Sublimation Printing for Sports Kit and Teamwear
Dye bonded into the fibre, so the design never cracks, peels or fades. Up to 1,000 pieces a day from our Ajman factory, 3 to 7 days on a full bulk run.
pieces per day production capacity
days under 100 pcs, 3 to 7 on bulk
player names and numbers, no setup charge
Why Sublimation Printing Outlasts Every Other Method
Sublimation printing is the only method where nothing sits on the surface of the garment. Under heat the dye turns straight from solid to gas and bonds into the polyester fibre itself. There is no ink layer, no transfer film and no added weight, so there is physically nothing to crack, peel or wash away. The design lasts as long as the garment does.
It also removes the cost logic that limits every other method. Colours are free, so a twelve colour design costs the same as a two colour one, and individual player names and numbers carry no extra setup charge. That is why serious football, cricket and cycling kit is sublimated rather than printed.
What sublimation printing gives you
- Unlimited colours at one flat price
- Photographic detail, gradients and fades
- Individual names and numbers at no extra cost
- No added stiffness or weight on lightweight kit
- A finish that outlives repeated washing
Best suited to
- Football, cricket, basketball and volleyball kit
- Cycling and running jerseys
- School and university sports teams
- Corporate tournament and event teamwear
- Any polyester garment in a light base colour
How Sublimation Printing Works
Design and mock up
We lay out your artwork, sponsor logos, names and numbers, then send a digital mock up for approval before anything is printed.
Print to transfer paper
The design is printed in reverse using sublimation dye. Colours look dull at this stage and only reach full strength under heat.
Heat press and bond
At high temperature the dye turns to gas and bonds into the polyester fibre. Nothing is left sitting on the surface of the fabric.
Finish and deliver
Kit is checked against your approved mock up, then delivered across all seven emirates.
Two Rules Sublimation Printing Cannot Break
The dye only bonds to polyester. On cotton or a high cotton blend there is nothing for it to bond into, and the design washes out. It also needs a white or light base fabric, because the dye is translucent and cannot print lighter than the material underneath. You cannot sublimate a navy shirt, and you cannot sublimate a cotton one.
Those two rules are not a limitation we can work around with a better press, they are how the chemistry works. If your garment is cotton, dark, or both, we will point you to DTF or embroidery instead. Anyone promising it on a black cotton tee is selling you something else.
Sublimation Printing in Dubai, Sharjah and Across the UAE
We print and press in house on Beirut Street, Industrial Area 2, Ajman, and deliver to all seven emirates. At 1,000 pieces a day, a full school sports programme or a league wide kit order runs on the same schedule as a single team, allowing 3 to 7 days on a full league wide run. Manufacturing outside the Dubai free zones is what keeps the per kit price below a reseller quote.
Sublimation Printing FAQs
Can you sublimate cotton or dark garments?
No, and no supplier can. The dye only bonds to polyester, and it is translucent so it cannot print lighter than the base fabric. For cotton or dark garments we recommend DTF printing or embroidery instead.
How long does a sublimated kit take?
Orders under 100 pieces are produced in 3 to 4 days, and bulk runs of around 1,000 pieces take 3 to 7 days. Express turnaround is 3 days where a season start is tight.
Do names and numbers cost extra?
No. Because the design is printed individually for each garment, adding a different name and number to every shirt carries no extra setup charge. This is the main reason team kit is sublimated rather than screen printed.
Will the print fade or crack over time?
No. The dye becomes part of the fibre rather than a layer sitting on top, so there is nothing to crack or peel and it does not fade in normal washing. It is the most durable decoration we offer on light polyester.
What is the minimum order?
Sublimation suits small team orders as well as full club runs. Send us your squad size and design and we will quote it directly.
Can you match our club or sponsor colours?
We match to your Pantone references and confirm them on a digital mock up before printing. Screen colour never matches fabric exactly, so we always recommend approving the mock up rather than a screen preview.
What artwork do you need for a kit design?
Vector files are best: AI, EPS, PDF, SVG or CDR, along with sponsor logos and a list of names and numbers in a spreadsheet. If you only have a rough idea, our team can lay out the design for you.
Is sublimation printing better than DTF for sportswear?
On light coloured polyester, yes. Sublimation adds no weight, never peels, and prints edge to edge. DTF is the better answer when the garment is cotton, dark, or the order is a handful of pieces.
Send us your kit design
Squad list, sponsor logos and colours. We will come back with a digital mock up and a price per kit before anything is printed.