How to Make Custom Printed Fabric: Small-Lot OEM & Bespoke, Explained by a Fabric Supplier

Original print fabric is cloth printed directly with artwork you supply, or with a pattern drawn by a designer. It is used for corporate novelties, brand merchandise, OEM products, and limited-edition fabric for makers and small brands.

It used to mean expensive screens and orders of several thousand metres. Digital printing has made small runs possible.

Why small runs are possible

Traditional screen printing needs a screen for every colour. Screens are costly, so it only pays at large volumes.

Digital printing sends the artwork straight to the fabric by inkjet. With no screens, start-up cost is low and there is almost no limit on colours. Photos, gradients and fine detail all reproduce well, so it suits prototypes and limited runs.

How a custom order works

We start with what you are making (bags, novelties, finished products) and how much, and send a quote. Then you send the artwork. We explain file formats and repeats (how the pattern tiles) when we talk, and can help adjust them.

Once the fabric is chosen, the mill prints a sample on the real cloth. You check colour, scale and hand before production starts. Fully original prints start at 100 m and take about two months. If you go ahead with production, the sample is free.

Each step is described in How original print fabric is made.

Choosing the fabric

For bags and novelties that need shape, oxford. For shirts and general use, sheeting. For baby goods and things worn next to skin, double gauze. All are 100% cotton and take print colour well.

Existing Taiwan prints or fully custom?

Existing Taiwan prints start at 10 m and need no artwork: you just pick a design. They suit small novelty runs, prototypes and limited editions.

If you want your own design, that is a full custom order: from 100 m, artwork required, suited to brand merchandise, OEM and volume production. Both are made to order, with about two months' lead time.

Taiwan fabric is about 150 cm wide

Most Taiwanese print fabric is about 150 cm wide. Large pattern pieces fit as they are, and a women's garment can sometimes come out of a single metre. In Japan, for ease of handling and transport, fabric around 110 cm wide on 36 m rolls is more common.

Neither is better; it depends on what you make and how. For bags with large pieces, or production where cutting waste matters, 150 cm pays off.

Original prints from Greentex

Greentex is the official Japanese agent for original digital-print fabric from Taiwan. We have a large range of existing designs by Taiwanese designers (from 10 m), and fully custom prints from 100 m in about two months. We can deliver fabric only, or take OEM through to finished products. Talk to us in Japanese; we deal with the Taiwanese mill directly.

FAQ

What is the minimum order?

10 m for existing Taiwan prints, 100 m for fully original custom prints.

What is the lead time?

About two months for both existing and custom prints, since everything is made to order.

Can I get a sample first?

Yes. Once the fabric is chosen, the mill makes a real sample, and production starts after you approve it. If you go ahead with production, the sample is free.

What fabrics can you print on?

Mainly 100% cotton fabrics such as sheeting, oxford and double gauze. We will suggest one for your use.

Can you make finished products, not just fabric?

Yes. We also take OEM orders for bags, goods and other fabric products.

Contact us through Custom Orders or by email (info@greentex.jp).