About Flock Print
Flock printing (flocking) is a heat-transfer process in which a short-pile velour film with a carrier layer of electrostatically applied polyamide or viscose fibres is plotter-cut and applied to the textile under a heat press. The method emerged in the 1970s with the development of industrial cutting plotters and has been the standard for premium logo finishing in streetwear and sport for decades.
Facts:
- Origin: industrial use from ~1970s with cutting-plotter technology
- Print principle: flock film (velour coating on polyurethane carrier) + plotter cut + heat-press transfer at 150-160 °C
- Look/feel: matte velvet appearance with ~0.5 mm raised 3D effect
- Durability: 30-50 wash cycles at 30-40 °C
- Economical quantity: from 1 piece
- Wikipedia: Flocking (texture) (en.wikipedia.org)
- Film manufacturers: Poli-Tape · Stahls' CAD-CUT
- Industry association: FESPA — Heat Transfer section
Why ShirtStore?
- From 1 piece — no setup costs, ideal for hen party, wedding and gift shirts.
- Made in EU — plotting and pressing in our own works, no subcontractors.
- 24-48h dispatch — standard delivery in 5-10 working days, express on request.
- Refined 3D look — slightly raised, velvety surface instead of flat vinyl appearance.
What is flock print?
Flock print uses the same technical process as flex print: a special film is cut on a cutting plotter mirror-inverted along the vector outlines, then weeded by hand and pressed onto the textile with a heat press at around 150 °C under pressure for between 12 and 20 seconds. The difference lies in the film itself: flock film has a velvety upper surface made of short, upright polyester fibres that look like fine velour. These fibres are applied electrostatically to a PU carrier layer and stand vertically — hence the characteristic 3D effect.
The decisive advantage: the velvety feel instantly upgrades any textile and stands out clearly from smooth vinyl or plastisol prints. Branded hoodies, hen-party shirts and wedding crew wear gain a premium character. The downside: flock film is somewhat more delicate than flex film and does not like industrial washes. Economically sensible are one to a maximum of two colours per design.
When is flock print worthwhile?
Flock print is the right choice when the design should carry a refined, visibly high-quality look and is not constantly subjected to industrial washing. The method is suitable for:
- Fabrics — medium to heavy cotton and blend qualities from 180 g/m². T-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, polos, workwear jackets. Very thin t-shirts under 150 g/m² are less suitable because the fabric gives way under the press.
- Designs — simple lettering, brand logos, slogans, club letters with clear outlines. No gradients, no photo motifs.
- Quantities — from 1 piece, ideal up to about 100 pieces. For larger identical runs, screen print with soft-hand inks is often cheaper.
- Applications — hen-party shirts with slogans, wedding crew wear (Bride, Bride Tribe, Groom Squad), premium workwear branding, school hoodies, streetwear brand drops.
For sharp outlines on functional fabrics we recommend flex print instead, for complex multi-colour motifs transfer print or digital print.
Benefits and limits of flock print
Benefits:
- Refined feel — velvety, slightly raised, feels high quality.
- 3D effect — the film stands 0.5-1 mm off the fabric and casts a shadow.
- From 1 piece — no setup costs, ideal for gift shirts and individual pieces.
- Good durability — around 50 washes with proper care.
- Premium effect — visually upgrades even budget blanks.
Limits:
- Sensitive to harsh washing — no industrial 60 °C washes, no tumble drying.
- Maximum 1-2 colours economically — each colour needs its own film.
- Thin fabrics unsuitable — t-shirts under 150 g/m² look distorted by the print.
- No gradients or photos — only solid areas per film.
- Flock can flatten over time if regularly ironed heavily (which you should not do directly on the print anyway).
Minimum quantity and prices
Flock print is economical from the first piece. The following indication shows typical unit prices.
| Application | Vinyl area | Unit price (indication) |
|---|---|---|
| Small logo or chest lettering | up to A5 | EUR 4-6 per piece |
| Medium front motif | up to A4 | EUR 6-8 per piece |
| Large back motif (e.g. hen party slogan) | up to A3 | EUR 7-9 per piece |
| Two-colour logo | up to A5 | EUR 6-9 per piece |
| Slogan plus small symbol | up to A4 | EUR 7-9 per piece |
*Indicative prices for one vinyl colour in standard flock film. Special colours (metallic flock, glitter flock) carry a small surcharge. Please request a specific quote via the enquiry form.
Examples from our production
A selection of typical flock print orders from our workshop:
- Wedding crew Bride and Bride Tribe — 6 shirts with the lettering "Bride" (large, velvety black) and "Bride Tribe" on white premium t-shirts. Finishing unit price around EUR 6.50 per shirt.
- Hen party shirts with slogan — 12 black t-shirts with a two-line hen party slogan in flock white. Finishing unit price around EUR 7 per shirt.
- Premium workwear manufacturer branding — 30 hoodies of a manufacturing business with two-colour logo (lettering + crest) in flock black and flock metallic gold on the left chest. Finishing unit price around EUR 8 per hoodie.
- School year hoodies — 90 black hoodies with large year lettering on the back in flock white. Finishing unit price around EUR 8.50 per hoodie.
You will find more use cases in the sections Business Clients and Clubs.
How ShirtStore works
- Choose your product — t-shirt, hoodie or sweater in the configurator.
- Set sizes and quantity — mixed sizes are no problem.
- Upload your logo or design with templates — preferably vector (SVG, PDF, AI).
- Print approval and production — we send a mock-up for approval and produce in 5-10 working days.
Further Reading
- Flocking (texture) — Wikipedia — process description and applications
- Poli-Tape — manufacturer of flock and flex transfer films
- OEKO-TEX — harmful-substance testing for transfer films