Reflective logos on activewear are usually heat transfers or prints that contain tiny glass beads, which bounce light back toward its source, such as car headlights. They work well on running tops, but the transfer has to stretch with the fabric, stay stuck after washing and keep enough reflectivity to be useful. Most problems come from using a transfer that is not made for stretch fabrics or from application settings that are not right for the fabric.

Choose a transfer for stretch fabric

Ask the decorator for a reflective transfer made for stretch and performance fabrics, and for its recommended application temperature, pressure and time. Polyester can show dye migration or a shiny press mark at high temperatures, so check that the settings suit your fabric and colour. Test on the actual fabric, not a sample swatch of another quality.

Stretch and adhesion

Stretch the logo on samples as a runner would, across the chest and back. Look for cracking, lifting at the edges and a stiff patch that restricts movement. Smaller logos or segmented designs stretch more easily than large solid areas.

After washing

Wash samples with a named procedure such as ISO 6330 at your label settings and several cycles, then check for peeling, cracking and loss of reflectivity. A simple check is to compare washed and unwashed samples with a torch in a dark room. If the transfer supplier recommends cooler washing or no tumble drying, the care label should reflect that; the FTC Care Labeling Rule, 16 CFR Part 423, requires care instructions that will not harm the garment.

What you can claim

A small reflective logo adds some visibility, but it does not make a garment high-visibility safety clothing. Avoid words like "safety" or "high-vis" unless the garment has been tested to a recognised high-visibility standard. Describe it accurately, for example "reflective logo for added visibility in low light".

What to specify

Write the transfer supplier and reference, size and position of each logo, application settings, and wash requirements. Approve a washed sample, and check the first bulk pieces for adhesion and press marks before full production.