Decoration Is Part of the Product

Printing is sometimes treated as the final step - something applied to a garment after all the important manufacturing work has already happened.
 

We don't see it that way.
 

Decoration becomes one of the most visible parts of the finished product.
 

A beautifully manufactured garment can be ruined by the wrong print method, poor artwork preparation, inappropriate inks or badly executed embroidery.
 

That's why we approach garment and decoration as a single product.
 

The fabric.

The artwork.

The quantity.

The colours.

The desired finish.

The intended use.
 

All of these influence which decoration method makes the most sense.
 

There isn't one printing process that's best for everything.
 

The right process is the one that's right for the garment and the design.
 

Direct to Garment Printing

Printed Directly Into the Garment.

Direct to Garment - or DTG - allows digital artwork to be printed directly onto compatible garments.
 

Unlike traditional transfer methods, the artwork is printed directly onto the textile using specialised garment-printing equipment.
 

At In.It, our DTG production uses professional Brother garment printing systems.
 

These machines allow us to reproduce detailed, full-colour artwork without requiring the traditional screens used in screen printing.
 

This makes DTG particularly suited to our made-to-order production model.
 

Why We Use DTG

DTG works particularly well for:

• detailed artwork

• full-colour graphics

• photographic designs

• gradients

• smaller production runs

• designs containing many colours

• print-on-demand production

• artwork that would require numerous screens using traditional methods
   

Because the process is digital, we don't need to manufacture an individual screen for every colour in the artwork.
 

That gives brands much greater freedom when developing products.

The Ink Matters Too.

The quality of a digital printer is only part of the equation.
 

What actually goes through the machine matters as well.
 

Our applicable digital garment printing processes use inks carrying recognised textile chemical certification.
 

Where applicable, the inks used within our decoration process carry OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification.
 

ECO PASSPORT is an independent certification system specifically developed for chemicals, colourants and auxiliaries used within textile production.
 

It assesses chemical products against defined requirements relating to harmful substances and responsible chemical management.
 

What OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT Actually Means

Certification language can become confusing very quickly.
 

So we think it's important to be precise.
 

ECO PASSPORT certification applies to the ink or chemical product.
 

It does not automatically mean that every finished In.It garment is certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100.
 

Those are different certifications covering different parts of textile production.
 

We don't believe in taking an upstream certification and presenting it as something it isn't.
 

Instead, we think customers should know exactly what the certification relates to:

The inks used in the applicable printing process have been independently assessed under OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT requirements.

That's the claim.
 

And that's enough.
 

Direct to Film Printing

Versatility Across More Garments.

Direct to Film - DTF - gives us another digital decoration option.
 

Artwork is printed onto specialised film before being transferred onto the garment using heat and pressure.
 

This allows detailed, full-colour designs to be applied across a broad range of fabrics and garment types.
 

DTF is particularly useful when the garment or design isn't ideally suited to DTG.
 

Why We Use DTF

DTF works particularly well for:

• detailed graphics

• full-colour designs

• smaller production quantities

• polyester and blended fabrics

• difficult garment positions

• logos

• workwear

• sportswear

• products where DTG isn't suitable
   

Its flexibility makes it an important part of our decoration capability.
 

Again, the goal isn't to force every design through the same process.
 

It's to choose the process that gives the right result.

Certified DTF Inks

The inks used within our applicable DTF printing process carry OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification.
 

This provides independent verification that the relevant textile inks have been assessed against OEKO-TEX requirements for chemicals used within textile production.
 

As with DTG, this certification relates specifically to the printing inputs.
 

It should not be confused with certification of the entire finished garment.
 

Transparency means making that distinction clear.
 

Screen Printing

A Process That Has Earned Its Place.

Screen printing has been used to decorate textiles for generations.
 

And there's a reason it's still one of the world's most important garment-printing processes.
 

For the right artwork and production quantity, it remains extremely effective.
 

Ink is pushed through a prepared mesh screen directly onto the garment, with individual screens traditionally created for each colour within the design.
 

The result can be bold, durable and highly consistent.
 

When Screen Printing Makes Sense

Screen printing is particularly suited to:

• larger production quantities

• bold graphics

• limited-colour artwork

• repeat production

• large print areas

• designs requiring strong colour coverage

• specific specialist print effects
   

While digital printing gives us incredible flexibility, screen printing can become more efficient as quantities increase.

This is another example of why we don't believe there is one universally superior printing method.
 

Different processes solve different problems.
 

Water-Based Printing Where Possible

Where the artwork, fabric and production requirements allow, we prioritise water-based screen-printing systems.
 

Water-based inks use water as a primary carrier within the ink system rather than relying solely on traditional plastisol-style chemistry.
 

Depending on the garment and print specification, this can produce a softer print that integrates more naturally with the fabric.
 

The result is particularly well suited to premium fashion and lifestyle apparel where the feel of the finished garment matters as much as the appearance of the print.
 

Why We Say "Where Possible"

Because responsible manufacturing also means being realistic.
 

Not every artwork works with every ink.
 

Not every fabric behaves the same way.
 

Not every colour combination produces the same result.
 

And not every technical requirement can be achieved using a single printing chemistry.
 

So rather than claiming that every garment is printed using one specific system, we make the more practical commitment:

Use water-based screen-printing systems where the garment, artwork and required result allow us to do so.
 

The quality and durability of the finished product still matter.
 

Certified Screen-Printing Inputs

The applicable inks used within our screen-printing production also carry recognised textile chemical certification.

This gives us greater visibility into the chemistry being used during another major stage of garment decoration.
 

For us, this is what responsible decoration should look like.
 

Not one giant environmental claim.
 

A series of better, more informed decisions about the materials and processes we use.
 

Embroidery

Decoration Without Ink.

Not every identity needs to be printed.
 

Embroidery takes a fundamentally different approach.
 

Instead of applying ink to the surface of a garment, embroidery uses thread to physically stitch the artwork into the textile.

The result is dimensional, tactile and exceptionally well suited to certain types of branding.
 

How Embroidery Works

Before embroidery begins, artwork has to be translated into something an embroidery machine can understand.
 

This process is known as digitising.
 

Digitising isn't simply converting a JPEG into another file format.
 

The artwork has to be rebuilt as a sequence of stitches.
 

The digitiser determines:

• stitch direction

• stitch type

• stitch density

• underlay

• sequencing

• thread changes

• pull compensation

• finishing
   

These decisions affect how the final embroidery looks and performs.
 

Once digitised, the garment is stabilised and positioned before the design is stitched directly into the textile.
 

Thousands - and sometimes tens of thousands - of individual stitches can go into a single logo.
 

Why Embroidery Lasts

Embroidery doesn't rely on a printed image sitting on the surface of the garment.
 

The design is physically constructed from thread.
 

That makes embroidery particularly suitable for branding where durability, texture and a premium appearance are important.
 

It works especially well for:

• chest logos

• corporate apparel

• hoodies

• sweaters

• caps

• jackets

• uniforms

• patches

• premium minimal branding
   

The Right Artwork Matters

Embroidery has its own limitations.
 

Very small text.
 

Extremely fine lines.
 

Complex gradients.
 

Photographic detail.
 

These can work beautifully in digital printing but may not translate effectively into thread.
 

That's why artwork sometimes needs to be simplified or adapted specifically for embroidery.
 

Again, the process should serve the design.
 

Not fight against it.

Choosing the Right Decoration Method

Different technologies exist because different products require different solutions.

MethodParticularly Suited To

DTG-Cotton garments, detailed artwork, full colour, smaller quantities and made-to-order production

DTF-Detailed full-colour artwork across a broad range of fabrics and products

Screen Print-Larger quantities, bold graphics and repeat production

Water-Based Screen PrintPremium soft-hand printing where artwork and fabric allow

Embroidery-Premium logos, dimensional branding and durable applications

Our job isn't simply to ask:

“What printing method would you like?”

It's to understand what you're trying to create and recommend the process that makes sense.

Responsible Decoration Is About More Than Ink

The environmental impact of garment decoration isn't determined by one certification.
 

There are multiple considerations.

Ink chemistry.

Energy.

Water.

Setup waste.

Misprints.

Production quantities.

Garment compatibility.

Durability.

And how much decorated stock ultimately gets used.
 

That's why our approach focuses on the whole production system.
 

Digital printing allows us to manufacture smaller quantities and support made-to-order production.
 

Water-based screen printing is prioritised where technically appropriate.
 

Certified inks give us greater visibility into the chemical inputs used in applicable processes.
 

Embroidery offers a durable decoration method without printing ink.
 

And choosing the correct process helps reduce failed production and unnecessary waste.
 

Better Decoration Can Help Products Last

There's another environmental consideration that's often overlooked.
 

Durability.
 

If a print fails prematurely, the garment may stop being worn even if the garment itself is still perfectly usable.
 

If embroidery is poorly executed, the same thing can happen.
 

Decoration therefore needs to last alongside the product underneath it.
 

We don't see durability and responsible manufacturing as separate conversations.
 

Making something well enough that people want to keep using it is part of the same conversation.
 

Decoration & Made to Order

Digital decoration has fundamentally changed what is possible for smaller brands.
 

A brand no longer necessarily needs to print hundreds of identical garments simply to make production viable.
 

Combined with our local garment manufacturing, technologies such as DTG and DTF allow us to move closer towards production based on what customers actually order.
 

That means brands can test.
 

Learn.

Adjust.

And grow.
 

Without necessarily filling shelves with finished stock first.
 

The environmental and commercial benefits can align:

Less unnecessary production for us.

Less capital trapped in stock for the brand.

Less chance of finished garments becoming dead inventory.
 

At a Glance

DTG-Professional Brother Direct to Garment printing systems

Digital Printing-Supports detailed, full-colour and lower-volume production

DTF-Flexible full-colour decoration across a broad range of garment types

Screen Printing-Efficient, durable decoration particularly suited to larger production runs

Water-Based InkPrioritised for screen printing where technically appropriate

Embroidery-Durable thread-based decoration with no printing ink required

Certified InputsApplicable printing inks carry recognised textile chemical certification, including OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT

Made to OrderDigital decoration supports production closer to actual customer demand

Our ApproachSelect the decoration method based on the garment, artwork, quantity and required result

Transparency Matters

No decoration process is impact-free.
 

Digital printers consume electricity.
 

Ink has to be manufactured.
 

Screen printing requires setup and cleaning.
 

Embroidery machines use electricity and thread.
 

Transfers require heat.
 

Mistakes create waste.
 

Our goal isn't to hide those realities behind an environmental claim.
 

It's to understand them and make better decisions where we can.
 

We choose technologies that allow us to manufacture efficiently.
 

We use certified printing inputs where applicable.
 

We prioritise water-based screen printing where technically suitable.
 

We manufacture locally.

And we increasingly align decoration with actual demand rather than unnecessary finished inventory.

Better doesn't mean perfect.

It means continuously improving the way we make things.

The Final Layer of Identity

The garment existed before the decoration.
 

But the brand didn't.
 

Decoration is the point where everything that came before it becomes the foundation of someone else's identity.
 

African cotton.

South African yarn.

Locally knitted and dyed fabric.

Local garment manufacturing.

Responsible decoration.

And finally:

Your brand.
 

Because what goes underneath your logo matters just as much as the logo itself.
 

The Journey Continues

The garment is made.

Your identity has been applied.

But there's still one major difference between our production philosophy and conventional mass-produced apparel.

We don't believe in making thousands of garments simply to hope somebody eventually buys them.

Next in the Journey
 

Made to Order →
 

Discover how manufacturing around real demand helps us reduce unnecessary production, minimise dead stock and give growing brands greater flexibility.