The Best Fabrics To Choose For Printed Textiles
When it comes to printed textiles, so many of us focus on the pattern itself before the medium it’s applied to. After all, our eyes will be drawn to the colours, motifs, and details of the print before we start to think about its foundation. However, choosing the right fabric is a crucial detail for obtaining the desired outcome of your design.
Whether you’re an interior designer or you work for a fashion brand, it’s extremely beneficial to understand how prints and patterns will translate onto specific fabric types so you can really make your design vision come to life. That’s why we’ll be sharing 5 of the most popular types of fabrics for printed textiles, as well as which printing techniques work best for them below!
Are certain fabrics better than others for printed textiles?
It’s not necessarily that certain fabrics are better overall; the answer will depend on which printing technique you’ll be using.
Each fabric has its own unique characteristics (such as texture and absorbency) that are better suited towards certain types of printing techniques. For example, fabrics with smooth textures will be great for displaying intricate details and patterns, while fabrics with coarser textures can create patterns with a softer appearance.
Think of choosing skincare products based on skin type or matching sauces and seasonings with ingredients for a culinary recipe – the foundation will greatly impact the end result.
So, which fabrics are most popular for printed textiles, and which printing techniques are they best suited to? Let’s explore.
Cotton
This classic textile is considered the world’s most popular fabric for good reason. It’s comfortable, breathable, and incredibly versatile in so many ways, from design opportunities to textile printing.
Cotton’s smooth surface, absorbent properties, and intrinsic durability allows it to produce vibrant colours and capture the details of different patterns and motifs well. It can handle a wide range of hues, including metallics and foils.
There’s not much that cotton can’t do, however it’s important to note that different varieties of cotton provide different end results based on their texture. Carded open-end cotton has a rough or even starchy texture (think stiff, heavyweight t-shirts) that might not be the best choice for fine, intricate patterns. Softspun, ringspun, and combed cotton varieties are smoother and therefore more suitable for complex patterns, however they are slightly less durable than carded cotton.
Best for: block printing, digital printing, hand painting, screen printing
Silk
Elegant and luxurious, the beautiful lustre and smooth texture of silk is perfect for creating well-defined prints and yielding rich colours. This time-honoured fabric can handle elaborate details and motifs of all sizes, making it an excellent choice for a wide variety of printed textiles.
Like cotton, silk comes in different varieties and quality types, so choose your foundation accordingly.
Best for: block printing, digital printing, hand painting
Polyester
As far as synthetics go, polyester is one of the most adaptable choices for printed textiles. It’s durable, smooth, and wrinkle-resistant, making it a great choice for both simple and complex patterns. Plus, its colourfast properties ensure any hues used will always remain bright and even.
One downside to polyester is its heat sensitivity, which may restrict the number of colours used in a given textile pattern. But for prints with a simpler colour palette, it’s a safe and affordable fabric choice.
Best for: digital printing, screen printing
Rayon
As a semi-synthetic, rayon combines the versatility of synthetics with the softness and breathability of natural fabrics. It produces patterns with excellent clarity and can handle sophisticated patterns thanks to its smooth surface and advanced drapability.
Best: for digital printing, screen printing
Linen
A long-time favourite of natural fabric enthusiasts, linen is loved for its breathability, absorbency, and distinctive, organic texture. It’s not the smoothest fabric on the market, but it still offers a high level of adaptability, creating patterns with a rich, earthy feel.
Best for: block printing, digital printing, hand painting
CocoBloom’s Preferred Fabrics & Textile Printing Methods
As lovers of traditional printing techniques such as hand-screen printing and devorés, our fabric of choice is smooth, luminous Silk Satin. We can always count on this textile blend to produce stunning end results with its opulent handfeel and delicate sheen. It’s ideal for our one-of-a-kind patterns, as the lavish texture enhances colours and details to captivate in any light.
We utilise a layered textile printing process to create high levels of depth and texture, including techniques such as mono printing, hand painting on silk, ice dyeing, marbling, and etching to make our designs as unique and eye-catching as possible. We believe that traditional textile printing is a special form of art, and our craftsmanship and design skillsalways reflect that in our finished products.
To elevate your next fashion or interior design collection with a bespoke CocoBloom textile pattern, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today. Simply contact lisa@cocobloom.co.uk to start the collaboration process.