Discover premium branding techniques designed to elevate your products and reflect your unique identity.
Bring Your Brand to Life with Premium Customisation Techniques
At OCEANR, we offer a range of expert customisation methods to help you showcase your brand in the most impactful way. Whether you’re creating high-performance uniforms, standout retail pieces, or luxury resort wear, our techniques are carefully selected to suit your product needs, fabric type, and design goals. From vibrant sublimation prints to premium embroidery and sleek silicone patches, we combine innovation with craftsmanship to deliver long-lasting, high-quality finishes.
We are committed to bringing the distinct brand identity and vision of each of our partners to life in the production process, all while ensuring a sustainable supply chain that remains true to our Certified B Corporation status.
OCEANR’s production techniques align with our values, ensuring minimal impact on the planet.
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation is a digital printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto materials like fabric. It’s especially popular for creating vibrant, long-lasting prints on polyester garments.
Sublimation printing is a highly sustainable technique that stands out from traditional textile printing methods.
How does sublimation work?
Sublimation printing uses heat to infuse dye directly into fabric:
1. Design Creation: First, the selected design is printed onto transfer paper using eco-friendly, water-based sublimation inks, free from harmful chemicals.
2. Heat Transfer: Next, the transfer paper is then placed on recycled polyester fabric, and a heat press is used.
3. Sublimation: This step is where the magic happens. In the heat press, the dye sublimates – transfers from a solid to a gas – and bonds directly with the recycled polyester fibres.
4. Result: Designs sublimated onto OCEANR’s recycled polyester products such as rash guards. Through this process, the dye becomes a part of the fabric, so the print won’t peel, crack, or fade easily.
Key Features
– Best for polyester: Sublimation only works on synthetic fabrics or specially coated items. It doesn’t work on cotton.
– Vivid color & detail: Excellent for full-color designs, photo-quality prints, and edge-to-edge printing.
– Durable: The print becomes part of the material, so it’s very resistant to washing or abrasion.
– Soft finish: Since there’s no ink layer on top, the fabric stays soft and breathable.
Common Uses
Sublimation is best suited for light-colored polyester products, including rash guards, swimwear, tech tees, polos and leggings. It’s ideal for clothing worn during water sports or intense activities as it resists cracking, peeling, and fading, even after multiple washes and sun exposure.
Sublimation ink is transparent and does not show up well on dark fabrics. It is not suitable for cotton products as the inks will not bond properly to the fabric.
Why Sublimation Printing is the Sustainable Choice
No Water
Sublimation printing does not use any water. This avoids water pollution from dye runoff and reduces the need for water treatment.
Exact Amounts
Sublimation printing uses exact amounts of dye, so there’s little to no ink waste.
No Chemicals
No harmful chemicals are released into the environment through sublimation printing.
Energy Efficient
Sublimation printing is suitable for on-demand production and short runs, which avoids overproduction and excess inventory.
Longevity
Sublimated prints don’t fade, peel, or crack, meaning garments last longer and don’t need to be replaced as often, reducing overall consumption.
Recycled Polyester
Sublimation works best on polyester, and is highly compatible with recycled polyester fabrics, helping brands like OCEANR produce sustainable, high-performance apparel.
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Heat Press
This method applies designs onto fabric by using heat and pressure to bond the artwork directly onto the material. Unlike sublimation, heat pressing is not limited to polyester and allows logos or graphics to ‘pop’ from the fabric surface.
It’s a versatile technique ideal for small runs, detailed logos, names, numbers, or speciality finishes.
Our team performs this process by hand in our production facility.
How it works?
1. Design Preparation: The chosen design is printed onto transfer paper.
2. Positioning: The selected material, such as a tee or cap, is placed on the lower plate of the heat press. The design and item are aligned into where the design should appear on the final product.
3. Heat & Pressure: Using a heat press machine, the design is fused to the fabric under high heat (typically 150–180°C). This is the fun bit. The heat press is closed, and heat and pressure are applied to the fabric.
4. Result: Finally, after pressing, the transfer backing is peeled off and the final product is revealed. The design adheres securely to the fabric surface, creating a bold and clean finish.
Why use heat press printing?
Heat press printing is the optimal choice for applying logos and artwork onto organic cotton products like t-shirts and hoodies. Unlike sublimation, heat pressing is not limited to polyester and allows logos or graphics to ‘pop’ from the fabric surface. The heat and pressure bond the design to the surface, creating a durable, professional finish.
Key Features
– Great for all fabrics: Works on cotton, polyester, blends, and more—making it highly adaptable.
– Crisp and clean finish: Excellent for simple logos, text, numbers, and bold shapes with sharp edges.
– Special effects available: Allows for metallic, reflective, glitter, flocked, or glow-in-the-dark finishes.
– Layered applications: Designs can be built up using multiple layers of vinyl for multi-colour prints.
Common Uses
– Team names on uniforms and numbers on sportswear
– Company logos on workwear or uniforms
– Low-quantity, high-detail orders
– Reflective safety clothing or statement designs
We recommend heat press printing for cotton products, such as cotton t-shirts and hoodies. It also works exceptionally well for uniforms, hats, and tote bags. Heat press printing offers versatility across a wide range of clothing and accessory types and is excellent for smaller orders.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a premium customisation technique where thread is stitched directly into the fabric to create a raised, textured design. Known for its durability and timeless aesthetic, it’s ideal for logos, monograms, and branding on high-quality apparel and accessories.
Designs are applied onto fabric using a needle and thread via a computerised sewing machine. Embroidery is perfect for adding a personal, three-dimensional touch to logos or simple artwork on shirts, caps, hats, and hoodies.
How it works?
1. Design Digitisation: The design is converted into a digital embroidery file that maps out each stitch.
2. Setup & Stabilisation: The garment is placed in a frame (hoop) and backed with stabiliser to hold it in place.
3. Machine Stitching: The embroidery starts here with the machine following the digitised design using colored threads to stitch the design directly into the fabric.
4. Trim: Once the design is successfully embroidered onto the fabric, any excess threads are removed, and the fabric is removed from the machine.
5. Result: The final design has a textured, dimensional finish with a professional and lasting impression.
Key Features
– High-end finish: Offers a premium, tactile look that adds value to any garment.
– Long-lasting: Extremely durable—resists fading, washing, and wear over time.
– Ideal for thicker fabrics: Works especially well on polos, jackets, caps, towels, and uniforms.
– Limited by complexity: Best for simpler designs, logos, and text—very fine details or gradients may not translate well.
Common Uses
– Corporate uniforms and hospitality wear
– Luxury branding for polos, hoodies, and caps
– Towels, robes, and gift sets
– Custom monograms or initials
We recommend embroidery for thick fabrics, such as polo shirts, caps, and hoodies. Embroidery works well for logos, adding a premium and textured finish to the product.
Silicone Patches
Silicone patches are a modern branding technique that involves creating custom 3D rubber-like labels, which are then heat-pressed or sewn onto garments and accessories. These patches offer a bold, tactile, and durable finish—perfect for premium branding.
How it works?
1. Custom Mold Creation: A bespoke mold is created to match your logo or design, allowing for raised, layered, and detailed elements.
2. Patch Production: The patch is made from flexible, soft-touch silicone, and colored to match your brand.
3. Application: The finished patch is heat-pressed or stitched onto the garment, depending on the item and use case.
4. Result: The final look is sleek, modern, and dimensional—adding texture and standout branding to any product.
Why use silicone patches?
Silicone patches offer a modern, premium aesthetic and are highly resistant to weather, washing, and wear, making them ideal for outerwear.
Silicone patches require a minimum order quantity due to the custom mould creation process. This makes them ideal for larger runs or premium collections.
Key Features
– 3D effect: Adds depth and texture to your logo or design for a high-impact finish.
– Ultra-durable: Water-resistant, heat-resistant, and made to last in demanding environments.
– Premium feel: Soft-touch silicone gives a luxurious, modern appearance.
– Custom shapes & colours: Fully mouldable into any shape, with endless colour options and fine detailing.
Common Uses
– Outerwear, jackets, and performance apparel
– Premium activewear and athleisure
– Bags, caps, and accessories
– Co-branded collections or limited edition drops
We recommend silicone patches for sturdy fabrics and items that require a high-end, weather-resistant look, such as coats, fleeces, gilets, or jackets. Silicone patches are weather-resistant and durable, and they add a 3D texture and strong branding appeal to the final product.
