As a business owner, one of the decisions you need to make involves choosing the best type of workwear for your employees. Of course, the type you opt for will largely depend on the type of business you have.
You need to create a professional image of course and furthermore, workwear helps an organisation’s branding campaigns by simply adding a logo or slogan. That said, are embroidered work shirts better than their printed counterparts?
Pointers to Keep in Mind When Choosing Between Embroidered or Printed
When it comes to choosing the perfect way to add your brand logo or slogan to your employee workwear, you generally have two options to choose from. Embroidered or printing. Let’s take a brief look at how these two stack up against each other.
What Does Each Method Entail?
If you’re not familiar with the differences between the two options, let’s narrow it down.
Embroidery
Usually, embroidery is made up of stitching used to create the logo or slogan design. This type of stitching is usually done on a small section on the top left or top right section of a shirt or polo shirt. This option is more popular for formal clothing such as workwear that’s going to be worn daily.
Printing
Essentially, printing can be done in one of two ways—vinyl or screen printing. Here’s how they differ:
- Screen print: This process involves applying ink that is rolled over a custom-designed blocking stencil. This means that a stencil will be created for your logo or slogan. Ink will be applied to the stencil on the shirt material and left to dry. Screen printing is ideal for large quantities of t-shirts, especially for promotional events.
- Vinyl print: This type of printing involves creating an image on a roll of vinyl. This image is then peeled off the vinyl and then heat-pressed onto the garments. Vinyl is excellent for small quantity orders and also enhances bold colours. Keep in mind that this type of printing isn’t ideal for all types of material.
What Are the Best Options for Your Workwear?
The option you choose will depend on the type of material the garment will be made of. Here are a few pointers to consider:
- Print is ideal for t-shirts because designs can be made to fit the entire back or front of the shirt.
- The lightweight fabric that t-shirts are usually made of doesn’t work well for large areas of embroidery as the material will pull and tear.
- Embroidery is more commonly chosen for polo shirts since it creates a classic and semi-formal look.
- If you want to add a large image to the back of your polo shirts, it’s always better to opt for vinyl printing. Embroidery can be uncomfortable and cause itchiness when it comes in direct contact with skin.
- Jackets and fleeces are usually better suited to embroidery as the chemical coatings on fleece material can easily be damaged by the heat-press process.
Longevity and Durability
It’s always crucial to keep in mind that how long either option lasts largely depends on how the garment is looked after. Both stitching and printing should potentially last the lifetime of the garment if the following tips are adhered to:
- You use a professional garment-creating company that specialises in producing workwear.
- The garment is used correctly, and no chemicals are spilt on it.
- Laundry specifications must be strictly adhered to.
Not taking care of the items properly could result in stitches coming loose or prints fading. Vinyl printing could start peeling or cracking off. To avoid this, consider giving your employees several shirts, rather than having them wear one or two shirts for a five or six-day workweek.
Customisation Options
Depending on your business needs, you might want garments branded with different printing methods. For instance, you might opt for embroidered polo shirts for regular office or shop wear. However, your business might also want printed t-shirts for specific promotion events, customer hand-outs or even for employees to wear at charity events.
That said, you can also create jackets or hoodies for the cooler months. In this instance, you should speak to the workwear company to suggest the best option for each garment. In many instances, the vendor will provide the actual garment as well as do the printing or embroidery. This ensures that the material and fabrics chosen are durable enough to withstand printing or embroidery.
Some companies also have their logos printed onto customer gifts such as backpacks but rather opt for the embroidery option on items such as towels and scarves.
Final Thought
Opting for branded work uniforms should be a no-brainer for every business that serves customers. Not only will it create a professional image but will enhance your overall brand awareness.
Furthermore, having your company logo on your employees’ workwear means you’re getting free advertising wherever your team members are seen. Getting your brand name out there couldn’t be easier!
