 

[SilentPenguin]

Thanks for the reply.


I was thinking of pretreating the shoes in a Polyurethane spray.

make molds for the various shoes to place in the heat press. I will experiment with the platen and 3D heat presses.

I think you have definitely found a good plausible way of doing this using the 3d press but the vacuum may squeeze shoe and maybe misshape the print? im not sure having never used one. However maybe if you stuffed the shoe out or had a wooden shoe setter to stop this it has gotta work.
Have you "mystery shopped" this guy that makes them and tried to have a spie at his setup? or maybe just ask him how its done or rather how he does it? please keep us up to date i would really love to see your conclusion to this.

 

[Mister Fantastic]

How about trying Avatrex. I am printing and applying it to leather for bags and totes. They use it on shoes in the crafting industry. It is called Shoe attitude.

This product looks awesome. Your tote superb. Thanks for sharing. I will call the company Monday to inquire more about getting it into my shops to try out.

 

[Mister Fantastic]

I think you have definitely found a good plausible way of doing this using the 3d press but the vacuum may squeeze shoe and maybe misshape the print? im not sure having never used one. However maybe if you stuffed the shoe out or had a wooden shoe setter to stop this it has gotta work.
Have you "mystery shopped" this guy that makes them and tried to have a spie at his setup? or maybe just ask him how its done or rather how he does it? please keep us up to date i would really love to see your conclusion to this.

Thank you. My other concerning with the 3D press is the operating temperature of 400 degrees which could yellow the rubber around the shoes. I will experiment and post the results in mid May.

I have been to the Ave shop several times and the owner was also on Shark Tank. On the show he stated he made $526,000 year one. That was 3 years ago. He is located in a tourist area, so he gets a lot of foot traffic. Oh yeah, I been looking at the opportunity to scale this

 

[akar]

"The Ave" guy created his own, unique platen to DTG the shoes. You'd also need something to keep your shoe "rigid". Like those old, wooden shoe "stretchers". Some kind of insert, I'd think, would work (although wood may not be best - how about ceramic?) Then, you'd need different sizes of the inserts for different sized shoes. With the laces out, Vans may be able to slip over a custom platen on a cap press.

 

[SilentPenguin]

Makki USA - Direct to Sneaker Printing - YouTube

 

[DAGuide]

Here are some more videos on shoe printing using a dtg printer - Printing Footwear using GT Shoe Platen on Brother GT Printers - YouTube.

Keep in mind that people are more particular about their shoe size than t-shirt sizes. So the inventory on shoes (and the associated cost) is much higher than t-shirts. If you make a mistake on a shoe, the cost of the mistake is also more costly. So take your time and practice on cheaper shoes to start.

Mark

 

[ZO6 KLR]

On the show he stated he made $526,000 year one.

He also said that this was his gross. I believe he said he cleared over 100k or around that figure.

 

[Mister Fantastic]

Makki USA - Direct to Sneaker Printing - YouTube

Thanks, I checked it out. I saw the Makki machines in action at a tradeshow in Chicago. It was running DTG (fabric) at the time. More affordable than others in that category and made in the U.S.

 

[Mister Fantastic]

Here are some more videos on shoe printing using a dtg printer - Printing Footwear using GT Shoe Platen on Brother GT Printers - YouTube.

Keep in mind that people are more particular about their shoe size than t-shirt sizes. So the inventory on shoes (and the associated cost) is much higher than t-shirts. If you make a mistake on a shoe, the cost of the mistake is also more costly. So take your time and practice on cheaper shoes to start.

Mark

Thank you. I was at a wholesaler this morning and met a wholesaler which sale import white and tan canvas shoes (like Vans shoes) at $6.00 a pair. Minimum 12, sizes 6-12. I think these will be great to practice on.

 

[skdave]

400 degrees F is required for dye sub. How will the different parts of the shoe handle 400 F for 60 -120 seconds in a 3D oven?

 

[Mister Fantastic]

400 degrees F is required for dye sub. How will the different parts of the shoe handle 400 F for 60 -120 seconds in a 3D oven?

Yes that was a concern I mentioned earlier in the post. That the rubber around the sides and toe top (Vans and Converse) that holds the canvass together would "yellow". The soles (bottoms) will hold the temperature, no problem.

When my cheap "Vans like" shoes I bought wholesale come in, I will be able to do some experimentation. I am going to pretreat the canvass with polyurethane, mask the side and top rubbering, and go for it.

I will be sure to update you all.

 

[freebird1963]

How about trying Avatrex. I am printing and applying it to leather for bags and totes. They use it on shoes in the crafting industry. It is called Shoe attitude.

What printer are you using on the Avatrex ? And what applying method ?

Thanks
Mark

 

[paintersspouse]

What printer are you using on the Avatrex ? And what applying method ?

Thanks
Mark

I am using an Epson 4000 with the 9500 Matte. I also use the primer from Avatrex. I heat press it to the substrate.

Print on Avatrex
Primer on substrate
Heat press Avatrex on to substrate

 

[Mister Fantastic]

I have been looking at Shoe Attitude website and You tube videos with a couple of my more experienced employees.

Avatrex is looking to be the best route yet. The videos show for canvas and leather at 205 degrees c for 2 minutes covered in teflon with a second pass (no teflon sheet) again at 205 degrees c for 2 minutes. I have samples coming in.

Thanks paintersspouse

 

[paintersspouse]

It has some draw backs. It is a film of sorts and I think the adhesion is critical depending on what you are using it on.

I have been using my tote bag personally for over a month so far and the Avatrex has not separated from the leather or torn. I am pretty happy with it.

 

[TouchoHoney]

How about trying Avatrex. I am printing and applying it to leather for bags and totes. They use it on shoes in the crafting industry. It is called Shoe attitude.

I have avatrex, so far I have only applied it via adhesive. Are you using a regular heat press to apply it?