The Complete Guide to Sewn Flags: Materials, Construction & Why They’re the Premium Choice
What is a sewn flag?
At The Hampshire Flag Company LTD (HFC), Sewn Flags are the premium, traditional choice when it comes to your flag. They consist of multiple panels of woven polyester sewn together to create the design of your flag. Designed to provide years of reliable outdoor performance when correctly installed and maintained.
Hampshire Flag Companies Sewn Flags are the premium choice for your flag. 100% sewn construction. Handmade in the UK by our skilled sewing machinists. Made in house from design to manufacture. Sewn flags are made from pre-coloured 155gsm Woven Polyester fabric that is then sewn together to create the flag. In some cases, for more intricate designs, a printed Knitted Polyester badge will be sewn to the woven polyester material.
In every case our MOD / Royal Navy flags are made in this traditional method.
Who is a sewn flag for?
A Sewn Flag offers superior durability, UV resistance, colour retention and a traditional, premium appearance perfect for schools, businesses, hotels, public buildings, organisations or private use at home.
Interested in a sewn flag? See some of our best sellers below:
Sewn Union Jack Flag
Sewn St. George Flag
Sewn Custom Design Flag
How We Manufacture Our Sewn Flags.
Material
At The Hampshire Flag Company, our Sewn Flags are made in house from pre-coloured 155gsm Woven Polyester fabric that is then sewn together to create the flag. In some cases, for more intricate designs, a printed Knitted Polyester badge will be sewn to the woven polyester material.
In every case our flags are manufactured to MOD / Royal Navy standards.
Woven Polyester offers superior strength whilst remaining relatively lightweight. The strength and flexibility make it more weather resistant than cheaper, lower quality printed flags, allowing the flag to perform better in wind and rain. Woven Polyester is UV resistant, providing high colour retention, ensuring colours remain brighter for longer. When Paired with our Anti-Fray netting, you can have peace of mind whilst regularly flying your sewn flag.
Manufacturing Process.
The Hampshire Flag Company is the foremost flagmaker in the UK with over 45 years of experience.
The Design process begins by plotting out the design. Fabric is then measured up against the plot and any printed badges or emblems are put onto place.
HFC’s team of skilled craftsmen then begin to sew the panels into place, individually attaching each colour block into place. Any badges or emblems are then sewn around the edge and incorporated into the flag.
Excess material from colour overlaps and around the edge of the badges are then trimmed away by hand to ensure all lines are straight and the panels are evenly proportioned.
Finaly, the flag is finished to specification with the addition of the Rope and Toggle, Eyelets, Inglefield clips or pole sleeve. Anti-fray netting will be added and the flag will then be complete.
After a final Quality inspection, our flags are packaged and ready to be received by our customers.
The Complete Guide to Printed Flags: Materials, Printing and Features
What is a printed flag?
Printed Flags are a good choice if you value lightweight flags, with vibrant colours and intricate designs. Hampshire flags printed flags are no less durable than their sewn counterpart if flown correctly and cared for well. They deliver bold colours, sharp detail and excellent value, making it ideal for events, celebrations and situations where a premium sewn flag isn’t necessary.
Our Printed Flags are made from 115gsm knitted Polyester or Recycled Knitted Polyester fabric. Renowned for its vibrant colours, intricate design and high-resolution print. With a 95% bleed through rate, our single sided printed flags can be viewed from both sides with a near perfect mirror image on the reverse. If your design incorporates words or logos that cannot be read correctly in reverse, don’t worry! We also offer double-sided flags where two printed panels are sewn together with a blackout interliner between them. This prevents ghosting, where the shadow of the design on the reverse can be seen from the front.
Printed Flags allow for photo realistic designs to a level of detail that a sewn flag could not achieve. If your design features high levels of detail, photos, or gradients, a printed flag is right for you.
Our Printed flags meet MOD / Royal Navy flags standards
Who is a printed flag for?
Printed flags are perfect for customers that require vibrant colours, light weight flags and good value for money. Whilst they are cheaper, these are no less high quality, offering some benefits over a sewn flag: more intricate designs, vibrant colours, lighter weight, recycled environmentally friendly options available. Perfect for Events and exhibitions, Schools and community celebrations, Sports clubs, Promotional campaigns, Temporary outdoor displays, Indoor displays, Businesses requiring branded flags and Customers needing multiple flags on a budget.
Interested in a Printed flag? Browse our range of flags below:
National Flags
Standard Design Flags
Printed Custom Flags
How We Manufacture Our Printed Flags.
Manufacturing Process.
The Design process begins in our artwork studio where the standard design is scaled to the specific flag or custom artwork is set up, reviewed, proofed and where needed amended or redesigned. HFC’s in-house artwork studio houses skilled graphic designers who offer an artworking service where we can help you create any design you have in mind. We will create the print files and resupply them back to you for future use in prints or online in any way you like.
The design is then sent to print, where Hampshire flags in house printers are loaded with knitted polyester. The design is printed onto the flag and then cut on our cutting machine. If the design is double sided, it then goes to the sewing room, where our skilled craftsmen install a blackout interliner between the two printed panels and sew the flag together. All flags are hand finished with a reinforced hem and the finishing of your choice.
Finally, the flag undergoes a quality inspection before being packaged and ready to be received by our customer.
Sewn VS Printed Flags
| Feature | Sewn Flag | Printed Flag |
| Outdoor Durability | Excellent | Very Good |
| Material | 155gsm Woven Polyester | 115gsm knitted polyester |
| Colour Vibrancy | Very Good | Excellent |
| Design Intricacy | Very Good | Excellent |
| Best For | Outdoor use, regular use | Outdoor & indoor use, Events |
| typical user | Business, Councils, Schools, Private use | Business, Events, private use |
| Customisation | Expensive | Easy & affordable |
Flag Finishings Explained
All our flags can be specified with a range of fixings to best support your use case:
- Rope & Toggle, the traditional choice
- Nickel Eyelets, perfect for fixed mounting points or indoor use
- Plastic D-Rings, easy to use
- Inglefield Clips, quick and secure attachment. Best option for external flagpoles. MOD standard finishing
All our flags are able to be fitted with Anti-Fray netting, a sacrificial layer designed to fray before the flag itself. This helps extend the flags life and acts as a visual aid for when the flag is ready for a wash and repair service, where a new layer of anti-fray netting can be installed.
Choosing the correct finishing ensures your flag is secure and easy to install.
Caring For Your Flag
To prolong the life of your flag and ensure it is always looking its best, we recommend that the flag is lowered and taken indoors during winds exceeding 35mph and during heavy rain. High winds can cause the flag to wear prematurely and can put a lot of stress on the finishings and the flagpole itself. A wet flag is a heavy flag, so if your flag has gotten wet, ensure it is fully dry before flying again. This keeps the flag light and allows if to fly easily. Flags should be inspected regularly for signs of wear and can be washed should they get dirty. HFC offers a wash and repair service, where any damage to your flag can be fixed and the flag gets cleaned. During this process we can also reinstall worn finishings and anti-fray. Anti-fray acts as a sacrificial layer, so if you notice it looks tired and frayed, that is a good indication that the flag is ready for a wash and repair service, where we will reinstall a new layer of anti-fray.
Common Buying Mistakes
Choosing the correct flag is just as important as selecting a quality product. Avoiding these common mistakes will help ensure your flag performs well and lasts as long as possible.
Buying a Flag That Is Too Large
Many people assume a larger flag always looks better. In reality, an oversized flag places additional strain on both the fabric and the flagpole, particularly during strong winds. See our size guide here if you are unsure what flag size is right for your flagpole.
Selecting the Wrong Finishing
Different flagpoles require different attachment methods. Choosing Rope & Toggle for a traditional attachment method, Nickel Eyelets for fixed mounting points or indoor use, Inglefield Clips for an MOD grade secure and quick attachment or a Pole Pocket that matches your flagpole will ensure the flag flies correctly and safely.
Ignoring Wind Conditions
Lowering your flag in winds above 35mph and heavy rain will reduce unnecessary strain on your flag and flagpole, prolonging the life of your flag.
Waiting Too Long to Replace a Worn Flag
Regular inspections allow minor wear to be identified before it develops into more significant damage. Replacing a heavily worn flag helps maintain a smart and respectful display. Inspecting and catching wear early can allow for your flag to be returned to the Hampshire Flag Company for a wash and repair service, bringing new life to your flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between sewn and printed flags?
Sewn flags are Hand Made from 155gsm Woven Polyester by our in house craftsmen. Printed flags are manufactured in house from 115gsm knitted polyester
Printed offers vibrant colours, intricate design, lightweight and affordability
Sewn offers a traditional look, Hand-Made in the UK, premium materials and a bolder statement.
Which lasts longer?
If cared for correctly, both printed and sewn flags can have long lifespans. Caring for your flag correctly is more important than material choice when it comes to longevity
Are sewn flags worth the extra cost?
Sewn flags are hand made in house by Hampshire Flag Companies skilled team of craftsmen. The extra investment in labour time and premium materials gets you a traditionally made, premium, durable flag that is perfect for outdoor use.
What’s the best material for outdoor flags?
Both Printed and Sewn flags can be used outdoor. For a traditional, premium look, sewn is perfect. For intricate designs and bold colours, printed will look great. Both flags are UV resistant to prevent colour fading over time. Ensure you regularly care for your flag and note wind conditions to prolong the life of your flag.
Which finish should I choose?
The finishing required will depend on your use case: Choosing Rope & Toggle for a traditional attachment method, Nickel Eyelets for fixed mounting points or indoor use, Inglefield Clips for a MOD grade secure and quick attachment or a Pole Pocket that matches your flagpole will ensure the flag flies correctly and safely.
What size flag do I need?
Choosing the right size flag is essential to reduce strain on the flag and flagpole. Bigger is not always better when it comes to flags. if you are unsure, See our size guide here.
Still Unsure?
Give us a call on 02392 237130 and we will be happy to talk it through with you. We can advise based on your pole type, location and how you plan to use it. There is no one-size-fits-all answer and we would rather help you get it right first time.
Specifications correct at time of publication. Please see individual product pages for full details or contact us for a tailored recommendation.
