Sportswear sublimation printing for performance apparel
Transfer papers for high-performance sportswear, fast production and consistent results.
Sportswear printers need performance
From club jerseys to professional teamwear and activewear collections, sportswear printers are under pressure to deliver sharp logos, strong colors and consistent sizing — season after season.
High-stretch polyester garments, intense color blocks and demanding end-users require a transfer paper that performs every time, even under high speeds and heavy use on press and calender.
How Coldenhove supports sportswear workflows
Our papers are engineered for accuracy, speed and color stability on performance textiles. Whether you’re producing team kits, cycling wear or functional athleisure, our papers ensure smooth handling and repeatable quality from roll to roll.
With support from our technical team and worldwide availability, your production stays predictable — even when fixtures change, orders peak and designs are updated at short notice.
Digital sportswear production with dye-sublimation
Digital dye-sublimation has become a core technology in sportswear printing. It delivers vivid color on polyester, while keeping fabrics breathable and flexible — ideal for jerseys, cycling kits and performance layers.
Coldenhove invented digital sublimation transfer paper in 1998 and has been optimizing papers for sportswear, fashion, home textiles and signage ever since.
Fast design-to-garment cycles
Digital dye-sublimation lets you move from artwork to finished kit in a fraction of the time of conventional printing. There are no screens to engrave, store or clean, so updating a sponsor logo, squad number or colorway is as simple as changing the file. This makes it easy to respond to transfers, new sponsors and last-minute team changes. View products
High flexibility from sample to full production
With sublimation, you can print a single prototype shirt, a limited fan collection or a full league order on the same line – using the same paper, inks and settings. There’s no minimum quantity dictated by screen costs, so you can handle late additions, reorders and on-demand items without wasting materials or machine time. View products
Brilliant, durable color on polyester
In sublimation, the ink turns into gas and bonds inside the polyester fibers instead of sitting on top of the fabric. The result is deep, vivid color with excellent detail, while the fabric stays soft, breathable and elastic. Because the dye is locked into the fiber, prints are highly resistant to washing, rubbing and perspiration — essential for sportswear that is worn, washed and stretched again and again. View products
Challenges we solve in sportswear textile printing
High ink loads and maximum transfer yield
Bold graphics, deep blacks and saturated team colors demand papers that can handle heavy ink coverage without cockling or slowdown. Coldenhove papers are engineered for high transfer efficiency, ensuring rich, vibrant results while using less ink. View products
Printing on stretchy, technical fabrics
From lightweight polyester jerseys to compression fabrics and technical blends, sportswear materials are elastic and often highly structured. Papers must stay flat under high speeds and varying ink loads and, in some cases, adhere to the textile to prevent ghosting and rivering during transfer. View products
Color consistency without contamination
Sponsors, clubs and federations expect the same shade on every shirt, short and jacket — sometimes across different production runs. Coldenhove papers not only safeguard consistent club colors over time, they also minimize contamination during printing and transfer. Our papers reduce production faults and waste — keeping your workflow efficient and your results spotless. View products
Balancing speed, cost efficiency and durability
Sportswear needs deep, saturated color that survives frequent washing and heavy use — but margins are tight and pressure to reduce environmental impact is growing. You need to minimize ink consumption, reduce waste and work with responsibly produced papers, without slowing down production or sacrificing performance. View products
Recommended sublimation papers for sportswear
JET-X
Lightweight, allround sublimation paper for cost-efficient everyday production.
Jetcol® HTR1000
Lightweight sublimation paper that delivers cost efficiency without compromising performance
Jetcol® High Speed
Fast-drying sublimation paper for high-speed production without external dryers.
Xtreme® Sports
High-speed sublimation paper engineered for high ink loads and fast drying.
Jetcol® TA
Adhesive sublimation paper for sportswear that prevents ghosting.
How Coldenhove supports sportswear printers
Sportswear printing needs to be fast, predictable and easy to manage — especially when match schedules and collections change often. Coldenhove papers are made to support that workflow with stable quality, reliable drying and consistent transfer behavior.
Papers engineered for sportswear textiles
Our Jetcol®, Jet-X® and Xtreme® papers are developed with the needs of sportswear printers in mind, such as stretch fabrics, high ink loads and intensive use. Our engineers design and test each grade for stable behavior and repeatable results, so you can switch between teams, sizes and designs without surprises.
Consistency from sample to production
Because we control the full process — from fiber selection to coating — our papers behave predictably from roll to roll. This helps maintain color consistency across different teams, sizes and production batches. Our Innovation & Development team tests our papers on many printers and inks to ensure stable performance in real sportswear production settings.
Practical technical support
Our engineers and application specialists help printers adjust settings, improve print-room conditions and solve issues such as ghosting, number shifting or uneven color. Their experience with machines, workflows and materials helps you run a cleaner, more efficient process with less trial and error.
Worldwide availability
With partners and distributors around the world, Coldenhove papers are readily accessible in key sportswear markets. Local stock and coordinated logistics help shorten lead times, reduce transport distance and ensure you can produce without interruptions — even in peak season.
Case Studies. Sportswear brands in production.
Bioracer – Market Leader in Custom Sportswear
Visit websiteChallenge: Rising design complexity demands outpaced silkscreen capabilities.
Solution: Full digital production with Coldenhove sublimation paper for flexibility, reliability, and consistent top-tier results.
Kalas – Leading European Cycling Apparel Brand
Visit websiteChallenge: Needed flawless accuracy when printing complex sportswear designs.
Solution: Jetcol® TA paper stabilizes fabrics during sublimation, delivering consistently sharp transfers.
Why sportswear printers choose Coldenhove
- 350+ years of papermaking expertise – and the inventor of digital sublimation transfer paper.
- Application focused – Our papers are specifically designed for sportswear, fashion, home textiles and signage.
- Consistent quality – We control every step of the production process in our own mill, providing stability and consistency from season to season.
- Technical support – Our technical teams can support with printer setup, optimization and troubleshooting.
- Global availability – We offer a worldwide network of distributors and agents, close to major sportswear hubs.
Sustainability in sportswear printing
The sportswear market is under pressure to reduce environmental impact. Our papers help you move in the right direction:
- Electric boiler – By generating steam electrically, we significantly lower CO₂ emissions. The eBoiler also absorbs peaks in the electricity grid.
- Water reuse – we currently reuse around 95% of our process water and are working towards 100% reuse with our water treatment plant (IWE).
- FSC®-certified fibers in every paper – we only purchase wood fibers from responsibly managed forests, so every Coldenhove paper product is FSC® certified.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Clear answers to the most common questions. Can’t find what you need? Send us your question and we’ll help right away.
Sublimation printing lets sportswear brands and converters produce vivid, durable prints on polyester-based performance fabrics with short lead times and flexible run lengths. Designs can be updated quickly, colors remain bright after washing and perspiration, and the process works well for everything from club jerseys to professional race wear and athleisure.
For most polyester sportswear and teamwear we recommend Xtreme® Sports, Xtreme and Jet-X®. When you need high productivity and deep color, Jetcol® High Speed and Jetcol® HTR4000 are ideal. For lightweight garments and transport efficiency, Xtreme® Light is a strong choice. Jet-X® and Jetcol® HTR3500 are excellent all-rounders for mixed sportswear jobs.
Yes. For lifestyle and off-field sportswear made from cotton and linen, our Texcol® pigment transfer paper lets you print high-quality designs without complex pre- or post-treatment steps. This waterless process simplifies your workflow compared to traditional reactive or discharge printing and can help reduce environmental impact.
All Coldenhove papers are made from FSC®-certified fibers, and our production is designed to minimize environmental impact through high levels of water reuse, energy recovery and efficient packaging and transport. Combined with waterless transfer printing, this helps reduce the footprint of sportswear collections compared to traditional printing methods.
Ready to boost your sportswear production?
Let’s improve your sportswear workflow
Tell us what type of sportswear you print, and we’ll help you choose the most suitable transfer papers for your needs.