The Role of Texture in Printed and Embroidered Apparel
Published by: Siobhan Ingram
Date: 04-15-2025
When people think about custom apparel, they often focus on color, design, and placement—but texture plays a huge role in how merch looks and feels. Whether you’re using screen printing, embroidery, puff print, or specialty inks, texture adds depth, dimension, and a premium feel that can take your apparel to the next level.
Let's dissect why texture is important and how to utilize it well in printed and embroidered work.
Texture in Screen Printing: It's More Than Ink
Not all prints are two-dimensional—some are raised, textured, and make designs more exciting.
Puff Print: This heated ink puffs up, creating a raised, 3D look that's soft but bold. It's perfect for logos, bold typography, and streetwear-style designs.
High-Density Printing: A denser application of ink creates a rubberized, crisp finish that makes designs pop both visually and tactilely.
Soft-Hand Printing: For a broken-in feel that melts into the shirt, soft-hand inks create a vintage, broken-in texture instead of a heavy print on top of the shirt.
The Depth of Embroidery
Embroidery naturally adds luxurious texture to anything, so logos and designs appear more upscale and long-lasting. Because ink can't provide dimension in the same manner, embroidery is a favorite of hats, polos, hoodies, and jackets.
3D Puff Embroidery: This process uses foam under the thread to create raised, eye-catching logos—perfect for hats and statement branding.
Flat Embroidery: An age-old technique that provides neat, clean stitches, ideal for delicate details and sleek, pro-style designs.
Chenille Embroidery: The fuzzy, velvety texture used on varsity jackets and letterman patches adds a retro, texture-driven element with a graphic twist.
Why Texture Matters in Apparel
✔ Provides a Luxury Touch – Embossed or raised ornamentation looks and feels more high-end than plain prints.
✔ Creates Visual Interest – Textures help to create a more dynamic, engaging piece.
✔ Contributes to Brand Identity – Texture can give your merchandise a unique character, differentiating your products from mass-produced flat products.
Applying the proper texture to your own branded apparel can be the difference between something that feels generic and something that feels deliberate, high-end, and worth wearing over and over again. Whether it's a flat vintage print or a raised embroidered logo, texture sets your brand apart.