Custom silk scarves start with something you already have: a photograph, a painting, a logo, or a drawing your child made at the kitchen table. At For the Love of Silk we digitally print that image onto silk, then hem it into a scarf that is yours alone. Our own Floral Fantasy silk scarf began the same way, as a hand painted artwork printed onto Mulberry silk satin. Clients come to us for personal gifts, artist and gallery editions, and branded scarves for teams and events, all through our bespoke silk scarf service. This guide walks you through how a printed silk scarf comes together with us, from the first consultation to the finished hem.
How to Design Your Own Printed Silk Scarf
1. Start with a consultation
Book a consultation and visit our showroom to see and handle the silks in person. We'll help you choose the weight and weave that suit your artwork, and the scarf size that gives your design room to breathe. Consultations are free and in person, and we generally reply to enquiries within one working day.
2. Send us your artwork
A printed scarf is only as sharp as the file behind it. Send your artwork by WeTransfer at 300 dpi or higher, with Pantone references for your colours and a note of which Pantone system you used. Photographs, paintings and logos all work, as long as the resolution is high enough. We then prepare the file for print so that fine lines and colour gradients hold on the silk.
3. Choose your hem
The edge is the finishing detail of any personalised silk scarf. Choose a hand rolled hem, stitched the traditional way, or a machine rolled hem for a clean, modern edge. Your hem finish is confirmed in your quote.
4. Confirm your design and price
We confirm your artwork, scarf specifications and price with you. For a one-off scarf, you'll receive an invoice, and we print once it has been paid. For a larger run, you pay an agreed deposit before production and the balance before dispatch.
5. Approve your colours
Unlike a bulk order of scarves, a one-off scarf is treated as a sample order, so we print it directly from your artwork and aim to reproduce it as closely as possible. Exact colour matching can't be guaranteed. If you would like to check the colours first, we can arrange a strike off before your scarf is printed. A strike off is charged separately, including sample and shipping costs, and usually comes in three tonal variations of the same design.
If you'd like a colour or design change after your scarf arrives, a further sample scarf needs to be ordered and paid for, which adds cost and time.
What a Printed Silk Scarf Looks Like Up Close
Digital printing puts fine linework, layered colour and full photographs straight onto silk, so complex designs print well. Our Golden Leopard silk scarf is a good example, with a reclining leopard set among proteas and trailing vines in warm ochre and copper.
Silk also has a reverse side to think about. Strike through is how much of the colour carries through to the back of the fabric. Digital print sits on the surface of the silk, so how much shows on the back depends on the weight you choose. If both sides of your scarf will be seen, ask us about double sided printing.
Choosing the Silk for Your Custom Scarf
The fabric you choose changes how your print looks and how the scarf moves. Silk weight is measured in momme (mm), which describes how heavy the fabric is, not how thick it is. These are the silks we recommend for printing:
- Silk satin 16mm. The most popular choice with designers, for its lustre and luxurious feel. Our Big 5 silk scarf, 90 x 90 cm is printed on Mulberry silk satin.
- Silk twill 14mm. A textured weave with less lustre than satin, as you can see on our Hepburn Classic silk scarf.
- Habotai. A smooth, sheer weave.
- Silk chiffon. Soft and sheer.
- Silk georgette. Sheer, with a light texture.
Silk blends with modal, viscose, cotton, linen and other fibres give a soft hand feel and fluid drape at a different price point. The exact composition, and whether a blend suits your print, is confirmed in your quote.
Scarf Sizes
Our ready made scarves come as 65 x 65 cm and 90 x 90 cm squares, and as long scarves of 40 x 160 cm and 65 x 170 cm. Your bespoke scarf can follow one of these sizes or a custom dimension, which we confirm at your consultation.
Order Size and Delivery
A custom silk scarf makes a personal gift, especially when it carries a family photograph or your children's drawings. It works just as well as a branded run for your team or an event. You can order a single scarf, which we treat as a sample order, or a run of the same design. Production usually takes about two to three weeks from approval and payment, and larger orders can take longer. We deliver with The Courier Guy, usually within one to two days of dispatch.
Bring Your Silk Scarf Design to Life
Have an image you would love to wear? Tell us about your custom silk scarf and book a consultation. We'll help you choose the silk, size and hem, then come back to you with pricing for your printed scarf. To see how our prints look on silk, browse ready made designs like the Big 5 silk scarf, 65 x 65 cm.
