For the past 3 years Analog has offered a variety of photo-real sublimation options in both their outerwear and board short categories. The word sublimation refers to the process of using heat to transfer ink or dyes instantly and accurately to the fabric. This process allows for exact reproduction of digital art and photos onto synthetic fabrics and is limitless in the possibilities when applying artwork to wearable.
The process of sublimation printing differs from traditional “roller,” or “wet” printing in that artwork can be separated and reproduced in a similar fashion to print magazine or paper media rather than through the tedious and sometimes limiting process of separating detailed artwork into single color plates or screens similar to traditional silk screen printing process.

“The first two seasons (2009 and 2010), we blazed the trail of this treatment with our pro rider Trevor Andrew on styles for his signature outerwear collection and we’ve continued to spearhead the process into the current and 2011 season,” says Joey Jorgensen, Design Director for Analog Outerwear.

The first sublimated jacket (Winter 2009) was a faux buffalo plaid flannel with faux fleece hood. “If you were standing 12 inches away from a guy wearing it, you’d swear it was real flannel,” says Maurice Torres, Analog’s Global Marketing Director.

This current winter season (2010), they took it to a whole new level with the Altar Jacket, a faux sublimated denim, basically a leather biker jacket with patches and zip off sleeves (available now, $259.99 retail).

New photo-real sublimated products in Analog’s Outerwear Winter 2011 collection include the Gravel Pant – a faux look of worn in denim jeans and the Andros Parka – a faux vintage military parka style jacket with oil, paint stains and patchwork. Both will be available this October for $250 and $300 respectively.