Custom-printed clothing is an increasingly popular way to create an original garment line. Personalised pieces help you stand out — whether you’re creating distinctive branded workwear or something for personal use. One of the most widely used methods for branding garments is applying specialist film. Two types are available: flex and flock. Find out which one performs better.
Flex and Flock Films — What Are They Used For?
Flex and flock films are materials that enable the decoration and personalisation of clothing. They allow specially prepared designs to be applied to garments, making it possible to create a clothing line that genuinely stands out. These methods are most commonly chosen by those who want to:
- add a personalised print to a T-shirt,
- promote a brand’s slogan, name, or logo,
- create a uniform look for staff workwear.
Decorating clothing with flex and flock films is one of the most cost-effective and time-efficient methods available, which is why so many people choose it. When the garment is properly prepared and the process is carried out correctly, the result is an aesthetically pleasing and highly durable print. Despite being used in a similar way, there are a few subtle differences between the two films.
Flex Film — What You Should Know
Flex film is typically made from polyurethane and PVC, which makes prints smooth, relatively thin, and highly stretchy. This allows it to be applied easily to any type of clothing, regardless of the fabric. It is most commonly applied to cotton, polyester, and polyester-acrylic blends. Flex prints look very attractive on garments and the finish can be tailored to preference — the print can have a classic look or be enhanced with effects such as:
- gloss,
- glitter,
- neon,
- lacquer,
- holographic,
- matte.
Flex film’s durability is one of its greatest strengths. Thanks to its composition, it doesn’t crease, crack, or wash out, maintaining its attractive appearance for a long time. It is also typically coated with a special adhesive that gives the print a pleasant feel to the touch.
Flex film is most commonly used for small print runs — it works best on single items or small batches. The design is prepared as a vector file and then cut in mirror image using a cutting plotter onto a smooth film, which is then heat-pressed onto the garment at very high temperature. This makes it resistant to washing and spinning (when proper care instructions for printed clothing are followed).
Flock Film — What Is It?
Flock film looks and feels quite different from flex film. While flex is typically thin, smooth, and soft to the touch, flock has a suede-like texture — it is made from viscose, whose fibres have a slightly fuzzy, velvety structure. As a result, flock is also somewhat thicker than standard flex film. In terms of durability, however, there is no significant difference between the two. Flock is just as durable as flex and can be applied to both natural and synthetic fabrics. The most meaningful difference comes down to how the print looks and feels.
Flock or Flex — Which to Choose?
Decorating garments with flex or flock film is a quick way to achieve a beautiful, distinctive result. It’s worth knowing, however, that both methods work best for single-colour designs — cutting lasers are not capable of reproducing fine detail or complex colour combinations. In terms of cost, each additional colour adds to the expense. Whichever film you choose, it’s important to select a high-quality material. Ideally, the film should carry a safety certificate confirming it contains no harmful substances. When commissioning a print shop to create unique branded clothing, it’s worth choosing one that uses the latest technology and films whose dye concentrations, heavy metals, and pesticide levels fall within the permitted limits.
