Guide to Custom Vintage Streetwear: What is Screen Printing?

Vintage streetwear has attracted a large number of fashion lovers because of its unique style, classic design and fine workmanship. We know that every customer values the quality and uniqueness of the clothes. Today, let's talk about an important process in customized vintage streetwear - screen printing.

Screen printing, as a traditional and classic printing process, has occupied an important position in the field of clothing printing since the first half of the 20th century. It is squeezed by the scraper, so that the ink is transferred to the cloth through the special silk mesh, forming a colorful pattern. This process is not only rich in detail, but the touch of the print blends perfectly with the clothing, presenting a unique rubber texture.

Water-slurry printing is one of the most basic and lowest cost in screen printing. It is breathable, suitable for light background color fabrics, has a flower bit, has good fastness, and is not easy to lose color. But can not be applied in dark-colored fabrics, and usually only single-color printing.

Gum paste printing to overcome the limitations of water paste printing, to adapt to a variety of color depth and material printing. Beautiful colors, high degree of reproduction, widely used in cotton, hemp, polyester and other fabrics. However, its printing process is relatively complex, high cost, and due to a certain degree of hardness, is not suitable for large-area field patterns.

Thick plate printing increases the thickness on the basis of gum paste to form a three-dimensional effect. Suitable for sports and leisure styles, the pattern is mostly numbers, letters, geometric shapes and so on. The process requirements are high, and the details of the pattern are limited.

Piff printing by adding high expansion coefficient of chemical substances, so that the printing part of the drying foam, showing relief-like three-dimensional effect. Widely used in cotton, nylon fabric and other materials.

Tortoise crack printing uses special tortoise crack pulp, which produces a natural and irregular crack effect after drying. It imitates the natural mottled vintage feeling, which is very suitable for the presentation of vintage style patterns.

Prints in vintage streetwear often carry specific historical and cultural backgrounds. Screen printing is ideal for presenting these patterns due to its rich expressiveness and unique texture. Whether it's a classic band logo, a vintage pattern or a personalized text design, screen printing can accurately render them on the apparel, making each piece of clothing a unique work of art.

According to your apparel material, color and pattern needs, choose the suitable screen printing process. For example, dark-colored fabrics are more suitable for gum paste printing, while light-colored fabrics can choose water paste printing.

The pattern design of vintage style should be simple and generous, with a sense of history. You can work with a designer to create a unique pattern design.

For example, heavy plate printing is more suitable for sports and leisure styles, while foam printing can add a three-dimensional sense of clothing made of cotton or nylon fabric.

Ensure that the printing process is fine, the pattern is clear and the colors are bright. At the same time, pay attention to the durability of the prints to avoid fading or damage caused by frequent washing.

As an important process in the customization of vintage streetwear, screen printing has won the love of many customers with its unique charm and exquisite craftsmanship. Through a deep understanding of the types, characteristics and applications of screen printing, you can better choose the printing process that suits your needs and create a unique vintage streetwear. We look forward to working with you to explore the infinite possibilities of vintage fashion.

At Touches Dark, we are committed to helping everyone look their best with our “Shine in the Dark” philosophy. As experts in high-end vintage streetwear, we offer a curated collection of washed T-shirts, jackets and hoodies with attention to every detail.