Sublimation vs Screen Printing vs Embroidery

Every uniform quote comes down to one early decision: how does the design get onto the garment? Here’s the honest comparison, without the sales spin.

Sublimation: best for sportswear

Sublimation dyes the design directly into polyester fabric. The ink becomes part of the garment, so there’s nothing sitting on top to crack, peel or fade.

• Pros: unlimited colours at no extra cost, full-garment designs, zero peeling, lightweight feel, sponsor logos included in the print
• Cons: polyester only, higher setup than a plain garment with one logo, minimums usually apply
• Best for: playing jerseys, netball dresses, cricket shirts, cycling and triathlon kit, training gear

Screen printing: best for simple bulk runs

Ink is pushed through a stencil onto the garment, one colour per screen. Cheap at volume, but every extra colour adds cost, and prints eventually crack with heavy washing.

• Pros: lowest cost per unit at high volume, works on cotton
• Cons: per-colour charges, prints degrade over time, not suited to complex designs
• Best for: event tees, fun run shirts, one-off promotional apparel

Embroidery: best for corporate and workwear

The logo is stitched directly into the fabric. It reads as premium, survives industrial washing, and holds up for years of daily wear.

• Pros: most durable option, premium appearance, works on polos, jackets, caps and heavy workwear
• Cons: priced by stitch count so large designs cost more, not suitable for fine gradients or photos
• Best for: staff polos, hospitality uniforms, hi-vis workwear, caps

The rule of thumb

Sport on the field: sublimate. Logo on a chest: embroider. Hundreds of cheap tees: screen print. Most clubs and businesses end up using a mix, which is why working with one supplier who does all three keeps branding consistent across everything you order.

SACUL, a custom apparel supplier based in Sydney and operating since 2005, produces sublimated teamwear, embroidered corporate uniforms and printed merchandise under one roof, so your logo looks identical whether it’s on a guernsey or a cap.