Printed

Printing is done on all kinds of fabrics, such as cotton, silk, viscose, rayon, pure linen, pure hemp, pure ramie and other polyester fabrics. Fabric printing involves the production, by various means, of coloured patterns or designs on all kinds of textile materials. Beautiful tropical designs, quaint cartoon figures, bold geometric, abstract designs and luscious fruit and flowers are some of the famous prints. Just as fashion changed and evolved through the decades, so did the styles of the printed fabrics.

Designs & Styles
Styling of printed fabrics are characterized by geometric prints, squares, circles, stylized florals, good luck symbols, horse shoes, wishbones, laurel wreaths, and ribbon and animal prints. Other popular styles are human forms with insect wings, butterflies, peacocks, women with flowing hair, the Iris flower, and fantasy type prints and moon and stars. Floral prints include roses, lilacs and morning glories were some of the new flowers that are in vogue.

Techniques
Stenciling is restricted to single and very low volume prints, custom windsocks and kites for example, where the graphic is too fine for applique, or for large banners printed on synthetic fabrics. Block printing is the method to create prints with a block of wood, copper or other material bearing a design in intaglio with the dye paste applied to the surface is pressed on the fabric and struck with a mallet.

More recent printing processes include screen printing, a hand method especially suitable for large patterns with soft outlines, in which screens, one for each color, are placed on the fabric and the color paste pressed through by a wooden squeegee; spray printing, in which a spray gun forces the color through a screen; and electro coating, used to apply a patterned pile.