Custom Sublimation & DTF Printing — Manufactured in Tirupur
Fabric Crew is a specialist manufacturer of custom sublimation jerseys and DTF-printed t-shirts based in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu — the hub of India's performance apparel industry. We supply sports clubs, schools, corporate clients, resorts, event organisers, and private label fashion brands across the UAE, UK, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia, USA, Canada, and Poland.
Our two core print technologies — sublimation and Direct to Film (DTF) — cover every garment and print requirement: all-over full-colour sports jerseys, photographic-quality event tees on cotton, and custom team kits with player names and numbers. MOQ starts at just 10 pieces per design, making us accessible to small clubs, startups, and event organisers as well as large institutional buyers.
Sublimation vs DTF — Which Is Right for You?
Sublimation and DTF are the two dominant full-colour printing methods in modern custom apparel. Each has distinct advantages depending on the fabric, the garment style, and the end use. Understanding the difference ensures you get the right product for your application.
| Feature | Sublimation | DTF (Direct to Film) |
|---|---|---|
| Print method | Dye converts to gas under heat, bonds permanently into polyester fibres | Artwork printed on film, adhesive applied, heat-pressed onto garment |
| Fabric compatibility | 100% polyester or 65%+ polyester blend only | Cotton, poly-cotton, fleece, hoodies, dark fabrics — any fabric |
| Colour limit | Unlimited — no extra cost per colour | Unlimited — full CMYK photographic range |
| Hand feel | Zero hand feel — ink bonds into fibre, no surface layer | Slight raised texture from adhesive film layer |
| Durability | Permanent — colour cannot peel, crack, or fade | Excellent — 50+ washes; slight flexibility stretch required |
| Best use case | Sports jerseys, activewear, resort polo, moisture-wicking kits | Corporate event tees, school t-shirts, fashion tees, cotton hoodies |
In practice, many clients use both methods in a single order — sublimation for the polyester sport jersey and DTF for a cotton casual tee with the same design. We manage both processes in-house and can supply combined orders under a single purchase order.
Sublimation Jerseys — Full All-Over Print Sports Kits
Sublimation is the standard for professional sports jersey manufacturing worldwide. Unlike screen printing or embroidery, sublimation covers every millimetre of the garment — front, back, sleeves, collar, and panels — with a seamless, photographic-quality design. There are no colour restrictions, no setup charges per colour, and no risk of ink peeling or cracking because the dye is permanently bonded into the polyester fibre.
Fabric Specifications for Sublimation
- 100% Polyester Interlock 160 GSM — Lightweight, excellent moisture-wicking for running singlets, cycling jerseys, and hot-climate sports
- 100% Polyester Interlock 180 GSM — Standard weight for football jerseys, cricket jerseys, and basketball vests — the most popular specification
- 100% Polyester Birdseye / Mesh 140 GSM — Open mesh structure for maximum airflow — ideal for kabaddi jerseys, volleyball jerseys, and basketball vests
- 65% Polyester / 35% Cotton Blend — For buyers who want a softer hand feel with sublimation — print vibrancy is reduced slightly vs 100% poly
All our sublimation fabrics are moisture-wicking, quick-dry, and treated with anti-odour finish as standard. We source from certified Tirupur mills with consistent polyester composition to ensure colour accuracy across the entire run.
All-Over Print Coverage
Our sublimation jerseys are printed panel by panel before cut-and-sew assembly. This means the print covers:
- Front body panel — full coverage including chest, abdomen, and hem
- Back body panel — full coverage including player name and number placement zone
- Left and right sleeves — including under-arm and sleeve-end trim
- Collar — contrasting or matching colour with sponsor logo or brand mark
- Side panels — contrast colours, mesh inserts, or sponsor strip
Cut-and-sew sublimation means each panel is cut from the printed sheet after printing, ensuring precise seam alignment with no white border at any seam edge. This is the professional manufacturing standard used for international-level sports kits.
Sports Covered — Sublimation Jersey Types
- Football / Soccer Jerseys — Short sleeve, collar styles (V-neck, round, polo collar), all-over graphic or panel design
- Cricket Jerseys — T20 short-sleeve sublimation shirts, ODI-style full sets with trousers, collar and placket detailing
- Basketball Vests & Shorts — Mesh body, ribbed trim, name and number on chest and back
- Volleyball Jerseys — Fitted cut, sublimation front and back, club name and player number
- Cycling Jerseys — Sublimation lycra/polyester blend, rear pockets, full-zip or half-zip
- Running Singlets & Race Vests — Lightweight 140 GSM mesh, sponsor branding, event name and year
- Kabaddi Jerseys — Open-back or standard cut, state/club colours, player number
Team Personalisation — Names, Numbers, Logos
All player personalisation — team name, squad number, player name, and sponsor logos — is incorporated directly into the sublimation artwork for each individual jersey. No additional embroidery, heat-transfer numbers, or screen-printed text is needed. Simply send us a roster with each player's name, number, and size, and our design team creates individual files for each jersey. There is no extra charge per player for orders of 10 pieces or more.
DTF T-Shirt Printing — Full Colour on Any Fabric
Direct to Film (DTF) printing has transformed the custom t-shirt market by making photographic-quality, full-colour print accessible on cotton and cotton-blend garments without the colour restrictions of screen printing or the fabric limitations of sublimation.
How DTF Works
The DTF process involves four steps: (1) your artwork is printed in CMYK on a special PET film using water-based inks; (2) a hot-melt adhesive powder is applied to the wet ink; (3) the film is cured in an oven; (4) the film is heat-pressed onto the garment at 160°C for 15 seconds, bonding the print to the fabric. The film is peeled away, leaving a vibrant, durable print on any fabric type.
DTF Capabilities
- Works on 100% cotton, poly-cotton, fleece, hoodies, and dark fabrics — no need for a white base layer on dark garments
- No minimum colour restriction — same cost whether 1 colour or 20 colours
- Photographic quality — gradients, shadows, fine details all reproduced accurately
- Metallic and neon ink options — available on request for fashion and event applications
- Print size — up to A2 (420 x 594 mm) per placement
- Wash durability — 50+ washes at 40°C without cracking or significant colour loss
Fabric Options for DTF T-Shirts
- 180 GSM Ringspun Cotton — Soft, standard-weight corporate and promotional tee
- 200 GSM Combed Cotton — Premium quality, smoother surface, cleaner print result
- 60/40 Poly-Cotton Blend — Cost-effective, easy-care, less prone to shrinkage
- Fleece (280–320 GSM) — For hoodies and sweatshirts with DTF chest or back print
Garment Options for DTF Printing
- Round neck t-shirt (standard and fitted cut)
- Polo shirt (cotton pique with DTF chest print)
- Hoodie (pullover and zip-through)
- Sweatshirt (crew neck, no hood)
- Tote bag (10oz canvas, DTF patch or full front)
Best Applications for DTF Printing
- Corporate event giveaways — Marathon finisher tees, team-building event t-shirts, company sports day kits
- School spirit tees — Sports day house-colour t-shirts on cotton, school events, inter-house competitions
- Promotional campaigns — Product launch merchandise, brand activation giveaways, conference tees
- Fashion brand runs — Private label streetwear with photographic print detail, limited edition collections
Who Orders Sublimation & DTF from Fabric Crew?
Sports Clubs and Academies
Cricket clubs, football academies, basketball programmes, kabaddi state teams, and volleyball clubs across India, UAE, UK, Australia, and Poland order full-kit sublimation jerseys for their teams. International teams appreciate our ability to ship small runs (10 pieces per design) via DHL within days of production completion. We handle complete kit packages — jersey, shorts, and training singlet — in a single order.
Schools and Colleges
Schools and colleges order sublimation jerseys for sports day kits, house-colour competition jerseys, and inter-school sports tournaments. DTF is popular for school event t-shirts on cotton where a softer hand feel is preferred. Many schools order 4–6 designs (one per house colour) in runs of 20–50 pieces each — our low MOQ and per-design pricing makes this economical.
Corporate Clients
Corporate HR and marketing teams order DTF-printed cotton t-shirts for team building events, company marathons, brand activation campaigns, and company sports days. Large companies typically order 100–500 pieces across multiple designs; our DTF process handles all designs under one production run. We also supply sublimation kits for corporate sports leagues and inter-department tournaments.
Resorts and Hotels
Beach resorts and activity-focused hotels order sublimation jerseys for beach volleyball staff uniforms, water sports instructor kits, and guest experience activity packages. Sublimation is ideal here because the moisture-wicking polyester performs well in high-activity, outdoor environments, and the all-over print allows resort branding on every panel without any patch or badge.
Private Label Fashion Brands
Fashion brands and streetwear labels order all-over sublimation t-shirts and DTF fashion tees for seasonal collections. All-over print sublimation on polyester is particularly popular for festival wear, gym lifestyle brands, and athleisure collections. Our cut-and-sew sublimation ensures panel alignment that meets retail presentation standards.
Event Organisers
Marathon and fun-run organisers, conference organisers, and festival promoters order event participant t-shirts in large volumes. DTF on cotton is the preferred method for participant tees where comfort and washability matter more than moisture-wicking. We ship event t-shirts pre-folded and individually polybagged on request for direct distribution at registration desks.
Artwork and File Requirements
Providing print-ready artwork ensures the fastest turnaround and the most accurate colour reproduction. Here is what we need from you:
Accepted File Formats
- AI (Adobe Illustrator) — Preferred for all designs; vector format ensures infinite scalability without quality loss
- EPS — Vector format compatible with all print workflows; ideal for logos and typography-based designs
- PDF — Vector PDF (not flattened) accepted; confirm fonts are embedded or outlined
- PNG / JPEG — Minimum 300 DPI at actual print size; 600 DPI preferred for fine-detail DTF designs
Colour Mode
- DTF printing: CMYK colour mode required. RGB files accepted but may show colour shift at conversion — we will flag any significant difference before printing
- Sublimation printing: RGB colour mode acceptable — sublimation inks are calibrated to an RGB gamut on polyester. Pantone colour matching is available and recommended for brand-specific colours
Design Services
For orders of 50 pieces or more, our Tirupur-based design team can create artwork from a brief at no extra charge. Provide us with: team name, colours (Pantone or RGB hex), preferred layout style (horizontal stripe, diagonal, geometric, solid), any logos, and any sponsor marks. We will produce a full jersey mockup for approval within 48 hours.
For all orders regardless of quantity, we provide a free digital mockup of your design on the jersey or garment before production approval. No production begins until you have confirmed the mockup in writing.
Pantone Colour Matching for Sublimation
Sublimation colour output varies by fabric construction and polyester grade. For orders where brand colour accuracy is critical — club colours, corporate identity, house colours — we offer Pantone-referenced sublimation calibration. Provide your Pantone C or U codes and we will print a colour proof strip for approval before the full run begins.
Pricing Guide
All prices are FOB Tirupur, India. Custom packaging, private label woven labels, and individual polybag packing are available at additional cost. CIF pricing to UAE, UK, Germany, Australia, and USA available on request.
| Product | 10–49 pcs | 50–199 pcs | 200+ pcs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimation Jersey 160 GSM 100% polyester, all-over print, player name & number included |
$4.50 | $3.80 | $3.20 |
| Sublimation Jersey 180 GSM 100% polyester interlock, premium weight, all-over print |
$5.50 | $4.50 | $3.80 |
| DTF T-Shirt 180 GSM Cotton 100% ringspun cotton, DTF print up to A3 placement |
$5.00 | $4.20 | $3.50 |
| Custom Cut-and-Sew Sublimation Kit Jersey + shorts set, panel-cut sublimation, full personalisation |
From $6.50 (50 pcs min) | ||
Prices are FOB Tirupur. Custom packaging, woven labels, and individual polybag packing available. Prices are indicative; final quote based on design complexity, personalisation, and total quantity.
MOQ, Lead Time & Shipping
Minimum Order Quantity
- Sublimation jerseys: MOQ 10 pieces per design. Mixed sizes within one design accepted.
- DTF t-shirts: MOQ 10 pieces per design. Multiple designs can be combined in one order at different quantities.
- Cut-and-sew sublimation kit (jersey + shorts): MOQ 100 pieces per design.
Samples
Sample sets (1 jersey or tee per design) are available. Sample production takes 10–14 days from artwork approval. Courier charges are at actuals (typically $25–$45 via DHL depending on destination). Sample cost is refunded against bulk order placed within 90 days.
Production Lead Time
Bulk production lead time is 2–3 weeks from artwork approval for standard orders. Rush production (1–2 weeks) is available for confirmed orders — contact us to check availability. Production does not begin until the digital mockup has been approved in writing by the buyer.
Shipping
- DHL / FedEx Express: 3–7 business days to UAE, UK, Germany, Australia, USA, Canada, Poland. Available for all order quantities.
- Sea freight: Available for orders of 500+ pieces. Transit time 18–28 days depending on destination. Significantly lower freight cost for large volumes.
- Documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin (IEC certified), and HS code declaration provided for all export shipments.
Export Markets
Fabric Crew ships sublimation jerseys and DTF t-shirts to buyers worldwide. Key markets include:
- UAE — 0% import duty under India-UAE CEPA for qualifying apparel. The UAE is our fastest-growing market for sublimation sports kits. See UAE page.
- UK — Active market for club football jerseys, cricket kits, and corporate event tees. Air freight 5–7 days from Tirupur.
- Germany — Corporate clients and sports club kit orders. OEKO-TEX certified fabric available on request. See Germany page.
- Australia — Reduced duty under India-Australia ECTA. Sports clubs, school kits, and corporate events. See export pages.
- Saudi Arabia — Corporate sports day kits, school uniforms, and club jerseys. Arabic size labels available.
- USA — Private label brands, sports academies, and corporate event tees. FTC-compliant fibre content labels included.
- Canada — Club sports, school kits, and promotional tees. Bilingual English/French labels available on request.
- Poland — Football and volleyball club jerseys. EU customs documentation provided.
Why Choose Fabric Crew for Sublimation & DTF?
We are a sourcing coordinator, not a generic manufacturer. Every sublimation and DTF order is managed end-to-end by our team — from artwork check and mockup to production oversight, quality inspection, and freight booking. Our vetted manufacturing partners in Tirupur specialise exclusively in performance apparel and sports jersey production, unlike general garment factories that treat sportswear as a secondary category.
For buyers in Germany, UK, UAE, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, this coordination model means you have a single point of contact who speaks your language, understands your delivery requirements, and manages the entire process from artwork approval to doorstep delivery.
