The Hidden Cost of Cheap Printing
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The Hidden Cost of Cheap Printing
RVA Threads Guide to quality apparel
Worth Wearing, Worth Printing
In the world of apparel procurement, it is tempting to order the lowest price garments. When you’re ordering 100 shirts for your business, a savings of $2.00 per garment looks great on a spreadsheet.
However, your brand’s reputation doesn't live on a spreadsheet, it lives in the hands of your customers and on the backs of your employees. A shirt that shrinks two sizes after the first wash, or a print that cracks and peels within a month isn't just a "bad shirt." It’s a direct reflection of your company’s standards. At RVA Threads, we believe that if a garment isn't worth wearing, it isn't worth printing.
Mastery at the Press: 10+ Years of Experience
Every order is overseen by professional printers with over 10 years of hands-on experience. This decade of expertise means we know exactly how to adjust squeegee pressure for a delicate tri-blend or how to manage heat settings to prevent scorching on high-performance polyester. You aren’t just paying for ink on a shirt; you’re paying for the technical intuition that ensures your logo looks exactly as intended.
Solving the "Dye Migration" Mystery
Have you ever seen a white logo on a red polyester shirt that slowly turns pink? That’s called dye migration and it’s a hallmark of rushed, discount printing. Budget shops skip the necessary "bleed blockers" and temperature-controlled curing processes required for technical fabrics.
We approach every job with a chemist’s mindset. Whether we are printing on 100% cotton or moisture wicking synthetics, we match the ink chemistry to the fabric. This ensures your whites stay white and your brand colors remain vibrant, wash after wash.
Precision Consistency: From First Shirt to Last
Variance from order-to-order is one of the largest frustrations when ordering custom merch. You order 100 shirts in May, and they look great. You re-order the same 100 in September, and suddenly the logo is three inches lower or the blue is a different shade.
We utilize digital registration and precision-locked platens to ensure that the 1st shirt and the 500th shirt are identical. By keeping your screens and digital proofs on file with exact ink mixing formulas, we make re-ordering the easiest part of your job.