Three-Dimensional Embroidery Designs Add Fluffy Fun To Childrenswear

July 1, 2008

If you're wondering exactly how the monogram letter "E" was created on the shirt featured on Impressions' cover this month, it was sewn by a patented process called Fuwari 3-D Embroidery. This unique process involves embroidering a design using a special adhesive bobbin thread along with a special topping. The design also must be digitized specifically for this process. The design is sewn as usual and then heat is applied to melt the adhesive on the bobbin thread. This locks the threads in place.

Once the design has been heat sealed, it is run through a special cutter, which literally shaves off the tops of the embroidery threads and the result is a wonderfully soft, fluffy 3-D design.

The Fuwari system, which is sold exclusively by RNK Distributing, Knoxville, Tenn., includes the special embroidery supplies needed, the cutter and predigitized designs. You also can digitize your own designs and the training to do this is included with the system.

DJ Anderson, Bulldog Embroidery, Houston, who purchased one of the first systems on the market, has had great success using it not only for kidswear, but also logos, team mascots and much more. He has been marketing it to schools as an alternative to chenille with solid success. The possibilities are endless, he notes. "With the Fuwari 3-D system, you can highlight certain features that would not normally stand out," he says. "One example would be to embroider a lion's head and only do the mane in Fuwari. It creates a lot more dimension." — Steve Coakley, Fuwari Division Manager

Anderson has a gallery of Fuwari embroidery designs on his Web site, which you can visit at bulldogemb.com. For more information about the system itself, visit RNK Distributing; e-mail info@RNKDistributing.com or call (865) 549-5115. For a video demonstration, go to youtube.com/rnkdistributing.

Growing Green
Effective marketing unlocks the profit in eco-friendly products and processes; here's how.
The worldwide "greening" of industries is not a passing trend, as social responsibility has become a mainstay in conducting business these days. Companies in the decorated apparel industry are doing their homework to properly educate and deliver green products and an eco-friendly philosophy to customers. But effectively marketing green products presents unique challenges for apparel decorators, so it pays to learn some green marketing lessons from the big boys.
October 01, 2008

Versatility Breeds Success in Wovens
Specialty detailing, functional features and washes give wholesale wovens advantages that rival those at retail.
The old saying, "You can't please everybody," doesn't apply to woven shirts in the wholesale apparel market. Today's wovens manufacturers offer an array of styles, fits and performance qualities to suit even the pickiest of customers. Specifically, in the corporate realm, these wholesale manufacturers have added specialty detailing that will allow custom decorators to give retail wovens a run for their money.
October 01, 2008

How to Create Easy Embroidery Effects, Part 2: Puffy Foam & Trapunto
Follow these simple steps to add dimension to basic embroidery designs.
This month we will continue to look at processes in embroidery that are a little outside of the norm. While some of these processes are popular, like 3-D foam, there are other special techniques, like trapunto, that are less well known. Most of these are pretty easy to pull off, as the complicated work is done in the digitizing.
October 01, 2008

How to Sell to Religious Institutions
Churches could be a great market for your custom embroidery work.
Religious-themed embroidery is some of the most beautiful in the world, and is crafted using time-honored methods. Today's commercial embroiderer can continue the tradition of creating ceremonial worship embroideries, as well as selling more contemporary products to churches and other religious organizations.
October 01, 2008

Tips for Using Metallic Thread
Think of metallic thread as the equivalent of the foil effect that's popular on screen printed T-shirts sold at retail today. It adds a similar trendy look whether used in concert with other apparel decoration applications or alone.
October 01, 2008