Fifth Column

Fifth Column is a garment printer based in Tottenham, North London, serving brands, organisations, agencies and procurement teams. Its website states that it has printed in London since 1977 and operates from an 11,000 sq ft factory. Its origins lie in printing shirts for London’s emerging punk scene.

The business produces retail merchandise, tour stock, staff clothing and fundraising garments. Products include T-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, polo shirts and tote bags. It also offers printed and embroidered workwear, including jackets, trousers and hi-vis clothing.

Printing and embroidery

Its in-house screen printing service covers artwork preparation, printing, quality control and finishing. Fifth Column positions this method for larger runs, spot colours and repeat orders. Its website lists specialist finishes including puff, high-build, metallic, reflective and glow-in-the-dark effects, where appropriate.

For DTG and DTF printing, the options differ by artwork and garment. HD Digital printing uses a Kornit Atlas MAX Plus for detailed, full-colour work, smaller quantities and larger digital runs. DTF has no fixed minimum order and can be used on cotton, polyester, poly-cotton blends and nylon.

The embroidery service converts artwork into stitches and colours through digitisation. Listed applications include T-shirts, hoodies, sportswear, workwear, sweaters, polo shirts, bags and caps. Embroidery takes place at its London facility, and the business states that it serves the whole UK.

Garment sourcing and finishing

Fifth Column sources blank garments from Stanley/Stella and other suppliers, selecting against fit, weight, fabric, colour, availability, certification and budget. Organic cotton, recycled materials and third-party certified garment options can be discussed at the start; availability and certification vary by product.

Finishing services include custom neck labels, hem tags, folding, bagging, stickers and packing. These can prepare decorated garments for retail, distribution, staff use or events, with delivery managed against the requirements agreed at the start of the project.

Ordering and production times

For a quote, Fifth Column asks for quantity, deadline, artwork, garment preferences, and finishing or delivery requirements. Print size, placement, colours and necessary artwork changes are confirmed before production. Factory visits are by appointment only.

Its website gives typical lead times of around 10 working days for screen printing and around five working days for DTG, once artwork is approved and garments are available. Suitable DTG jobs may qualify for express production within 24-48 hours. Specialist garments, complex artwork and additional finishing can extend production time.

Source: fifthcolumn.co.uk, fifthcolumn.co.uk/contact-us, fifthcolumn.co.uk/our-services/fifthcolumn-co-uk-screen-prin