Many customers think that printing silk scarves is fast and simple. They believe we can print their image and ship the product right away. This is a common misunderstanding.
In fact, making a high-quality silk scarf is a detailed process. It takes time and skill at each step. If you do not plan ahead, your scarf may not arrive in time for your event.
Here is what really happens when you order a custom silk scarf from ELLESILK.
Our Production Process
Each scarf goes through the following steps:
Cutting → Sizing → Printing → Steaming → Washing → Drying → Hand Rolling → Quality Check → Packing → Shipping
Now, let’s look at what happens during each step.
Cutting and Sizing
Once we receive your order, we first cut the silk fabric. Then we apply a special sizing treatment. This makes the fabric flat and ready for printing.
At the same time, we start reviewing your design. This is where many delays can happen if you do not respond quickly.
Design Review and Confirmation
Before we print, we must check your artwork. This is an important step. We will contact you for confirmation. Please reply as soon as possible so we can keep your order moving.
Here is what we check:
- Image Quality: Your image must be at least 300 DPI. If it is not, the print will look blurry or pixelated. Many images we receive do not meet this standard. In those cases, we ask you to provide a higher quality file.
- Double-Sided Printing: If you ordered a double-sided scarf, we must check if the two designs match and align correctly. If they do not, the scarf will not look good.
- Border Design: Most customers upload images without a border. However, our scarves have a hand-rolled edge, about 1.5 cm wide. You can choose the color of this edge. We will add the border to your image and send you a mockup for approval. This step takes time because it is done by hand.
Please note: We cannot start printing until you confirm all details. If you delay your response, your shipping date may also be delayed.
Printing
Once the design is approved, we begin printing. We use professional silk printing techniques. This ensures that colors look rich and sharp.
Steaming, Washing, and Drying
After printing, the scarf must go through several treatments. These steps are necessary and take several days.
- Steaming: This process sets the colors. It prevents the colors from fading or running during use.
- Washing: We wash the fabric to remove extra dye and chemicals.
- Drying: The scarf must dry naturally. We cannot rush this step or it may damage the silk.
Hand Rolling
Now we finish the scarf edges. We do this by hand, using a traditional rolling technique. This gives the scarf a luxury finish.
Hand rolling is the most time-consuming part of the process. If you order many scarves, it will take even longer. Machine-made scarves are faster but do not match our quality. We do not cut corners here.
Quality Check, Packing, and Shipping
Once the scarves are complete, we check each one by hand. We then pack them carefully and prepare them for shipping.
How Far in Advance Should You Order?
We recommend that you place your order at least 4 weeks before your event.
If you need a large quantity, or if your design is complex, please order 6-8 weeks in advance.
If your timeline is short, we also offer an expedited service. We will do our best to meet your needs. Please understand that some steps, such as steaming and hand rolling, still require a minimum amount of time.