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Decoration Technique

Flocking Printing

Velvety, raised, suede-like texture. Flock printing gives designs a soft, premium 3D feel that screen printing cannot match.

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Flock printed t-shirt with velvety raised design
Best For
Premium retail, special editions, statement designs
Fabric
Cotton, polyester, cotton blends, fleece
MOQ
50 pieces per design
Durability
Excellent — 50+ washes, machine washable
Cost
$$$ — specialty finish
Lead Time
20–30 days

About Flocking

Flocking printing applies short textile fibers (flock) to a printed adhesive, creating a velvety, raised, suede-like surface. The result is a design that you can see and feel — a tactile, premium finish that is unique in the decoration world.

At SublimApparel, we run multi-color flock printing for logos, type, and solid shapes. Flock is most popular in premium retail, packaging, special edition drops, and any application where you want the design to feel like a permanent part of the garment.

Flock is durable, machine-washable, and available in 40+ colors including neon, metallic, and glow-in-the-dark.

Why Choose Flocking

  • Unique velvety, raised, suede-like texture
  • 40+ flock colors including neon and glow-in-the-dark
  • Durable and machine washable
  • Premium retail-ready look
  • Can be combined with screen print for multi-effect designs

Best Use Cases

Premium retail and limited edition dropsSports team crests and club logosPackaging and brand activationSchool and university crested apparelStatement streetwear and designer collabsSpecial event merchandise and awards

How Flocking Works

  1. 1

    Adhesive screen print

    Adhesive is printed in the design shape using screen printing.

  2. 2

    Flock application

    Garment is placed in a flocking chamber. Electrostatic charge makes flock fibers stand up and embed in the wet adhesive.

  3. 3

    Cure

    Adhesive is cured at 160°C, locking the flock fibers in place.

  4. 4

    Brush and clean

    Excess flock is vacuumed off. Each piece is brushed to remove loose fibers.

  5. 5

    QC & pack

    Each piece is inspected for flock coverage, adhesion, and texture consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is flock durable?

Yes. Properly applied flock is machine-washable and lasts 50+ washes without significant wear.

Can flock be done in multiple colors?

Yes — each color is a separate screen and flocking pass. We can do up to 4 colors in one design.

What colors are available?

40+ standard colors including white, black, all primary colors, neons, and specialty finishes like glow-in-the-dark and metallic.

Can I see and feel flock?

Absolutely — that's the whole point. Flock is a velvety raised texture you can feel with your fingers.

Related Techniques

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Silicone Heat Transfer Printing

3D rubber finish with soft, flexible, durable feel. Silicone transfers give designs a premium raised look that screen printing can't match.

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3D puff embroidered cap with raised logo

3D Puff Embroidery

Foam-backed stitching that raises your logo off the fabric. The signature look of premium streetwear and structured caps.

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Custom embroidered logo on a polo shirt

Custom Embroidery

Stitched-in quality. Embroidery gives logos, monograms and crests a premium tactile feel that screen printing cannot match — and it never fades.

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Get a quote

Tell us your product, quantity and deadline.

You will have a landed, duty-paid price within one business day. If your deadline is not achievable, we will say so in the same reply rather than take the order and manage the problem later.

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  • Team hours overlap US Pacific and UK
  • Yiwu factory + Fontana, CA warehouse