When adding your company logo to workwear, one of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether to have it embroidered or printed.
It's a question we're asked regularly, and there's no single answer that's right for every business.
Embroidery can look fantastic on a polo or fleece, while printing might be far better for a large logo across the back of a T-shirt. The garment itself, your logo, the size and position of the branding and how the clothing will be used can all influence which method we'd recommend.
Here's what you need to consider.
What is embroidery?
Embroidery involves stitching your logo or design directly into the garment using coloured threads.
It's commonly used for company logos on the left chest of polos, fleeces, sweatshirts, jackets and other workwear.
One of the biggest advantages is the finish. A well-embroidered logo can give workwear a smart, professional appearance, which is why it's popular across everything from construction and trades to nurseries, care, hospitality and corporate uniforms.
Embroidery is also designed to be durable, making it particularly suitable for workwear that's going to be worn regularly.
But that doesn't mean embroidery is always the best choice.
When does embroidery work best?
We'd usually consider embroidery when you're looking for:
- A smart, professional finish
- Small or medium-sized company logos
- Left or right chest branding
- Polo shirts and sweatshirts
- Fleeces and jackets
- Workwear that's going to be worn regularly
For a straightforward company logo on the chest of a polo, for example, embroidery is often an excellent option.
However, the larger an embroidered design becomes, the more stitching is required. This can add weight and stiffness to the garment, which is one reason we wouldn't automatically recommend embroidery for a large design across the back of a T-shirt.
What is garment printing?
Rather than stitching the design into the clothing, garment printing applies your logo or artwork to the surface of the garment.
There are several different printing methods available, and the right one can depend on the garment, artwork and quantity required.
You don't necessarily need to know the technical differences between every printing method before ordering. A good workwear supplier should be able to look at what you're trying to achieve and recommend an appropriate option.
What matters is that printing gives you possibilities that aren't always practical with embroidery.
When does printing work best?
Printing can be particularly useful for:
- T-shirts and other lightweight garments
- Large logos and designs
- Branding across the back of garments
- Designs containing fine detail
- Certain multicoloured or complex designs
- Larger areas of text
- Clothing where heavy embroidery wouldn't be suitable
A building company, for example, might choose an embroidered logo on the left chest and a larger printed logo, telephone number or website across the back.
You don't have to choose one method for the entire garment.
Is embroidery more durable than printing?
Embroidery has a strong reputation for durability, and with good reason. Because the design is stitched into the garment, it can cope very well with regular use and washing.
But it's too simplistic to say that embroidery always lasts longer than printing.
The durability of printed workwear depends on several things, including the type and quality of print, the garment it's applied to, how frequently it's worn and how it's washed and dried.
A high-quality print that's appropriate for the garment can provide excellent durability.
Whichever method you choose, following the garment's washing and care instructions will help both the clothing and branding last longer.
Does embroidery look more professional?
This is largely a matter of what you're trying to achieve.
Embroidery can provide a premium, traditional appearance, particularly for smaller company logos on polos, shirts, fleeces and jackets.
That's one reason it's so popular for customer-facing uniforms.
But print can look every bit as professional when it's used in the right way.
A clean printed logo on a T-shirt or a well-designed large back print can look much better than trying to embroider the same design.
Rather than asking which method looks more professional, we'd ask:
Which method will make this particular logo look best on this particular garment?
That's a much more useful question.
What if your logo has lots of detail?
This is something that's easily overlooked when businesses order branded workwear.
Not every logo will reproduce equally well with every branding method.
Very small lettering, intricate details, gradients and certain design elements may need to be simplified for embroidery, particularly when the finished logo is going to be relatively small.
Printing can sometimes reproduce finer details more effectively.
That's why it's useful to have your artwork checked before deciding how it should be applied.
A logo that looks great on your website or a large sign doesn't automatically translate perfectly onto the chest of a polo shirt.
What about large logos and back designs?
This is one area where printing will often have an advantage.
Imagine a large company logo covering much of the back of a T-shirt.
Producing the entire design using embroidery could require a significant amount of stitching. The finished area may become heavier and stiffer than you'd ideally want on the back of a lightweight garment.
Printing allows larger designs to be applied without adding the same amount of weight.
That's why you frequently see businesses using a combination such as:
Embroidered company logo on the front + printed branding on the back.
It gives you the smart appearance of embroidery where it works well and the flexibility of printing for the larger design.
Which is cheaper: embroidery or printing?
There's no universal rule that says one will always be cheaper than the other.
The cost can depend on factors such as:
- The size of the logo
- The complexity of the design
- The number of garments
- The position of the branding
- The garment itself
- The printing method required
This is another reason we wouldn't recommend choosing your branding method purely based on price.
Saving a small amount on the application isn't particularly helpful if the finished result isn't right for the garment or doesn't give you the appearance you wanted.
It's better to consider the garment and branding together.
Can you use embroidery and printing together?
Absolutely.
In fact, for many businesses this can be the best solution.
For example:
Construction & trades: embroidered chest logo with a large printed back logo or contact details.
Hospitality: embroidered logos on polos, shirts, fleeces or aprons for a smart appearance.
Nurseries & childcare: embroidered polos or sweatshirts, with print used where a larger or more detailed design is required.
Cleaning & facilities: embroidered chest branding on polos and outerwear, potentially combined with printed branding on T-shirts or the back of garments.
There's no reason every item in your uniform range has to use exactly the same branding method.
So, should you choose embroidery or printing?
The best option comes down to a few simple questions:
- What garment are you branding?
- What does your logo look like?
- How large does the branding need to be?
- Where will it appear on the garment?
- How will the clothing be used?
- What finish are you trying to achieve?
For a small logo on the chest of a quality polo or fleece, we may recommend embroidery.
For a large design across the back of a T-shirt, printing may make much more sense.
And sometimes the best answer is to use both.
The important thing is not to automatically choose embroidery because it sounds more premium, or printing because you assume it will be cheaper.
Choose the method that works best for the garment, artwork and intended use.
Not sure which is right for your logo?
If you're unsure whether your workwear should be embroidered or printed, you don't need to work it out yourself.
At Monkey Business Workwear, we can look at your logo, the garments you're considering and how they'll be used, and recommend the branding option we think will give you the best result.
You can even send us your logo and tell us what you're looking for, and we'll talk you through the options.