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You’ve probably heard all about the money that can be made with sub-limation. Want to know how to

make that happen for your business? Well, it can be as simple as digging into some of the trends out in the marketplace and taking advantage of them as a sublimator.

FASHION AND CLOTHING Fashion and clothing are an impor-

tant part of the sublimation industry. They validate the technique and make it more mainstream, thus, easier to sell it to your customers. During New York’s Fashion Week in early February 2015, Epson hosted a high-end fashion party to show off its new sublimation printers. Other major printer companies are looking to break into the sublimation game, noting that sublimation is here to stay.

Has anyone checked out recent NBA

games and other major sports events? See any colorful socks out there with pictures on them? Those were sublimated, along with some jerseys, too! We are even seeing sublimated sleeves on some athletic attire.

Many of you probably deal with sports teams. This is a good opportunity to offer them custom socks to go along with an awards package or apparel order. What about cheerleading groups—they could use some fashionable headbands or even some tote bags or backpacks for carrying gear. How about some personalized flip-flops for between competitions?

I’m also guessing some of you dabble in the wedding business. How about offering the bridal party some themed flip-flops so they can get out of those awful high heels at the reception? What about some sublimated flasks for the groomsmen?

Even if you aren’t directly involved in fashion and the apparel market, the trend in fashion towards sublimation is a good thing for you. Different markets are now available to you that would not have been there before due to people understanding more about sublimation. Further, you can add more products that are profitable to your existing business.

MONOGRAMSNow that we covered the broader spec-

trum of fashion, let’s get a little more spe-cific. I am fortunate enough through my work to get to speak to a lot of people with their finger to the pulse of what’s trending in the design world. One of the most common trends is the monogram. People are looking for monograms on a variety of different items, and it is a good way to add extra perceived value to a

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Sublimation TrendsWHAT’S HOT IN FASHION, PATTERNS, SUBSTRATES AND MORE

by Aaron Montgomery

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product without much additional artwork or material.

People also look for monograming to be done in a different media type to make it stand out. The most common form of monograming is through an embroidery addition to an item. In addition, you might see requests for glitter vinyl, rhine-stones and other decorating techniques to go along with the sublimated items.

So how do you get some of this business? We already discussed the fact that many of you are probably getting some wedding customers coming your way. Monograming is huge in the wed-ding market. Decorating something like a plate with just a stock design might fetch $10 to $15, but add a personalized monogram to that plate and now it can be sold for $20 to $25. What about your wine customers? Offer them a personal-

ized wine bottle tote monogramed with their initials.

Want to get even more creative? Offer up customized throw pillow cases with a monogram to match and engraved pic-ture frame for their living room as well as a monogramed welcome mat. What about some monogramed iPad cases for their tablet? Monograms are definitely a hot design, and you can easily set up tem-plates and add very little work or cost to your projects to get premium prices for those items.

CHEVRON AND AZTECLet’s get down to the fine details of

what design trends are popular right now in sublimation. This particular design trend has been around for a little while, but is still very popular: chevron patterns. The great part about this pattern is that it

Even if you aren’t directly involved in fashion and the apparel market, the trend in fashion towards sublimation is a good thing for you. Different markets are now available to you that would not have been there before due to people understanding more about sublimation. Further, you can add more products that are profitable to your existing business.

MONOGRAMSNow that we covered the broader spec-

trum of fashion, let’s get a little more spe-cific. I am fortunate enough through my work to get to speak to a lot of people with their finger to the pulse of what’s trending in the design world. One of the most common trends is the monogram. People are looking for monograms on a variety of different items, and it is a good way to add extra perceived value to a

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Sublimation TrendsWHAT’S HOT IN FASHION, PATTERNS, SUBSTRATES AND MORE

(far left below) The Aztec patterns are modeled

after ancient Aztec images and feature

bright colors, strong shapes and unique

patterns.

(middle below) A personalized wine bottle tote monogramed with

a customer’s initials makes a great gift.

(below) Aztec patterns hit fashion design

stages in 2009 and have slowly trickled their way

into our personalized design libraries.

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64 a-e-mag.com • A&E FEBRUARY 2016

is simple. Put a bunch of Vs together and you have it! Mix and match colors to the school you are sublimating for to create some instant hits. It has been around for decades but is just now really taking off. (Go take a look at Charlie Brown’s yellow T-shirt and see what pattern he has on it.)

With the chevron craze in full swing, people have started to get a little more complicated, leaning toward the latest trend—Aztec patterns. These patterns are modeled after ancient Aztec images and feature bright colors, strong shapes and unique patterns. Just like the chevron patterns, this is not really a new design style as it is actually a rekindling of an old design style. You can find textile pieces dating back as far as the 14th century that feature Aztec patterns. These patterns hit fashion design stages in 2009 and have

slowly trickled their way into our person-alized design libraries.

A sublimator I spoke with in a subli-mation Facebook group told me much of her business comprised of many kitchen-related items with chevron and Aztec prints on them. “I sold tons of kitchen-related items over Christmas—coffee mugs, cutting boards, cake pans, pot holders and oven mitts,” says Amanda Peek Seidal of Western Kentucky. Other sublimators have told me that Aztec prints on cell phone cases is all they have time to make due to the high demand. Further, they are getting more calls for the 3D-style cases using a vacuum press.

FINAL THOUGHTSAs you can see, sublimation is here to

stay and can be very profitable. It opens

up new markets for your business and allows you to stay up with the hottest trends. Taking everything into account, it can help turn slow times into busy times and keep your business rocking!

Aaron Montgomery (aaronmontgomery.info) is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Coastal Busi-ness Supplies, Inc. He has been in the garment/person-alization industry since 2000 and in graphic arts since 1997. Aaron is dedicated to helping small businesses

become successful. You can find Aaron talking all things decoration and personalization with Terry Combs on their Weekly Podcast – 2 Reg-ular Guys at www.2regularguys.com.

(above) Decorating a plate with a stock design might fetch $10 to $15, but add a personalized monogram to it and now it can be sold for $20 to $25.

(left) Monograms are a hot design trend that you can easily set up templates for at very little cost.

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