Every bulk jersey order comes down to one early decision: how the logos, names and numbers get onto the garment. Sublimation, screen printing and embroidery each have a place, and picking the wrong one costs money on every piece. Here is how we advise clubs and brands at Zees Commerce.
Sublimation: the default for team sports
Sublimation dyes the design into polyester fabric before the garment is cut, so the print is part of the fibre. Colours, gradients, sponsor logos, names and numbers are all printed in one pass.
- Best for: football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, rugby, hockey and cricket jerseys; any design with multiple colours or all-over patterns
- Pros: no per-logo cost, no cracking or peeling, no added weight, unlimited colours, breathable
- Cons: polyester only (no cotton), light colours print best, slight colour shift on very dark backgrounds
- Cost: lowest per-piece for complex designs; MOQ 10 per design at Zees Commerce
Screen printing: cotton and simple logos
Ink is pushed through a stencil onto the finished garment, one colour per screen.
- Best for: cotton t-shirts, hoodies, merchandise, one- to three-colour logos
- Pros: works on cotton and blends, bold opaque colours on dark fabric, cost-effective at volume
- Cons: each colour adds a screen charge, can crack over time on stretch fabric, not suited to gradients or photographic art
- Cost: cheap for one-colour logos at 50+ pieces; rises with colour count
Embroidery: premium crests and polos
Thread is stitched directly into the fabric from a digitised file.
- Best for: club crests, sponsor logos on polos and jackets, staff and coach wear, caps
- Pros: premium look and feel, extremely durable, works on almost any fabric
- Cons: per-stitch pricing so large designs get expensive, not suitable for names and numbers, adds stiffness on lightweight jerseys
- Cost: highest per logo; one-time digitising fee, then a per-piece charge based on stitch count
Heat transfer and tackle twill
Heat-applied vinyl is a fast option for small runs of names and numbers on stock garments, and tackle twill (stitched fabric letters) is the traditional look for American football and baseball. Both add per-piece labour, so for full custom runs sublimation usually wins on cost and durability.
Quick decision table
- Multi-colour team jersey, polyester: sublimation
- Cotton tee or hoodie with a simple logo: screen print
- Polo, jacket or cap with a crest: embroidery
- Traditional football or baseball lettering: tackle twill, often combined with sublimated body panels
Where each method shows up in our range
Sublimation: team uniforms, compression wear and fight shorts. Screen print and DTF: oversized tees and hoodies. Embroidery: polos, softshell jackets, work uniforms and scrubs and knitwear.
Mixing methods on one kit
Most complete team kits use two methods: sublimated jerseys and shorts, plus embroidered crests on hoodies, polos and caps. We produce all of these under one order with one approval process, so colours match across the whole kit.
Not sure which is right for your design? Send it over and we will recommend the method and price both options. Request a bulk quote, or see examples across sportswear, hoodies and caps.