A custom jersey looks simple enough from the outside - some colours, a logo, a number - but there's more going on behind the scenes than most people realise. Here's a look at what actually happens between "we want new jerseys" and a box turning up at the club.
The colour on your screen is never the final colour
Every screen displays colour slightly differently, which is exactly why a proper mockup and colour-matching process matters before printing. What looks like "club navy" on one monitor can print noticeably different if nobody double-checks it - which is why we get every design approved before it goes anywhere near production.
Sublimation isn't printing on the fabric - it's printing into it
Unlike a heat-pressed transfer that sits on top of the fabric as a layer, dye sublimation turns the ink into a gas that bonds directly with the polyester fibres. The design becomes part of the fabric itself, which is why sublimated jerseys don't crack or peel the way older printing methods do.
Numbers and names are the last thing added
Bulk team orders are usually designed as a template first - club colours, sponsor logos, pattern - with player names and numbers dropped in individually at the final stage. It's why a 20-jersey order with 20 different names still comes out looking like one cohesive design rather than 20 separate ones.
There's a reason for minimum order quantities
Custom sublimation printing is done in bulk production runs, which is why most suppliers (us included) set a minimum quantity per design. It's not about being precious - it's simply what makes custom, one-off colourways and designs viable to produce at a fair price.
A "sample" and a "mockup" are not the same thing
A mockup is a digital preview - what your design will look like once printed. A physical sample is an actual produced garment. Reputable suppliers will always get you a digital mockup approved before production, since waiting on physical samples for every order would make custom jerseys painfully slow and expensive.
Curious what's possible for your own club or team? Have a look through our Sportswear range or get in touch for a free design mockup.