2024 is in full swing, and if you want to take this year by storm and know what’s in and what’s out for the screen printing industry this year, we have you covered. As you continue reading below, we’ll talk about some of the hottest trends taking off in the screen printing space in 2024 and provide you with helpful tips to implement them into your own business.
Greater Focus on Sustainability
One trend that we anticipate will only become more and more popular as the years progress is a greater focus on using sustainable practices in screen printing. This might include using recycled substrates, eco-friendly inks, and reducing your water consumption to start going green.
You don’t have to completely overhaul your entire operations in 2024 in the name of sustainability. Instead, make small changes here and there to help you implement more long-lasting practices that you can stick with.
Leveraging Social Media
In 2024, the integration of digital technologies will impact all industries, including screen printing. As your screen printing business evolves for the digital age, social media will likely become a more useful tool to help market your printed products.
If you haven’t started using social media already to promote your business, let 2024 be the year you start! There are many advantages to leveraging social media to grow your printing business, and it doesn’t have to take up too much of your time each week.
You can start by uploading behind-the-scenes footage of you creating your prints, or posting photos of new items for sale in your shop! You can ramp up your interactions online as you become more comfortable with using social media.
Revival in Retro-Style Graphic Tees
It seems like each year, a different decade from the 20th century becomes a fashion inspiration for the year–and 2024 will likely be no different. This year, we’ll likely see many screen printers take advantage of the retro revival once again, this time focusing on graphic tees that were largely popular in the 90s.
If you want to try this nostalgic trend out in your own shop, consider incorporating vibrant ink colors, retro typography, bold patterns, and 90s pop-culture-influenced prints that customers of all ages can get excited about.
Growing Interest in Artisanal Items
Artisanal or handmade goods are becoming more popular with consumers lately, with the global handmade market expecting a CAGR of 4.7% from now until 2030. While the projected growth for these items looks promising over the rest of the decade, there’s no need to hesitate, and many screen printers plan on exploring this avenue in 2024.
While screen-printed items could already be considered handmade, a growing number of consumers are looking for more unique and locally-made items rather than mass-produced goods that anyone in any location could find. Screen printers looking to take advantage of this trend in 2024 may want to focus on creating unique, smaller batched prints on locally sourced garments or substrates to give their items an authentic and artisanal feel.
