By Courtney Saba
Part 2 of 2
Both hardware and media continue to advance so that digitally printed apparel a more viable option for the end user in terms of price and quality. In part one of this two-part series, Just Vision It of Love Jack, MO shared its history and tools used to create apparel with transfer dye-sublimation (dye-sub) printing.
Performance wear is one of a print service provider’s most common requests as customization becomes popular for consumers looking to stand out, whether at an instructor-led class or as a member of a professional sports team. Here, we profile Triflare and its partnership with Epson to create customized swimsuits.
Designs Brought to Life
Triflare is a MO-based sportswear brand dedicated to creating apparel for men and women. For females, the goal is to showcase femininity and power with products that include racing, running, and swimwear.
According to the company, its mission is to show that women athletes on all skill levels are both beautiful, but hard driving, daring but unrelenting, and uncommon by competitive. Triflare thrives to produce apparel that is flattering on a woman’s body, but also comfortable and resilient to efficiently compete.
Epson partnered with Triflare in Fall 2015 to create swimsuits for Epson’s Swimming in Ink event, designed to showcase the company’s new Eco Tank printers. Held in Times Square, in New York, NY, the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Team (USA Synchro) performed in a 17,000 gallon multi-colored tank.
The team wore original swimsuits designed by Triflare—the USA Synchro’s official competition sponsor. Epson’s SureColor F-Series dye-sub transfer printers were used to create the outfits.
According to Timothy Check, product manager, professional imaging, Epson, the Swimming in Ink event provided an ideal venue to showcase what the SureColor F-Series printers are capable of—printing designs with rich colors, deep blacks, and fine details.
Andrea Robertson, founder, Triflare, agrees. “The designs for the Epson Swimming in Ink event were brought to life by the F-Series printers—the vibrant suits had colors that popped, augmenting the performances perfectly and making the suits stand out. When the backdrop is Times Square, that’s saying something.”
The US Synchro team performed four routines throughout the day in custom designed suits paired with each routine and song. The swimsuits integrated cyan, magenta, yellow, and black to represent the inks featured in the EcoTank printers. A range of bold designs and shapes helped the suits stand out in the tank while the team was performing.
“We focus on designing and creating suits with bright colors and creative prints, eliminating the need for extra weight for flashiness. The end result is a lighter suit that complements the routines and the athletic performance,” says Robertson.
Gain a Foothold
Today’s digital print technology is robust enough to offer a swimsuit that can withstand a tank of chlorine and still provide vibrant colors seen from far away. Each technological advancement brings new opportunities for print providers looking to gain a foothold in this market segment.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Envisioning Apparel.
Click on the link above to get more information on the vendors mentioned in this article.
Jul2016, Digital Output DOAPPAREL1607
