FABRICS
Essentially there are four styles of flag/banner textiles. All are polyester based as this is the longest lasting fibre. 1. Woven open textured material that the wind passes through. 2. Knitted open textured material that the wind passes through. 3. Fabric that the wind cannot pass through. 4. Ripstop fabrics
Loose weave woven fabrics
Traditional flags as per the British Admiralty are made of a loose weave woven fabric with fairly coarse fibres. This material is difficult to print because the fibres are thick and there is little “print through”. This leaves one side of the flag/banner almost white even though the face side can be very bright. Admiralty flags are sewn from pre-dyed material. It is much easier (and therefore cheaper) to sew straight lines, so most traditional flags are striped rather than having complex graphics.
Open Knitted Polyester
The textile of choice for printed flags is knitted polyester. The fibres are not so thick so “print through” is good. Knitted fabrics are incredibly fray resistant so they last well.
Recent advances in knitted technology mean that the latest knitted fabrics do not fray. They may wear away at the corners. However, this is much more preferable to the whole hem ripping off if they are sewn. We recommend that knitted flags are hot cut to seal the edges, but are not hemmed. We also print on a “super endurance knitted polyester” which is the longest lasting printable material available.
Windproof fabrics and double sided
Some customers request that their flag is identical on both sides and not the reverse image that is on the back of single sided banners. If light cannot pass through the flag, neither can wind. This increases the force and stresses on the flag when the wind blows. Also sewing two layers of fabric introduces the potential of seams failing and increases the weight of the flag and hence the amount of wind damage. When asked to print double sided flags there are many things to consider: 1. The additional weight of the banners 2. The additional force of the wind on your flag 3. The amount of blockout required 4. The problem of seams causing damage 5. The probability of a reduced lifespan compared with a single sided flag. So, consider carefully about buying a double sided flag or banner.