The present invention generally relates to techniques for decorating textile materials. The use of printing techniques for printing on fabric patterns distributed over a print area or positioned designs is well known in the textile field.

An object of the present invention is to propose a method which allows the range of design possibilities available to designers for the design of new double-face garments to be increased.

For this purpose, the object of the invention is a method for decorating a single-piece fabric consisting of a single layer of weave in weft and warp and not coupled to other layers of woven or non- woven material, comprising

applying a first print design on a first side of a piece of fabric having a thickness of at least 0.5 mm and a unit weight of at least 130 g/m ² , the fabric being composed of natural fibers and/or synthetic fibers, and comprising a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight/composition of at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of polyester fiber, polyamide fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyurethane fiber, triacetate fiber, acrylic fiber, elastomeric fiber; and

applying by means of printing a second design on a second side of the piece of fabric, opposite the first side, wherein the first print design and the second print design have at least one of the following relationships:

a) they are different from each other in shape;

b) they are different from each other in color;

c) they are the same in shape but offset from each other.

The Applicant has found that with fabrics having a thickness of at least 0.5 mm and a unit weight of at least 130 g/m ² , and having furthermore a certain fiber composition, it is possible to make different, technically acceptable designs on the two surfaces of the fabric from a single layer of fabric. A garment made with a fabric produced by the method according to the invention may therefore have decorations printed on both its outer side and on its inner side. This obviously extends the designer's freedom in the application of his/her own creativity, since the inner part of the garment may also have its own aesthetic elements. In particular, the method according to the invention is suitable for the production of double- face garments.

The method according to the invention may further comprise

applying a waterproof coating of polymeric material to at least one of the first side and second side of the piece of fabric respectively after applying the first print design and the second print design.

At least one of the first print design and the second print design may be a distributed pattern on a print area of the first and/or second side of the piece of fabric.

Alternatively, at least one of the first print design and second print design may be a positioned design.

Preferably, applying by means of printing comprises

printing with at least one method selected from the group that consists of sublimation transfer printing, direct sublimation printing, flock printing, laminated printing, and further xerographic treatment in laminated printing.

In particular, applying by means of printing may comprise

printing on at least one side of the piece of fabric by means of a first method selected from the group consisting of sublimation transfer printing and direct sublimation printing, and by means of a second method selected from the group consisting of flock printing and laminated printing.

Further features and advantages of the method according to the invention will become clearer with the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of illustrative and non- limiting example, which represent in a simplified manner and in cross-section two embodiments of a piece of fabric decorated with a method according to the invention. With reference to figure 1, the fabric piece, indicated collectively at 1, comprises a first side 2 and a second side 3, opposite the first. The first side 1 may be the front side of the fabric, while the second side 3 may be the back side.

The fabric of the piece 1 is a single-piece fabric, i.e. not coupled. In other words, the fabric is formed of a single layer of warp and weft woven material, optionally provided with a waterproof coating of polymer material applied on the first side 2 and/or the second side 3. In figure 2, there is provided a form wherein the piece 1 is provided with covers 6 and 7 respectively on the first side 2 and/or on the second side 3.

The piece 1 has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm and has a unit weight of at least 130 g/m ² (3.9 oz/yd ² ) relative to only the fabric layer (excluding i.e. any waterproofing coating). The fabric of the piece 1 is composed of natural fibers and/or synthetic fibers, and comprises a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight/composition of at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of polyester fiber, polyamide fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyurethane fiber, triacetate fiber, acrylic fiber, elastomeric fiber (also known as elastane, Spandex or Lycra®). The fabric may be classified as smooth, twilled, patterned, velvet, jacquard, with three-dimensional effect (e.g. damask, with alternating elements, with patchwork composition or alternating fabrics, quilted, lasered, devore, gauzed, lace, knitwear, tulle, ruched, buttoned or embroidered), plain weaves, batavia, herringbone, satin, regular derived weaves, basket weaves, ribbed, grosgrain, diagonal weaves, derived diagonal weaves, simple and combined weaves.

The first side 2 of the piece 1 has a first print design 4, which may be a distributed pattern on a print area of the first side 2 of the piece of fabric, or a positioned design. The second side 3 of the piece 1 has a second print design 5, which may be a pattern distributed over a print area of the second side 3 of the piece of fabric, or a positioned design.

The first print design 4 and the second print design 5 have at least one of the following relationships: a) they are different from each other in shape;

b) they are different from each other in color;

c) they are the same in shape but offset from each other. For the purposes of the present invention, the relationship a) means that the first print design and second print design have different shapes or even different dimensions.

For the purposes of the present invention, the relationship b) means that the first and second print designs have at least one different color.

For the purposes of the present invention, the relationship, c) means that the first and second print designs have the same shape but are arranged in a staggered or rotated position relative to one another. In other words, considering the direction of the fabric's thickness as an axis orthogonal to the opposite surface of the fabric, the first print design is not arranged exactly "over" the second print design but is offset with respect to the latter/by a certain amount, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the fabric thickness, and/or rotated relative to the second print design by a certain angle around the direction of the fabric's thickness.

The first and second print designs 4, 5 are applied by means of printing techniques, one after the other, on the respective sides of the piece 1.

Preferably, the printing techniques used for the process according to the invention are selected from the group consisting of sublimation transfer printing, direct sublimation printing, flock printing and laminated printing.

In particular, the first side 2 of the piece 1 may be printed by means of sublimation transfer printing or direct sublimation printing, and the second side 3 may be printed by flock printing or laminated printing. The piece 1 thus obtained may be further processed and then assembled with other pieces for manufacturing a garment. Digital sublimation printing processes generally use resin-based, sublimation-transferable, thermoplastic dispersion inks. By means of piezoelectric heads, the inks are delivered directly onto the print area (direct printing), or onto a fabric transfer sheet (transfer printing). In transfer methods, the print design is printed with inks (Cyan/Magenta Yellow K = Key Black or HDK= High Density Key Black) and the piezoelectric heads on thermo- adhesive/transfer paper rolls for textiles with height equal to or slightly less than the fabric or the print frame of the positioned panel. The paper roll, once printed and the drying time completed on the basis of the materials printed, is placed selvage-to-selvage on the fabric and subjected to a heat setting process by means of a hot press or calender continuously heated to a temperature between 180°C and 210°C. Specifically, for printing fabrics with at least a thickness of 0.5 mm and a unit weight of at least 130 g/m ² and between 130 and 180 g/m ² and having a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight/composition of at least one fiber selected from the listed group, it is necessary to perform a heat setting process between 180°C and 190°C : this temperature range allows the distribution of sublimated inks more on the surface and less in depth. As a result of the heat setting process generated by a continuously heated hot press and calender, the thermoplastic resins, which form part of the ink, sublimate from solid to gas, passing from the paper to the fabric so that the design is permanently and indelibly transferred with adhesive effect. By heat setting with a flat press at a temperature of at least 180°C and/or between 180°C and 190°C, the pressure applied by the means on the fabric must have a value of at least 3 bar and must have a hold time of at least 25 seconds and/or between 25 and 60 seconds. In the case of heat setting with a continuously heated calender, the effective sublimation transfer speed is calculated by calculating the difference between the cylinder's circumference in meters by subtracting a length of at least 20 centimeters of drawing-in for the functional rotation of the cylinder, dividing the difference obtained for 25 seconds of heat setting time and multiplying the latter value by 60 seconds, thus obtaining the effective sublimation transfer speed reported by meter per minute. In the formula:

i; =— x 60,

t

where v is the optimal sublimation transfer speed (in m/s), C is the calender circumference measurement (in m), / is the drawing-in length (in m) and t is the hold time (in s) and where i > 0.2 m is t > 25 s. In practice, if the circumference of the calender is 2.38 m (equivalent to 8 adhesive resin on which a polymeric layer (e.g. an optical fiber based on polyethersulfone, PES) of various colors and metallization is applied hot. The polymeric layer, in contact with the adhesive resin, adheres to the textile material for the required printing area. Once the laminating polymer has been distributed and the fabric has cooled (if hot) or dried (if cold), the operation is terminated.

Laminated printing may be carried out on one side or on both sides of the fabric. On each side it may be applied individually or in combination with a sublimation printing technique. Such lamination may be carried out on one side or on both sides of the fabric by also applying hot a layer of polymeric material (e.g., polyvinylchloride, PVC) on the whole surface of the first side 2 and/or the second side 3 of the fabric. The coating may be of a transparent, colored or metallic film, and may also have a non-aesthetic function, such as waterproofing. Upon completion of the laminating operation, the fabric, once dried, may be further printed on both sides by direct digital xerographic laser printing. Direct printing methods by xerography generally employ digital printing machines for fabric with a cylinder with electrostatic photosensitive properties. Toner inks are used for printing, which are selectively deposited on areas of the cylinder that are otherwise charged by means of diodes operating according to a digital code representing the design data (Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/K = Key Black inks or in HDK = High Density Key black mode). The inks are generally composed of thermoplastic polyester resins such as styrene acrylic copolymers.

In the case of a direct xerographic laser printing process applied on both sides of the fabric, the first side of the fabric (e.g. front) is printed first. After the first printed side has dried and cooled, the piece of fabric is turned over and re-inserted into the print roll to work on the second print side (e.g. back). The xerographic print on each side may be applied individually or in combination with a sublimation printing technique with the described instructions.

In the case wherein a piece 1 of fabric with a waterproofing coating 6, 7 of polymer material is desired, the coating is applied after application of the first and second print designs 4, 5. 6 a diameter of 0.76 m), eliminating a standard or higher value of 20 cm in warp (to facilitate a functional rotation of the calender), and the hold time is 25 seconds in relation to the calender's circumference, the effective sublimation transfer speed is 5.24 m/min. For printing on fabrics with a thickness greater than 0.5 mm and a unit weight of 180 g/m ² and having a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight/composition of at least one fiber selected from the group listed, a heat setting process between 180°C and 210°C may be performed. By heat setting with a flat press at a temperature of at least 180°C and/or between 180°C and 210°C, the pressure applied to the fabric by the means must have a value of at least 3 bar and must have a hold time of at least 25 seconds and/or between 25 and 60 seconds. In the case of heat setting with the continuously heated calender and the circumference of the latter being 2.38 m and the hold time being 25 seconds in relation to the calender's circumference, the effective sublimation transfer speed is 5.24 m/min. In the case wherein the transfer method is applied on both sides of the fabric, the printing process is performed in the first instance on the first side 2 of the fabric (e.g., front). After drying and cooling the first print side, the thermo-adhesive/transfer paper film that supported the printed design, now transferred to the first print side, is removed. Then the second side of the fabric (e.g. back) is processed by applying another printed transfer sheet thereon and performing the same operations as for the first side. Specifically, to print on the second side 3 (back) of fabrics with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm and a unit weight between 130 g/m ² and 180 g/m ² and having a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight/composition of at least one fiber selected from the group listed, a same heat setting process between 180°C and 190°C must be performed with the same pressure and hold time values. To print on the second side 3 (back) of fabrics with a thickness greater than 0.5 mm and a unit weight equal to or greater than 180 g/m ² and having a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight/composition of at least one fiber selected from the group listed, a heat setting process between 180°C and 210°C may be performed, with the same pressure, time and transfer speed values relative to the circumference of the cylinder.

Direct sublimation printing methods generally employ digital fabric printing machines with piezoelectric heads. Solid inks are used for printing, which, once heated to the sublimation 7 point, pass to the gaseous state, coloring the piece of fabric by using four-color digital pulses (Cyan/Magenta/Y ellow/K = Key Black inks or in HDK = High Density Key Black mode).

In the case of a direct sublimation printing process applied on both sides of the fabric, the first side of the fabric (e.g. front) is printed first. After the first printed side has dried and cooled, the piece of fabric is turned over and re-inserted into the print roll to work on the second print side (e.g. back). The direct sublimation printing method on both sides of the fabric is effective in conditions where the fabric has a thickness equal to or greater than 0.5 mm and a unit weight equal to or greater than 180 g/m ² and having a percentage equal to or greater than 10% by weight of at least one fiber selected from the group listed and under conditions wherein the heat setting process is carried out at a temperature between 180°C and 210°C. By heat setting with a flat press at a temperature of at least 180°C and/or between 180°C and 210°C, the pressure applied by the means on the fabric must have a value of at least 3 bar and must have a hold time of at least 25 seconds and/or between 25 and 60 seconds. In the case wherein heat setting with the continuously heated calender and the circumference of the latter is 2.38 m and the hold time is 25 seconds in relation to the calender circumference, the effective sublimation transfer speed is 5.24 m/min.

The flock printing method provides that one side of the piece of fabric is sprinkled with an adhesive/glue film on the area required to be printed and then put in contact with cut or ground fibers by means of an electrostatic cabin that projects and orients the fibers. The cabin generates an electrostatic field between a dispenser of cut or ground fibers and the surface to be printed: the rooting of the fiber occurs via electrostatic penetration into the layer of glue. After the orientation and projection of the fibers and after the glue dries, the excess fibers are brushed off, resulting in a velvety printing area. The composition of the flocking fibers may be 100% or a hybrid of polyamide, rayon, cotton, viscose, modal, Tencel® and viscose, cotton, nylon and polyamide derivatives.

Flock printing may be carried out on one side or on both sides of the fabric. On each side, it may be applied individually or in combination with a sublimation printing technique.

The laminated printing method provides that one side of the piece of fabric is coated with an