When you get branded workwear, the first choice is how your logo goes on: stitched in with embroidery, or printed on. Both work well, but they suit different garments and different jobs.
Here's how they compare, and what most trades end up doing.
Embroidery
Your logo is stitched into the fabric with thread. It's the classic look for workwear.
The good
- Lasts. Stitching survives site work and hot washes far better than most prints
- Looks premium. A stitched logo on a decent polo instantly looks more established
- Great on thick fabrics. Polos, hoodies, sweatshirts, fleeces, softshells and caps
The not so good
- Fine detail struggles. Tiny text, thin lines and gradients don't stitch well
- Big designs get expensive. Cost goes up with the number of stitches, so large back logos add up fast
- Setup fee. Your logo usually needs converting into a stitch file the first time, often a one-off charge
- Not ideal on thin fabric. On lightweight t-shirts it can pucker and feel heavy
Your logo is printed or heat pressed onto the fabric. There are a few methods, from screen printing for big runs to transfer prints that work well for smaller orders.
The good
- Handles detail and colour. Gradients, small text and full colour logos all come out sharp
- Cheaper for big designs. A large logo across the back costs far less printed than stitched
- Great on t-shirts. Light, flexible and comfortable
- Works on hi-vis. Most branded hi-vis is printed
The not so good
- Can wear over time. Cheaper prints can crack, fade or peel after lots of washes
- Looks less premium than embroidery on polos and jackets
Which garment suits which
- Polos: embroidery
- Hoodies and sweatshirts: embroidery on the chest, print for a big back logo
- Softshells and fleeces: embroidery
- T-shirts: print
- Hi-vis: usually print, kept clear of the reflective tape
- Caps and beanies: embroidery
What most trades go with: both
The combination that works best for most trades businesses:
- Small embroidered logo on the chest. Looks smart, lasts for years
- Bigger printed logo on the back. Your name, trade and number readable from across the street or across a site
You get the premium look up front and the advertising on the back, without paying for a huge stitched design.
The chest logo tells customers you're a proper business. The back logo tells everyone else who to call.
Make your logo work for both
A good logo should work small and stitched as well as large and printed. If yours has lots of tiny text or fine detail, it's worth having a simplified version for embroidery. That's normal, plenty of big brands do the same.
Looking after it
- Wash inside out, especially printed items
- Avoid ironing directly over prints
- Skip the tumble dryer on high heat where you can
Want your team kitted out properly? Have a look at our embroidered workwear and printed t-shirts, or get in touch for a quote.