As you likely already know, your underwear has the potential to make or break your day. Perhaps you have a pair of lucky boxers that you just have to wear every time you have a big presentation at work, or a pair of boxer briefs that you refuse to wear if you have a hot date because they have an embarrassing design.
That’s why it’s paramount that you carefully choose every detail when designing your own customized men’s underwear. You must choose the best cut, size, fabric type, and printing method in order to make your personalized boxer shorts (or boxer briefs, or trunks, etc.) your perfect pair of underwear.
Though every aspect is important, let’s face it: you’re not special ordering from a men’s underwear manufacturer to create regular, boring underwear — you’re creating the personalized boxer shorts of your dreams! This is why you should pay extra attention to the printing method used to bring your custom design or logo to life, because not every option works well with every design or fabric type.
There are a number of different types of fabric printing methods, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Read on to find out which one you should choose when you are creating your customized men’s underwear.
Heat Transfer
One of the most popular printing methods requested by BKage Underwear customers, heat transfer printing is both time and cost efficient. In fact, you may have done something similar at home! Heat transfer printing uses special paper with your chosen design printed on. Then, the heat transfer paper is carefully placed on to your custom boxer shorts to ensure that there are no wrinkles or defects. Lastly, heat is applied to the paper (at home, you may have used an iron, but most men’s underwear manufacturers use a machine that presses the design and the clothing together, applying heat to both sides of the garment and pressing it flat) which transfers the design on to your personalized boxer shorts.
The advantages of using heat transfer to add a design on custom boxer shorts is that it is a quick process that requires very little specialized equipment, meaning that it is both time and cost-effective for small runs. This is best for individuals, small businesses, or start-ups who only need a few pairs of custom boxer shorts. Additionally, this method can be used for any design, whereas other methods are best for specific types of logos or artwork.
However, there are a few disadvantages to using the heat transfer method. Transfer paper is single use, meaning that it is far less time and cost-efficient for those who want to place large orders from a men’s underwear manufacturer. Additionally, heat transfer designs are on the not-so-sturdy side, and they can crack, peel, and fade in the wash over time.
Silk-Screen Printing
Silk-screen printing, often referred to simply as screen printing, is by far the most common printing method used in the manufacturing industry — and for good reason! Though it is a bit more tricky to implement, this method allows users to print crisp designs on their custom men’s boxers in nearly every color. Silk-screen printing has been done for thousands of years, and it gets its name from the stencil screens used to transfer designs, which were originally made of a fine silk. Now, most men’s underwear manufacturers use more durable and cost-effective materials, such as nylon mesh. This method uses multiple stencil screens to quickly and accurately print multiple colors within a single design, creating beautiful and durable artwork on your custom boxer shorts.
There are multiple benefits to gain by choosing the silk-screen printing for your custom boxer shorts. First, the images created using this method are crisp and clean with the ability to use many colors, meaning that your design or logo will be eye-catching and beautiful. Additionally, silk-screen printed designs are very durable and can stand up to many wash cycles, provided you take good care of your personalized boxer shorts.
Unfortunately, silk-screen printing does have its disadvantages. First, the men’s underwear manufacturer must create the stencil screen for your design, which can add up if you want to use multiple colors because each color must be printed separately. This isn’t cost-effective for small runs, as the manufacturer will need to factor in the price of each stencil — they are reusable, though, so it will be a one-time fee. Additionally, silk-screen printing can be very time consuming if you choose to use a lot of different colors in your design, which may mean that you will have to wait longer for your custom boxer shorts to arrive at your door.
Embroidery
Though not technically a printing method, embroidery is one of the best ways to add beautiful, long-lasting designs to your customized men’s underwear. Instead of using transfer paper or a stencil and ink, embroidery creates decorative designs using thread. In the olden days, embroidery was done by hand, but now men’s underwear manufacturers have high-tech machines that can quickly and accurately sew intricate designs, logos, and colors into the fabric of your custom boxer shorts.
One of the biggest advantages of using embroidery is that stitching it directly into the fabric makes the design on your personalized boxer shorts very durable. Embroidered designs can last for decades (even after many, many washes) whereas other methods may result in cracking or fading more quickly. Additionally, embroidered designs have a three-dimensional appearance, often making the garment look more expensive and high-quality than those with heat transferred or silk-screen printed designs.
However, choosing embroidery for your custom boxer shorts can be more expensive than other methods, depending on the size and intricacy of your design and time required on behalf of the men’s underwear manufacturer. For this reason, it is best for logos instead of all-over designs.
Ready to create the underwear of your dreams?
BKage Underwear is the premiere custom underwear manufacturer, and we’re ready to help you create your perfect pair of personalized boxer shorts (and more!). With a vast selection of styles, fabrics, and customization options, the sky's the limit with BKage Underwear.
If you have any questions regarding printing methods or otherwise, our customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
