Processes for the integration of illuminated displays with articles of fabric or textiles are described. In one aspect, a rear electrode (106) of an electroluminescent panel (102) is formed directly onto a fabric section substrate (104) by the following process, a formed image is placed over a fabric section to define an area for display and a catalyst is applied to such display area; the fabric section display area with catalyst thereon is immersed in an electroless plating bath and subsequently removed, allowing a chemical reduction to occur in the aqueous solution; such fabric section is immersed in an electrode bath to form an electrode layer integrated with the fabric section and patterned in the associated image. In another aspect, a process is used to form an insulative layer for encapsulating the fabric section substrate having a rear electrode. In still another aspect, process is used to form the layers of an electroluminescent panel integral with a substrate. Optionally, the fabric section can be adhered to a substantially rigid substrate while the EL panel component layers are applied to aid in accurate placement of such layers.