Textile decoration encompasses a range of specialty techniques applied alongside or in combination with conventional screen printing to create dimensional, tactile and visually striking effects on fabric. These techniques elevate garments, home textiles and fashion accessories beyond flat print, adding texture, sparkle, dimension and luxury that standard inks alone cannot achieve. Nilesh Enterprise stocks a comprehensive range of decoration materials to meet every creative and commercial requirement.
Flock Powder
Flock powder consists of extremely short, fine fibres – typically 0.5 to 3 mm in length – made from nylon, rayon, polyester, or viscose. In the flocking process, an adhesive is screen-printed onto the fabric in the desired design shape and flock fibres are then applied over the adhesive either by mechanical means or electrostatic deposition. In electrostatic flocking, the fibres align vertically in the electric field, embedding their bases into the adhesive and standing upright to create a dense, uniform, velvet-like surface. The result is a soft, tactile, three-dimensional texture that is visually rich and luxurious. Flock printing is widely used in fashion garments, home décor, packaging and branded merchandise.
Flock Sheet
Flock sheet (also called flock transfer) is a pre-flocked carrier sheet – a thin film or paper substrate coated with a velvet flock surface – that can be cut into shapes and applied to fabric using heat and pressure, similar to heat transfer vinyl. Flock sheets are ideal for intricate designs, logos and lettering that would be difficult to achieve with direct flocking, as the transfer can be die-cut to precise shapes. They are popular for team sportswear, school uniforms and promotional garments where a consistent, high-quality velvet finish is required without the setup of a full electrostatic flocking line.
Glitter
Glitter for textile decoration consists of tiny, highly reflective particles – typically hexagonal flakes of metallized PET (polyester) film – that catch and scatter light to create a brilliant, sparkling effect. Glitter is available in a wide range of particle sizes (measured in fractions of an inch in hex count), colours and finishes including metallic, holographic and iridescent. In screen printing, glitter powder is blended with a compatible adhesive or clear binder base to create a glitter paste that is printed through a coarse mesh screen (25-40 mesh count) onto the fabric. The printed substrate is then heat-cured to fix the glitter permanently. Glitter printing is enormously popular in fashion, childrens wear, dancewear and festival merchandise.
Foil
Foil decoration creates a brilliant, mirror-like metallic or holographic surface on fabric by transferring a thin, aluminium-backed film onto a printed adhesive layer. The process begins with screen printing a clear adhesive (foil adhesive or foil glue) in the desired design onto the fabric. Once the adhesive is partially cured to a tacky state, a sheet of decorating foil is laid over the design and pressed with a heat platen at a controlled temperature and pressure. The foil adheres only to the sticky adhesive areas and releases cleanly from the non-adhesive areas, leaving a precise, razor-sharp metallic design on the fabric. Foils are available in gold, silver, bronze and a vast range of holographic and custom patterns, making them a premium choice for high-fashion garments, bridal wear and luxury branded merchandise.
Puff
Puff is a thermally activated blowing agent additive blended into standard screen printing ink to create a raised, three-dimensional, foam-like effect when heat is applied after printing. When the printed garment passes through a conveyor dryer or is heat-pressed, the puff agent expands rapidly, lifting the ink layer off the fabric surface and creating a spongy, embossed appearance. The degree of puff (height of the raise) can be controlled by the proportion of puff additive used and the curing temperature. Puff printing adds tactile dimensionality to designs and is widely used for bold lettering, logos and graphic elements on sportswear, casual apparel and kidswear.
Beads (Caviar Beads)
Caviar beads – also called seed beads or dimensional beads – are tiny spherical plastic or glass micro-beads applied to a screen-printed adhesive layer to create a unique, granular, textured surface effect. An adhesive is printed onto the fabric in the design shape and the beads are then scattered or rolled over the surface while the adhesive is still wet. The excess beads are shaken off, leaving only those bonded to the adhesive area. The result is a tactile, jewel-like surface that catches light and adds a distinctive premium quality to the design. Caviar bead printing is popular in fashion and accessories, particularly for high-impact lettering and decorative motifs.
Shimmer
Shimmer inks and pastes contain fine metallic or pearlescent pigment flakes suspended in a binder base, creating a soft, lustrous, reflective sheen rather than the hard sparkle of glitter. The effect is elegant and subtle – a gentle play of light that shifts with the viewing angle, giving the fabric a luxurious, satin-like quality. Shimmer is printed through medium-fine mesh screens (typically 80-120 mesh) and is compatible with most standard ink systems. It is frequently used as an accent layer over flat colour prints, adding depth and visual interest to fashion garments, evening wear, home textiles and premium branded merchandise.