Choosing the Right Finish for Your Team’s Work Uniforms
If you’re looking to kit out your entire team in work uniforms featuring your company branding and logo, there will come a time when you’ll need to decide between Printed vs Embroidered Workwear.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, we’ll hold our hands up – we’ve made it incredibly easy for you to purchase your Embroidered Workwear Bundle on our online shop. So it’s safe to say that embroidery holds a special place in our hearts.
However, if you prefer printing instead, we are always available at the end of the phone. We’ll also aim to remain as unbiased as possible, so that you can make an informed decision about which option to choose.
Let’s not waste any more of your time! Here’s our straightforward guide on Printed vs Embroidered Workwear:
What’s the Difference Between Embroidery & Printing for Your Workwear?
Embroidery involves stitching your logo directly into the fabric of your workwear with thread, creating a raised, textured finish. On the other hand, Printing (either screen printing or full-colour digital printing) involves laying your design onto the surface of the material with coloured ink. This creates a flatter finish and allows you to include far more colours and details.
If you asked us which one was “better”, we’d say that both have their pros and cons – it entirely depends on the type of design you want to include!
Benefits of Embroidered Workwear
It’ll come as no surprise that embroidery is our most popular option – and for good reason. When you want a professional, hard-wearing finish that lasts, Embroidered Workwear is the way to go! To name a few benefits:
Durability
Even after years of repeated machine washing at 60°C, the stitching will last without the risk of cracking, peeling or fading. When you’re wearing your workwear every day, this is absolutely essential.
Premium Look & Feel
There’s something about embroidery that instantly makes your business look and feel professional. When your company logo contrasts with the colours of your garment, it really lifts your branding and makes you stand out (in a good way!).
Perfect for Logos & Company Info
With Embroidered Workwear, your logo can sit neatly on your chest or sleeve, along with your website, phone number, or company tagline on the back, boosting your brand visibility. The thread makes your branding really clear and easy to read – without the worry of it fading and getting lost in the fabric.
Costs of Embroidery for Your Workwear
You may find that embroidery isn’t as compatible with cheaper, thinner fabrics, which could increase the cost of your work uniforms, as you’d need to opt for a higher-quality material. Additionally, some companies charge by stitch count, so large or detailed designs can start to add up.
The good news is – our Workwear Bundles come with FREE logo embroidery – so you don’t have to worry about being charged for extra thread! What’s more, thanks to their durability, Embroidered Workwear will last for many, many wash cycles, offering a cost-effective solution in the long run.
Benefits of Printed Workwear
On the other hand, when you need a wider range of colours or a larger design, Printed Workwear is the best option – offering a versatile solution for your branding.
Large & Complex Designs
If you want to incorporate gradients of colours, photographic details or very large prints on the back of your Workwear, printing can create a visually pleasing, clean finish that would be virtually impossible (or at the very least impractical!) to replicate with embroidery.
Lightweight Feel
With embroidery, your clothing can feel slightly bulky, which you might find a bit irritating if you are especially sensitive to textures. However, with printing, you won’t even notice the extra layer! Printing is particularly well-suited for T-shirts and Hi-Vis Vests.
Versatility
Whether you need screen printing or full-colour digital printing, the world is pretty much your oyster when it comes to what you want to include on your work uniforms! If you have a particular design in mind, you’re pretty much free to do whatever you like – without the limitations of thread.
Costs of Printing for Your Workwear
Unfortunately, printing can crack or fade over time, especially with frequent washing, so it generally won’t outlast embroidery on a daily-wear uniform. However, you may find that some printing companies are cheaper when you order high quantities in bulk, such as for events, promotions, or one-off campaigns, which could keep your costs down.
If you’re interested in our Printed Workwear and want to learn more about costs, simply contact us to request a free, no-obligation quote.
Printed vs Embroidered Workwear: Which Should You Choose?
At the end of the day, your choice between Printed and Embroidered Workwear entirely depends on your needs. If you want to feature your company logo on your Polo Shirts, Sweatshirts, Fleeces, Hoodies, or Aprons, embroidery is ideal for showcasing your branding and tagline, offering a high-quality, long-lasting solution.
On the other hand, if you have a complex design in mind with a wide range of colours, large graphics, or a photographic image, printing would be the best option, providing a colourful and eye-catching look for your workwear.
Alternatively, you don’t have to pick just one! You can always opt for an embroidered logo on your everyday workwear and printed shirts for events and promotions, depending on your business needs.
How It Works for Printed & Embroidered Workwear with Cottonfrog
We've tried to make branded workwear genuinely simple. You pick a bundle on our website, customise the sizes, colours, and your logo, and we handle the rest. Every order includes FREE logo embroidery, and we offer a FREE logo and brand review to make sure your branding looks just right.
Our Workwear Bundles include the garments most teams actually need – Polo Shirts, Sweatshirts, Fleeces, Hoodies, Aprons, Healthcare Tunics, Hi-vis Vests, and even complete packages with a mix of clothing – from trusted brands like Uneek and Premier.
With a quick turnaround, embroidered garments typically take 7 to 10 working days from artwork approval and payment, whilst printed garments take 10 to 14 working days. If you’re working to a deadline, just let us know, and we can often speed things up.
And while we're based in Plymouth, we supply Printed and Embroidered Workwear to businesses right across the UK – from Devon and Cornwall to London and beyond.
Still Not Sure About Printed vs Embroidered Workwear?
If you're still deciding on the right finish for your team, we're always happy to talk it through. You can browse our Workwear Bundles online, or get in touch and we'll put together the perfect order – embroidered, printed, or a mix of both.
Whether you work in trades, healthcare, hospitality, retail, or an office, we’re here to help your team not only look good but also feel comfortable. You can call us on 01752 981844, email sales@cottonfrog.co.uk, or send us a message via our contact form.
