Decorate
Application types
What’s an application type?
An application type is defined by the process and/or material that is used to apply your designs and color to your garments.
Some fabrics are digitally printed to attain a design or color (see Sublimation below) while others such as our Fleece fabrics require a design to be applied to the Fleece.
Designs can be applied to the fabrics by creating a badge, which is then sown onto the fabric directly. Our badges come in a range of styles with different looks and feels - for example, compare Full Embroidery to our Felt and Embroidery or Nylon and Embroidery badge options.
While designing you will be presented with the Application options that are available for that product's fabric where you are decorating. Different fabrics have very application options. If you are interested in a specific application type we suggest reviewing the Application's Availability in the table below, or for more detail, view our Guide to Fabrics to see fabrics and products that support your intended application type.
Customization
We allow you to select application types across each of the decoration spaces where multiple options are available. However, we suggest utilizing the defaults applied by the Design Lab and also ensuring that your decoration types are consistent between badges. For example, if you select a Felt and Embroidery badge, it would pair well with other applications of the same type or Full Embroidery. We would suggest avoiding having both Nylon and Felt badges on the product so as to maintain a consistent look and feel.
Where very granular details are required, such as in a Group List, which can have very small text, you will notice that the entire decoration space will become a Heat Transfer Print. This ensures that the entire decoration area is visually cohesive and the small detailed text elements can be applied to the garment.
Some garments and design areas may not have options available. For example, our Coaches Jackets and Windbreakers utilize fabric that can only be sublimated and as such, this is set and cannot be changed.
If you have any questions about options have a play in the Design Lab to see what’s on offer for your selected product style or reach out to our team with your questions.
Viewing and editing your application type
Open your design in the Design Lab.
Select DESIGNS from the menu.
Select the design space. The application type will be listed under APPLICATION.
Select the application type to see a list of all available application types for the decoration space.
All design elements within that decoration space will be the same application type, except for custom names/numbers, which may have their own application type.
Application types
Full Embroidery
Embroidery on your garment is a premium option for those who want to outshine the rest. Our multiple-head embroidery machines import your digital files for designs, logos and colors so that you get a premium embroidered garment made to your exact specifications. Embroidery colors are not limited to Reform Standard Colors, which means that designs limitations are almost non-existent.
Availability
Fabrics: Available across all the majority of products and fabrics except sublimated nylon fabrics. For more details see our Fabrics and application options.
Custom names: May add an additional cost per item.
Custom numbers: Small custom numbers only.
Features and benefits
- 200+ colors available.
- Offers a premium finish that works well for detailed designs such as logos and school crests.
Limitations
- Minimum sizes for small text and intricate detail. See our Guide for Logo/Graphics.
- 8 colors maximum.
Felt and Embroidery Badge
Felt is a premium application that adds a touch of class to the garment and shows the level of pride you have in your group or organization.
Felt provides a strong base for embroidered designs as its texture and thickness bond well with embroidered stitches, giving your design and logos a chance to stand out on your garment.
Felt is a an application that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibres together, which produces a badge that is soft on the eye and the hand.
Large areas of solid color will be created with felt fabric and then attached with embroidery. Small details that are too intricate for felt - such as small text - will be embroidered.
Availability
Fabrics: Available across all the majority of products and fabrics except sublimated nylon fabrics. This is the default badge style in the Design Lab due to its popularity in the United States. For more details see our Fabrics and application options.
Custom names and numbers: Not available.
Features and benefits
- 200+ colors available.
- Provides a traditional varsity/letterman look and feel.
- Ideal for large designs with solid fill areas and large custom numbers.
Limitations
- Cannot be used for very small or highly-detailed graphics/logos. See our Guide for Logo/Graphics
- 8 colors maximum.
Nylon and Embroidery Badge
Nylon is an extremely durable application that provides a strong base for embroidered designs. It’s a heavy duty fabric that's both tear and abrasion resistant and is ideal for covering large decoration areas, ensuring that the garment remains flexible and comfortable when worn. Its texture and thickness bond well with embroidered stitches, giving your design and logos a chance to stand out and withstand the test of time on your garment.
Large areas of solid color will be created with nylon fabric and then attached with embroidery. Small details that are too intricate for nylon - such as small text - will be embroidered
Availability
Fabrics:
Available across all the majority of products and fabrics except sublimated nylon fabrics. For more details see our Fabrics and application options.
Custom names and numbers:
Not available.
Features and benefits
- 200+ colors available.
- Provides the traditional badge look and feel, with a sporty, durable finish.
- Sturdy and hard-wearing (great for back decorations where backpacks may rub).
- Ideal for large designs with areas of solid fill.
Limitations
- Cannot be used for very small or highly-detailed graphics/logos. See our Guide for Logo/Graphics
- 8 colors maximum.
Sublimation
Sublimation is an application that allows for total freedom for logos, designs, photos, or class lists on your garment. Reform's sublimated garments go through a process of dye-transferring, which involves fusing ink into the fabric by printing at an extremely high heat.
Sublimation is the one of the best ways to achieve longevity because it won’t fade or bleed when washed, which means it stays vibrant.
Since imprints are dye-based rather than ink-based, the dye actually becomes part of the fabric color, embedded within the fibers so that your customized designs are made to last.
Availability
Fabrics:
Sublimated decorations are available on sprayproof nylon and polyester fabrics. Also available on the sprayproof side of reversible garments. For more details, see our Fabrics and application options.
Custom names and numbers:
Custom names and numbers available and will be sublimated on fabrics that support sublimation.
Features and benefits
- 200+ colors available.
- Printed directly to material.
- Sturdy and hard-wearing (great for back decorations where backpacks may rub).
- One of the best ways to achieve longevity because it won't fade or bleed when washed, which means it stays vibrant.
- Allows extensive freedom for logos, intricate designs, or class lists on your garment.
Limitations
- While a high level of detail can be achieved, small text may need to be increased to a minimum size. This will prevent bleed, which would make the text difficult to read.
- 8 colors maximum.
Heat Transfer Printing
Our Heat Transfer Printing is virtually limitless in customizability, which means you get to have just about any design - no matter how intricate - printed directly onto your garment.
Since our Heat Transfer Print is flexible and lightweight, there are no limitations yo the thickness of the material used to print on.
We use an environmentally-friendly water-based ink that produces an extremely vivid color and we are even able to mix colors to cater to your exact design specifications.
Availability
Fabrics:
Used when fine details need to be supported such as a when a group list is applied to a garment or when suggested, after our Design Review process. Not available on knitted fabrics. For more details see our Fabrics and application options.
Custom names and numbers:
Heat Transfer Printing is the suggested method for application of custom name and numbers across most fabrics.
Features and benefits
- 200+ colors available.
- Supports detailed designs.
- Flat on the fabric.
- Able to be applied to fleece fabrics.
- Ideal for large designs with areas of solid fill.
Limitations
- 8 colors maximum.
Sublimated Badge
When no other application can handle the intricacy and detailing of your designs or logo, the sublimated badge is the perfect application to add to your garment. We use sublimation to transfer your logo onto a strong polyester material via digital printer that produces mirrored images on paper that has been specially coated with a transfer material. This specialized process allows us to pick up every last detail, which means we can guarantee to do your logo, design, photos, and class lists the justice they deserve.
Availability
Fabrics:
Available on request for detailed badge decorations for most fabrics where there is no knitting or high-stretch. For more details, see our Fabrics and application options.
Custom names and numbers:
Not available.
Features and benefits
- 200+ colors available.
- Allows high level of detail with badge look and feel.
Limitations
- 8 colors maximum.
Popular questions
We suggest heading to the product details page for the product and view the “Available decorations” section. You can also simply start designing in the Design Lab to see what’s available, or view the Fabric guide, which provides information on styles and available application types.
If you are after a premium-looking finish, we recommend selecting Full Embroidery where available. For larger decorations we may suggest alternative options to improve comfort.
For a more traditional look, we recommend the Felt and Embroidery Badge for your larger design elements and Full Embroidery for your smaller design elements.
At this stage we do not offer singular badges. However we are able to apply a Nylon and Embroidery or Felt and Embroidery badge to your garment based on your design and application selection.
As logos and crests generally have thin lines or details, we recommend Full Embroidery to achieve a premium look. However, please note that there are guidelines that must be followed, particularly with respect to minimum text size. For more information, see our Logo/Graphics upload Guide.
In cases where your garment is going to experience higher levels of wear and tear (such as having a backpack rubbing on the decorations), we suggest considering our Nylon-based decorations such as a Sublimation, where the decoration is printed directly on the fabric, or a Nylon and Embroidery badge.
Badges and embroidery are only available on the fleece fabric (Side B) of your reversible garment.
For design elements on the sprayproof nylon fabric (Side A), the application type will always be sublimation.
Our design team will check your design and chosen application types during their design review.
If we recommend a different application type, we will be in contact.
Some application types are not available on certain fabrics and as such will not be displayed. Select from the available options, or consider changing styles to gain access to different application types.
Note: Sublimated Badges are not available on the Design Lab and your design must be reviewed by Reform to gain access to this option.
If you're looking for a specific application type, we suggest reviewing our Fabric guide and selecting a product that allows for your preferred application.