Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
An embroidered logo on clothing is a logo stitched in thread directly onto the fabric with an embroidery machine. To look clean and survive washing it needs three things: a design digitised for the specific fabric and size, a suitable embroidery thread (usually polyester or viscose No. 40) and the right stabiliser. The minimum letter height is about 5 mm, and colours are chosen from the thread shade card, not from the screen.
Embroidered logo or print
Embroidery costs more per piece than printing over a large area, but it is more durable and looks more premium. It does not crack, peel or fade quickly. That is why it is preferred for uniforms, workwear, polo shirts, caps, jackets and corporate gifts. Printing is better suited to large images, photographic detail and gradients that embroidery cannot reproduce.
| Criterion | Embroidery | |
|---|---|---|
| Wash durability | Very high | Depends on the technology |
| Perception | Three-dimensional, premium | Flat |
| Large areas | Heavy and expensive | Suitable |
| Fine gradients | Limited | Possible |
| Suitable products | Polo shirts, caps, jackets, workwear, towels | T-shirts, sweatshirts, promotional items |
Preparing the design
Simplify the logo
Embroidery works with thread, not pixels. Fine lines under about 1 mm, small counters in letters and smooth gradients are lost. Before digitising, the designer should ideally prepare a simplified version of the logo specifically for embroidery – with thicker lines, fewer colours and larger text.
Size and position
- Chest logo on a polo or shirt – usually between 7 and 10 cm wide.
- Cap, front panel – up to about 5–6 cm high, depending on the cap shape.
- Sleeve – a small logo or flag, usually up to 7–8 cm.
- Back of a jacket – a large design, but bear in mind that large dense embroidery adds weight.
Digitising
The machine file (DST, PES etc.) is not simply a converted vector file. The digitiser determines the stitch type, direction, density, underlay and compensation for fabric pull. The same logo is digitised differently for piqué, denim, towelling or a cap. A well-digitised file is half the quality.
Choosing threads for the embroidered logo
- Polyester No. 40 – the standard for workwear, uniforms, sports kits and anything washed often and at high temperatures.
- Viscose No. 40 – a soft sheen for fashion collections with gentle washing.
- No. 60 – for small text and fine detail in the logo.
- Metallic threads – for accents such as an outline or a star, but not for large areas.
Brand colours are matched from a shade card, with the Pantone code as a starting point. The full range is in our embroidery threads category.
Fabric and stabiliser
Jersey (T-shirts, polos) stretches, and without a stabiliser the embroidery puckers. A cut-away stabiliser is used, which remains under the embroidery. For dense woven fabrics (denim, twill, velvet) a tear-away stabiliser is usually sufficient. On towelling and fleece a thin water-soluble film is placed on top so the stitches do not sink into the pile. Caps require a special frame and a stiffer stabiliser.
Specifics by product
Polo shirts and T-shirts
Jersey is the most common base for a company logo. Here the density should be moderate and the underlay well built so that no holes show around the embroidery. Heavy dense embroidery on a thin T-shirt pulls the fabric and creates a "well" around the logo.
Caps
The front panel is curved, so the design is embroidered from the centre outwards and the logo height is limited. Raised embroidery (3D puff) with a foam underlay is popular on caps, but it requires thicker thread and a specially digitised file.
Jackets and workwear
Here the logo is larger and must withstand abrasion and industrial laundering. Polyester is the obligatory choice, and on waterproof jackets bear in mind that every needle penetration pierces the membrane – often a better solution is an embroidered badge sewn onto the pocket, or embroidery only on an outer layer without a membrane.
Towels and bathrobes
Towels are washed at high temperatures, so polyester thread is chosen. To stop the embroidery sinking into the loops, a water-soluble film is placed on top, and the bobbin thread is chosen in the colour of the top thread if the reverse side is visible.
A sample before the series
- Embroider a sample on the actual fabric and garment colour.
- Check the legibility of the text from about one metre.
- Wash the sample on the programme the customer will use.
- Check the reverse side – it must not scratch, especially on childrenswear.
- Approve size, position, colours and thread numbers in writing.
Common mistakes with embroidered logos
- Text that is too small and merges together.
- A large dense area on thin jersey – the garment distorts.
- No stabiliser on stretch fabrics.
- Colour chosen on screen, without a sample.
- Viscose on workwear with industrial laundering.
- No care label indicating a gentle wash programme for the embroidery.
Branding the garment inside and out
The embroidered logo on the outside is complemented by brand labels inside: a woven label at the neck, a care and composition label with care instructions and, if needed, a hang tag for retail. When all elements use the same brand colours, the garment looks fully branded.
Polkom – threads and labels for your logo
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer and wholesaler of garment accessories with over 30 years of experience. We supply embroidery workshops and brands with embroidery threads in a wide palette, match colours to Pantone or a sample and produce custom logo labels. We send samples and deliver throughout the EU. Minimum quantities depend on the article. Send an inquiry via our Contact page.
