SUBLIMATION
PRINTING
Sublimation is not just a printing technique it is the foundation of modern sportswear manufacturing. At Colosnal Enterprises, virtually every performance kit, jersey, compression garment, and athletic uniform we produce is born from sublimation. Unlimited colour. Zero compromise. Built into the very fibre of the fabric.
What Is Sublimation
Printing?
Sublimation printing is a dye-transfer process where special sublimation inks are printed onto transfer paper, then heat-pressed onto polyester fabric at high temperature (around 200°C). At this temperature, the ink transforms from a solid directly into a gas bypassing the liquid stage and the gas molecules bond permanently with the polyester fibres at a molecular level.
The result is not a print sitting on top of the fabric it is a print that has become part of the fabric itself. The colour is embedded into every fibre, making it completely breathable, completely wash-proof, and completely permanent. The garment cannot fade, crack, or peel because there is no ink layer to crack or peel.
This is why sublimation is the dominant printing technology used by every major sportswear brand in the world from grassroots football clubs in Sialkot to the biggest names in global sport.
Ink Becomes Part of the Fabric
Sublimation ink bonds at molecular level with polyester fibres not a surface layer but a permanent colour transformation of the fabric itself.
Completely Breathable
Because there is no ink layer on the surface, the fabric’s moisture-wicking and breathability properties are 100% preserved after sublimation printing.
Heat-Activated Permanently
200°C heat press activates the dye sublimation process once cured, the colour is chemically locked into the polyester and cannot be removed.
Why Sublimation Is The
#1 Sportswear Print Method
No other printing technique offers sublimation’s combination of design freedom, durability, performance preservation, and cost-efficiency at scale.
Unlimited Colour & Design Freedom
Every colour in the visible spectrum. Photographic images. Complex gradients. Intricate patterns. Multi-colour designs. All printed simultaneously in a single pass no colour limits, no extra cost per colour, no design restrictions whatsoever.
Zero Colour LimitFade-Proof for the Life of the Garment
Because the colour is embedded in the fabric fibre not sitting on top sublimation prints cannot fade, crack, or peel. The colour you see on day one is the colour you see after 100 washes. Guaranteed for the lifetime of the garment.
Lifetime DurabilityBreathability & Performance Preserved
Unlike screen printing or heat transfer which add an ink layer to the fabric surface, sublimation leaves no surface coating. The fabric’s moisture management, stretch, and breathability are completely unchanged critical for performance sportswear.
Performance IntactTrue All-Over Seamless Print
Sublimation is printed onto fabric panels before cutting and sewing allowing designs to run edge-to-edge across the entire garment, continuing over seams, around sleeves, and across every panel without any breaks, borders, or print-free zones.
Edge-to-Edge CoverageMost Cost-Effective for Complex Designs
A design with 2 colours costs exactly the same to sublimate as a design with 200 colours. This makes sublimation by far the most economical method for complex, multi-colour sportswear designs at any volume level.
Cost EfficientEach Garment 100% Unique
Every single garment can have a completely different design player name, number, position, and individual customisation without any additional setup cost. Used for personalised team kits worldwide.
Full PersonalisationLightweight & No Added Weight
Sublimation adds zero weight to the garment critical for competition sportswear where every gram matters. Lightweight jerseys, compression garments, and performance wear remain at their designed weight post-printing.
Zero Added WeightSweat, Chlorine & Wash Resistant
Sublimation prints resist sweat, chlorine (pool wear), saltwater (beach/water sports), and all standard detergents. No special care instructions required wash at any temperature without colour degradation.
Sport-ProofEco-Friendly vs Alternative Methods
Sublimation uses water-based dyes with no solvents, no screens requiring chemical development, and no waste ink disposal. The transfer paper is the only material waste. A significantly lower environmental footprint than screen printing for complex designs.
Low Waste ProcessSublimation Sportswear
We Manufacture
From football pitches in Europe to cricket grounds in South Asia, basketball courts in the USA to boxing gyms across the Middle East our sublimation-printed sportswear powers athletes in every sport, in every country, at every level of competition.
Football & Soccer
The world’s biggest sport our most popular sublimation category.
- Match jerseys & shorts
- Goalkeeper kits
- Training tops & bottoms
- Warm-up jackets & tracksuits
- Full squad sets with numbers
Cricket
Professional Test whites to T20 coloured kits.
- T20 & ODI playing shirts
- Long-sleeve Test shirts
- Playing trousers & shorts
- Training kits & warm-ups
- Club & academy sets
Basketball
NBA-style performance kits for clubs and academies.
- Reversible jerseys
- Basketball shorts
- Shooting shirts & warm-ups
- Team sets with names & numbers
- Training & practice wear
Cycling
Aerodynamic sublimated kits for road and mountain cycling.
- Road cycling jerseys
- Bib shorts & bib tights
- Tri suits & skinsuit
- Cycling caps & arm warmers
- Club & team kits
Athletics & Running
Lightweight sublimated performance wear for track and field.
- Running vests & singlets
- Athletic shorts & tights
- Full athletics kits
- Marathon & race day shirts
- Cross country & trail wear
Swimming & Water Sports
Chlorine-resistant sublimated swimwear and water sports kits.
- Competition swimsuits
- Rash guards & board shorts
- Water polo kits
- Surf vests & UV tops
- Triathlon wetsuits (sublimated panels)
Compression & Base Layers
High-performance compression garments for recovery and sport.
- Compression shorts & tights
- Compression tops & sleeves
- Base layer sets
- Recovery tights & socks
- Branded compression wear for physio
Rugby & AFL
Durable sublimated kits built for contact sports.
- Rugby jerseys (contact grade)
- Rugby shorts & socks
- AFL guernsey & shorts
- Training & squad sets
- Club & school kits
Tennis & Padel
Performance sublimated tennis and padel court wear.
- Tennis polo shirts & tees
- Tennis skirts & shorts
- Padel kits for clubs
- Women’s tennis dresses
- Junior tennis kits
Combat Sports
Sublimated MMA, boxing, and martial arts wear.
- MMA shorts & rash guards
- Boxing trunks & robes
- BJJ & Jiu-Jitsu rashguards
- Muay Thai shorts
- Wrestling singlets & shorts
Gym & Fitness
Branded sublimated gym wear for fitness clubs and brands.
- Sublimated gym shorts & leggings
- Fitted training tops & vests
- Sports bras with all-over prints
- CrossFit & HIIT training wear
- Branded gym merchandise sets
Ice Hockey & Field Hockey
Sublimated performance kits for hockey clubs worldwide.
- Ice hockey jerseys & socks
- Field hockey shirts & skirts
- Goalie jerseys (ice & field)
- Club team sets
- Training & practice gear
Esports & Gaming
Bold sublimated jerseys for esports teams and gaming organisations.
- Esports jerseys & team kits
- Gaming polo shirts
- Team hoodies (sublimated panels)
- Full squad sets
- Sponsor-branded team wear
Volleyball & Handball
Dynamic sublimated kits for court and indoor sports.
- Volleyball jerseys & shorts
- Beach volleyball bikinis & trunks
- Handball jerseys & shorts
- Club & national team kits
- Referee kits
Schools & Universities
Custom sublimated sports kits for educational institutions.
- PE kits with school colours
- Sports day & event shirts
- Team kits for all sports
- House colour kits
- Sports touring & travel kits
Corporate & Team Sports
Sublimated teamwear for corporate tournaments and company sports days.
- Corporate team football kits
- Golf polos with sublimated accents
- Corporate sports day sets
- Staff activity & event wear
- Branded team merchandise
True All-Over
Sublimation Print
Unlike any other print method, sublimation allows designs to run across the entire garment surface edge to edge, panel to panel, seam to seam. Patterns, gradients, and graphics flow continuously from the front through the back, across the sleeves, and around every panel without interruption. This is the signature look of professional sportswear that sets sublimation apart from every other decoration technique.
Panel-to-Panel Continuity
Designs printed on separate panels are matched perfectly so patterns continue across seams.
🌄 Gradient Mastery
Multi-colour gradients flow naturally across the entire garment without breaks or banding.
🌟 Photographic Detail
Photographic images, realistic textures, and fine detail reproduced across the full garment surface.
✏ Custom Every Panel
Front, back, sleeves, collar each panel designed independently or as part of a seamless whole.
👥 Name & Number Per Piece
Each jersey in a squad can have a unique player name and number no additional setup cost.
🏢 Sponsor Logo Integration
Sponsor logos, sleeve badges, and branding integrated into the design file no separate application.
Sublimation Fabrics We Use
Sublimation requires a minimum of 65% polyester content to achieve full colour vibrancy. The higher the polyester content, the more vivid and permanent the result.
The Golden Rule of Sublimation
Sublimation only works on polyester or polyester-coated fabrics. On 100% polyester, colours are vivid and permanent. On 65/35 poly-cotton blends, colours appear slightly muted (heathered effect). On 100% cotton, sublimation ink will not bond DTF or DTG printing are the correct methods for cotton. We advise all clients on the correct fabric and print method combination for their specific garment and design requirements.
100% Polyester
Maximum colour vibrancy and permanence. The industry standard for all sublimation sportswear. Most jerseys, kits, and activewear use 100% polyester for this reason.
Poly-Spandex (90/10)
The preferred fabric for compression wear, cycling kits, and sports bras. Sublimation prints perfectly with full colour on this high-stretch performance fabric.
Poly Mesh & Dry-Fit
Breathable polyester mesh and moisture-wicking dry-fit fabrics used for football jerseys, basketball vests, and performance tops. Sublimation preserves all functional properties.
Poly Interlock & Pique
Smooth polyester interlock and pique used for polo shirts, training tops, and athleisure wear. Clean, vivid sublimation across the entire surface.
Compression Lycra
4-way stretch compression fabrics with high spandex content. Sublimation ink bonds to the polyester component designs remain accurate under full garment stretch.
Swimwear Fabric
Chlorine-resistant polyester swimwear fabric. Sublimation is the only print method suitable for competitive swimwear withstands pool chemicals and repeated use.
65/35 Poly-Cotton Blend
Can be sublimated but produces a softer, slightly muted “vintage” colour effect due to the cotton content absorbing less dye. Good for athleisure and casual sportswear.
Polyester Fleece
Sublimation on polyester fleece for warm-up jackets, training hoodies, and outerwear panels. The fleece texture creates a slightly softer print appearance that works beautifully.
❌ Does Not Work On: 100% Cotton, Linen, Wool, Nylon, Natural Fibres
Sublimation ink requires polyester fibres to bond with. On natural fibres, the ink will not transfer or will wash out immediately. For cotton garments, we recommend DTG (Direct to Garment) or DTF (Direct to Film) printing both available from our factory. We will always advise the correct print method for your specific fabric and design.
Unlimited Colour Freedom
No other print method gives you this much colour freedom. With sublimation, the entire colour spectrum is available at no extra cost per colour.
🌈 Any Colour Imaginable
From the brightest neon to the softest pastel sublimation reproduces any colour accurately using the CMYK colour model with no limits.
⚂ Perfect Pantone Matching
Team colours, brand colours, and corporate identity colours matched to exact Pantone references for consistent colour across every garment in your order.
🌀 Gradients & Blends
Smooth colour-to-colour gradients that transition naturally across the garment impossible with screen printing, effortless with sublimation.
📷 Photographic Reproduction
Full photographic images, realistic textures, and complex illustrations reproduced with the same quality as printing on coated paper at any scale on the garment.
Our Sublimation
Manufacturing Process
Every sublimated garment we produce follows this precise 8-stage process ensuring consistent quality and colour accuracy across every piece in every order.
Design & Tech Pack Creation
Your design brief is developed into a full digital layout panel by panel, with exact placement of logos, names, numbers, and design elements. Colour references are set in CMYK with Pantone correlation for all team colours.
- Full garment digital mockup created
- Pantone colour references confirmed
- Client design approval before production
Pattern Making & Grading
Garment patterns are drafted or retrieved for your chosen style and graded across your full size range. Pattern accuracy determines fit consistency across the entire production run.
- Master pattern per style created
- Full size grading XS to 6XL
- Size spec sheet generated
Sublimation Printing on Transfer Paper
The design is printed at full size onto specialist sublimation transfer paper using sublimation ink and high-resolution large-format printers. Each panel is printed at exact garment dimensions with colour-profiled accuracy.
- High-resolution large-format sublimation printing
- Colour profile accuracy checked pre-print
- Separate print per panel per size
Heat Press Transfer to Fabric
Each printed transfer paper is heat-pressed onto the polyester fabric panel at precisely 200°C for the correct dwell time. The heat converts the sublimation ink to gas which bonds permanently into the polyester fibres.
- 200°C heat press calibrated per fabric type
- Correct dwell time for full ink conversion
- Colour QC check immediately after transfer
Fabric & Colour QC Inspection
All sublimated fabric panels are inspected for colour accuracy, evenness, and any printing defects before cutting begins. Panels that do not meet our colour standards are reprinted before production continues.
- Colour comparison against approved sample
- Visual defect inspection per panel
- Non-conforming panels reprinted
Cutting
Sublimated fabric panels are cut to patternensuring print registration is maintained and design elements fall in the correct position on each cut piece.
- Pattern cut to maintain print registration
- Cut pieces inspected & bundled per size
- Design placement confirmed per bundle
Sewing & Construction
Cut panels are assembled by our sewing team using the correct stitch type for each seam flatlock, overlock, and coverstitch as required. Panel registration is checked to ensure design elements align correctly across seam joins.
- Flatlock seaming for performance & compression wear
- Panel registration checked at sewing stage
- In-line sewing quality checks throughout
Final QC, Finishing & Dispatch
Completed garments undergo final quality inspection checking measurements, seam quality, print accuracy, label placement, and overall finish. Approved pieces are packed into individual branded polybags, placed into outer cartons, and dispatched worldwide.
- Final measurement audit & visual QC
- Individual polybag & outer carton packing
- Export documents prepared & dispatched
Sublimation vs Other
Print Methods
For polyester sportswear with complex, multi-colour designs sublimation wins on every metric that matters to performance brands.
| Feature | Sublimation | Screen Printing | DTF | DTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Fabric | 100% Polyester | Cotton, poly, blends | Any fabric | 100% Cotton |
| Colour Limit | Unlimited Zero extra cost | Up to 8+ (per screen cost) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| All-Over Print | ✓ True all-over seamless | ✗ Placement only | ✗ Placement only | ✗ Placement only |
| Dark Fabric | ✗ Light/white fabric only | ✓ Yes (white base) | ✓ Yes (white base) | ✓ Yes (white base) |
| Hand Feel on Fabric | Zero part of fabric | Raised ink layer | Slight surface feel | Very soft surface |
| Breathability | 100% preserved | Reduced at print area | Slightly reduced | Minimal reduction |
| Weight Added | Zero grams | Slight (ink layer) | Slight (adhesive) | Minimal |
| Wash Durability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lifetime (100+) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent (100+) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good (50+) | ⭐⭐⭐ Good (30–50) |
| Minimum Order | 100+ pieces | 100+ pieces | 1+ pieces | 1+ pieces |
| Cost at Volume | Very Low | Very Low | Medium | Medium–High |
Frequently Asked
Questions
Everything you need to know about our sublimation printing service and how it applies to your sportswear order.
UNLIMITED COLOUR.
ZERO COMPROMISE.
WORLDWIDE DELIVERY.
Sublimation sportswear manufactured in Sialkot, Pakistan the world’s sportswear capital. Full custom design, 100 pieces minimum, 3–6 week turnaround, delivered to your door anywhere in the world.