Flock printing

In flock printing, an adhesive — usually a dispersion-based binder — is first applied to the textile by screen print. The textile then enters a flocking chamber. A metal plate under the textile is connected to a high-voltage generator while the flock fibres (short viscose or polyamide fibres, 0.3-2 mm long) in a container above are oppositely charged.

In the electric field the flock fibres shoot in a directed way through a metal sieve perpendicular into the adhesive — this orientation creates the typical velvet-like look. The textile then dries in the oven and the excess unbonded fibres are mechanically vacuumed off. Flock printing has very high wash resistance.

Characteristic: thick, soft, velvety 3D effect with matte surface. The method is practically limited to single-colour motifs (jersey back numbers, club logos, lettering). Multi-colour motifs require several adhesive passes with intermediate drying, which is expensive.