Dye sublimation is a printing process that uses heat-sensitive inks to transfer a design permanently into the weave of a fabric. Unlike vinyl transfers and screen printing, sublimation fuses the ink into the fabric, rather than coating the surface. This results in a more vibrant and durable print that is less likely to fade or crack.
Sublimation printing can be used on cotton and other materials, but the ink will not fuse into the fabric and the print will not be permanent. Sublimation printing is only suitable for garments that are made of polyester, either 100% polyester or a high polyester blend.
Sublimation printing produces vibrant, durable prints that will not crack, fade, or peel over time. The fabric is white, so the design can be printed over the entire garment. There are no added costs for extra colours or logos, as they are all printed at the same time.
Hard North uses Australian-made polyester fabric with a moisture management system and multifilament technology. This system draws moisture away from the skin to the outer surface, where it quickly evaporates. The fabric’s UPF 50+ rating makes it perfect for the harsh Territory climate.
According to SunSmart, clothing is one of the most effective ways to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It helps to create a barrier between the skin and the sun’s rays. The Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating is a measure of how well a fabric protects against UV radiation. A UPF of 50+ is the highest protection available, and it blocks 98% of UV radiation. The fabric we use to manufacture our apparel has a UPF of 50+, which provides the highest level of protection possible.
Our apparel is completely customizable. Our artwork team can help you bring your design ideas to life, no matter how complex or simple they may be. If you’re not sure where to start, our team can also show you previous designs to help you get inspired.
We require logos to be provided in a high-resolution vector format. Vector formats, such as .EPS, .AI, or .CDR, are scalable and can be printed at any size without losing quality.
Low-resolution formats, such as .JPG, .BMP, or .GIF, cannot be scaled without losing quality. If you provide a low-resolution logo, we may need to recreate it in a vector format, which will incur additional charges.
If you have a style guide or PMS colour codes, please provide this with your logo. This information will help us ensure that the colours in your logo are matched correctly in the final print.
At Hard North, we have a minimum order of 1 item. We do not have a maximum order quantity, but for larger orders, please contact us for pricing and turnaround times.
Our standard lead time is 3 to 4 weeks from artwork approval. If you have an urgent deadline to meet, please contact us to discuss your requirements further.
Most of our styles are available in Men’s, Ladies and Kids’ sizes. Please refer to our size charts or come in-store to try on our sizing kits.
Please contact our team to discuss any questions you may have regarding sizing.
Hard North prides itself on providing high-quality garments to our customers. We take steps to ensure the design, colour, and logos are correct before proceeding with production. Our sizing guides and try-on kits are readily available to each customer.
The following are situations where a refund will not be issued:
- Errors in artwork, product type, spelling, or quantities that have been approved by the customer.
- Change of mind or items that do not fit after being provided with a sizing chart or try-on kits.
- Damaged items caused by incorrect use, not following care instructions, or activities unsuitable for the garment. See care instructions below.
However, if there is a fault with an item, we advise customers to contact us with full details of the issue within 14 days of receiving the garments and our team will exchange or refund you the purchase price of the order.
If you contact Hard North after 14 days of receiving the garment, issues are processed on a case-by-case basis and appropriate actions may be taken where feasible.
Because sublimation inks are heat pressed into the fibres of the polyester material, there is no ink residue. Therefore you can wash your new apparel with your normal loads, without the hassle of separately washing them first.
Care Instructions:
Cold or warm machine wash cycle only
Iron inside out only
Do not:
Bleach, soak or wring apparel
Dry Clean
Tumble Dry
Leave sitting wet for a prolonged period
Leave in the sun for a prolonged period
The ordering process can be complex based on the customer’s requirements. Therefore we ask customers to contact us with specific questions before placing an order to allow for a personalised service we strive to provide.
Our team will be able to advise you on expected quote costs, delivery times, minimum order quantities, design queries, onto the discussion of samples, materials and delivery charges.
Yes, we do offer shipping within Australia.
We are willing to work with our customers if they have a preferred freight company. Otherwise, we can post our apparel with Australia Post. Please contact us to discuss further.
Hard North provide premium custom sublimated apparel, signage, and branding solutions in Darwin, supporting local businesses, sporting clubs and events with quality and consistency.