If you’ve ever ordered custom sportswear, designed your own team jerseys, or simply wondered why some outfits fade while others stay vibrant, you’re in the right place.
Today we’re diving deep into a topic most players never think about —
How fabric affects heat transfer printing, especially in modern sportswear like sublimation sportswear and OEM sportswear.
Whether you’re a team manager, a small business owner, a designer, or just someone who loves personalized gear, this episode will help you understand:
- Why some fabrics work beautifully with heat transfer printing
- Why cotton often fails
- What materials professional sports brands use
- How to choose the right fabric for long-lasting, breathable custom sportswear
Let’s get into it.
🎧 Segment 1: Why Fabric Matters for Heat Transfer Printing
When you buy or design custom sportswear, you probably focus on the color, the logo, your number, or maybe the cut.
But behind every vibrant print is one simple truth:
👉 Not all fabrics can handle heat transfer printing the same way.
Heat transfer printing involves using high temperature to bond colors or printed films onto the fabric. If the material cannot handle heat or doesn’t bond well with the ink, your print will look dull, peel off, or fade quickly.
And this is where sportswear gets special.
Professional sports apparel — including basketball jerseys, football kits, baseball uniforms, volleyball jerseys — almost always uses polyester-based fabrics. That’s because:
- Polyester can handle heat
- It absorbs sublimation ink
- It stays vibrant and sharp after many washes
- It is lightweight and moisture-wicking
So if you’ve noticed that almost all OEM sportswear manufacturers use polyester for professional team uniforms, it’s not by accident.
It’s science.
And we’re about to explain it.
🎧 Segment 2: Heat Transfer vs Sublimation – What’s the Difference?
Before we talk about fabrics, let’s clarify the two most common printing methods used in custom sportswear:
1. Sublimation Printing (Sublimation Sportswear)
This is the gold standard in modern sportswear.
Sublimation turns ink into gas under heat, and the gas permanently bonds with the polyester fibers.
👉 Result:
- No cracking
- No peeling
- No fading
- Completely breathable
- No added weight
This is why sublimation sportswear looks so bright and comfortable.
But there’s one catch:
💡 Sublimation ONLY works on polyester fabrics.
Not cotton, not nylon, not wool —
only polyester, ideally 85% or higher.
2. Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) or Heat Press Film
This is a layer of colored film pressed onto the fabric.
It sticks to the surface, so it can be used on many fabric types.
👉 Works on:
- Cotton
- Polyester
- Blends
- Nylon
- Lycra/Spandex
👉 BUT:
It’s not breathable, can feel thick, and may crack over time — especially after heavy sports use.
That’s why professional OEM sportswear factories usually use vinyl only for numbers and small logos, not full-body designs.
🎧 Segment 3: Why Polyester Is King for Heat Transfer & Sublimation
Let’s talk about why polyester dominates custom sportswear.
✔ 1. It absorbs sublimation ink
Polyester molecules open under heat, allowing ink gas to enter and bond permanently.
This is why polyester prints:
- Look sharp
- Stay bright
- Don’t peel off
✔ 2. It can handle high temperatures
Most heat transfer methods use 180°C–210°C (356°F–410°F).
Polyester doesn’t shrink, burn, or distort at these temperatures.
✔ 3. It’s durable and long-lasting
Sportswear goes through:
- Sweat
- Sunlight
- Washing
- Stretching
- Physical contact
Polyester holds up better than cotton in these conditions.
✔ 4. It is lightweight and moisture-wicking
This is why all major sports brands — Nike, Adidas, Puma — use polyester for team jerseys.
✔ 5. Unlimited design freedom
Sublimation on polyester allows:
- Full-body prints
- Gradient colors
- Detailed artwork
- Sponsors’ logos
- Names and numbers
No limits.
If you’re designing custom sportswear for your team, club, school, or brand, polyester is the safest and best choice.
🎧 Segment 4: Why Cotton Is NOT Good for Sublimation
Let’s clear up a big myth:
❌ “Can I sublimate on cotton?”
Official answer: No.
Here’s why:
1. Cotton cannot absorb sublimation gas
The ink stays on the surface and washes away quickly.
2. Colors appear faded and washed-out
You won’t get the bright neon or bold colors seen in pro jerseys.
3. After a few washes, the print disappears
This is the biggest issue for teams.
4. Cotton burns or turns yellow under high heat
Sublimation heat is too high for cotton fibers.
This is why:
- NBA jerseys
- FIFA World Cup kits
- Volleyball team uniforms
- Baseball jerseys
- Marathon running shirts
All use polyester, not cotton.
Cotton is great for casual wear.
But not for sublimation sportswear or professional OEM sportswear production.
🎧 Segment 5: Fabrics That Work Best for Sublimation Sportswear
If you want long-lasting, breathable custom sportswear, choose these fabrics:
1. 100% Polyester
The best option.
Brightest colors, sharpest prints, strongest durability.
Used for:
- Basketball jerseys
- Soccer kits
- Training shirts
- Running apparel
- Esports jerseys
2. Polyester + Spandex Blend (90/10 or 88/12)
Perfect for:
- Yoga wear
- Compression shirts
- Tight-fit running gear
- Volleyball uniforms
More stretch, more comfort.
3. Mesh Fabrics (Big mesh / Small mesh)
Lightweight and breathable.
Used for:
- Reversible basketball jerseys
- Training tanks
4. Interlock Polyester
Smooth, soft, premium feel.
Used for:
- Soccer and baseball jerseys
- Polo shirts
5. Bird’s Eye Mesh
Moisture-wicking, quick-dry.
Used widely in sports T-shirts.
These fabrics work perfectly for sublimation sportswear and are standard in most OEM sportswear factories worldwide.
🎧 Segment 6: Fabrics NOT Suitable for Heat Transfer or Sublimation
Some materials don’t work well with heat printing at all.
| Fabric | Why It Doesn’t Work |
|---|---|
| Cotton | Cannot absorb sublimation ink, burns easily |
| Wool | Sensitive to heat |
| Leather | Damaged by high temperature |
| Fleece | Surface too uneven |
| Nylon (for sublimation) | Turns yellow, cannot absorb ink |
| Silk | Too delicate for heat |
If you want durable prints, avoid these for sportswear.
🎧 Segment 7: Understanding Fabric Specs (GSM, Stretch, Texture)
If you buy from an OEM sportswear supplier, you’ll hear terms like GSM and spandex ratio.
Here’s what they mean.
1. GSM (Weight per square meter)
- 120G → Very light, training vests
- 140–160G → Standard jersey fabric
- 180–200G → Rugby, hockey, baseball (more contact-heavy sports)
Higher GSM = thicker, heavier, more durable.
2. Stretch (Spandex Content)
- 3–5% → Regular team jerseys
- 10–20% → Compression wear / Yoga wear
3. Fabric Knits
- Interlock → Smooth & soft
- Mesh → Breathable
- Bird’s eye → Quick-dry
- Piqué → Polo shirt texture
Choosing the right fabric makes your custom sportswear comfortable and functional — not just good-looking.
🎧 Segment 8: Which Printing Method Should You Choose?
Let’s summarize for practical use.
✔ Choose Sublimation Printing If:
- You want full-color designs
- You need breathable jerseys
- You want durable, no-fade prints
- You prefer lightweight performance fabric
- You’re ordering OEM custom sportswear for teams
✔ Choose Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) If:
- You only need small details
- You want to print on cotton
- You’re doing small quantities
- You need simple names/numbers
For professional teams, sublimation sportswear will always win.
🎧 Segment 9: The Best Fabrics for Different Sports
Basketball
- 150–160G Mesh
- 100% Polyester
- Reversible mesh fabric for training
Football / Soccer
- 140–150G Interlock
- Lightweight & breathable
Baseball
- 160–180G polyester
- Durable, strong, slightly thicker
Volleyball
- 150–180G polyester + spandex
- Flexible for movement
Running & Track
- Bird’s eye mesh
- Quick-dry fabrics
These are the same materials used by major OEM sportswear manufacturers worldwide.
🎧 Final Thoughts: How to Choose the Right Fabric for Custom Sportswear
If you remember only one thing from this episode, remember this:
👉 The fabric you choose decides how your custom sportswear will look, feel, and last.
If you want:
- Bright colors
- Zero fading
- Breathable performance
- Professional-level durability
Then choose polyester fabrics and sublimation printing every time.
Cotton might feel soft, but polyester is the true champion of sportswear technology.
Whether you’re producing for a school team, a sports club, a brand, or ordering from an OEM sportswear manufacturer, understanding fabric is the key to getting high-quality custom sportswear.
