Over the past several months it seems that someone posts "I want to start a Affliction or Ed Hardy clothing line" but has no clue where to begin or understands how hard it is. So here is my rant to help you guys as much as i can. Feel free to add some more info if i miss something.
Is it hard to get the same shirts?
Yes and no.
The best bet is to get shirts from Bare apparel (only wholesale company that offers tea stain and lava wash shirts as far as i know) or contact JS Apparel. That is the company that supposedly makes the shirts for Affliction, Ed Hardy and god knows who else. Some are made in the USA and some are made over seas.
What ink do they use and how do I get a soft hand print like them?
That is simple. Discharge Printing. This process removes the physical dye from the shirt and replaces it with a colored pigment of your choice (or just don't use anything and get the bleach kinda look) without damaging the fibers like bleach would.
How do they print all over the shirt?
Some people would say cut and sew for these brands but it is not. Its all done by belt printer or by a auto press with over sized pallets for Affliction, Xtreme Coutoure, Archaic, Warrior Wear and Tap Out. I am absolutely amazed at how many misaligned prints Xtreme Coutoure has. Its pretty crazy. My friend owns a fight shop and I stare at these shirts every time im there. Some are so off center its funny. Still sells though.
How do they get the gold or shinny lettering on there?
Its foil. It comes in gold, red, silver, blue or any other colors you can think of. You screen a adhesive or plastisol on the shirt then pop it in a heat press with the foil on top close it and it sticks to wherever there is adhesive or plastisol. Voila. Shiny letters.
Here is a list of fight companies and the shirts they use. Feel free to ad some stuff. I am revealing a couple of manufacturers that some of you may not be familiar with but I poked around enough that i found out what most use.
Affliciton, Ed Hardy, Archaic, Extreme Couture, Sinful = JS Apparel
Tap Out, Premiere fighter, Warrior Wear (basic shirts), Triumph United, Hostility and many others = Allstyle Apparel or B & H company
Warrior Wear womens and premium mens shirts = Apparel Wiz
That's my post. Enjoy and lets build on it so we don't have to keep making the same posts over and over. Could make it a sticky there Rodney since this seems to be such a popular subject as of late.
Is it hard to get the same shirts?
Yes and no.
The best bet is to get shirts from Bare apparel (only wholesale company that offers tea stain and lava wash shirts as far as i know) or contact JS Apparel. That is the company that supposedly makes the shirts for Affliction, Ed Hardy and god knows who else. Some are made in the USA and some are made over seas.
What ink do they use and how do I get a soft hand print like them?
That is simple. Discharge Printing. This process removes the physical dye from the shirt and replaces it with a colored pigment of your choice (or just don't use anything and get the bleach kinda look) without damaging the fibers like bleach would.
How do they print all over the shirt?
Some people would say cut and sew for these brands but it is not. Its all done by belt printer or by a auto press with over sized pallets for Affliction, Xtreme Coutoure, Archaic, Warrior Wear and Tap Out. I am absolutely amazed at how many misaligned prints Xtreme Coutoure has. Its pretty crazy. My friend owns a fight shop and I stare at these shirts every time im there. Some are so off center its funny. Still sells though.
How do they get the gold or shinny lettering on there?
Its foil. It comes in gold, red, silver, blue or any other colors you can think of. You screen a adhesive or plastisol on the shirt then pop it in a heat press with the foil on top close it and it sticks to wherever there is adhesive or plastisol. Voila. Shiny letters.
Here is a list of fight companies and the shirts they use. Feel free to ad some stuff. I am revealing a couple of manufacturers that some of you may not be familiar with but I poked around enough that i found out what most use.
Affliciton, Ed Hardy, Archaic, Extreme Couture, Sinful = JS Apparel
Tap Out, Premiere fighter, Warrior Wear (basic shirts), Triumph United, Hostility and many others = Allstyle Apparel or B & H company
Warrior Wear womens and premium mens shirts = Apparel Wiz
That's my post. Enjoy and lets build on it so we don't have to keep making the same posts over and over. Could make it a sticky there Rodney since this seems to be such a popular subject as of late.