Keep it simple and clear
Intricate designs might look impressive on paper, but certain tiny details can’t always be replicated with embroidery. Fine lines, shading, and highly detailed artwork often don’t translate well into thread, which can result in a cluttered or unrecognisable logo. A simple, bold design is far more effective and ensures that your brand remains visible and professional on any workwear item.
A good rule of thumb is to strip your logo down to its most essential elements. If it relies on small embellishments or intricate shading to be recognisable, consider simplifying it. Reducing unnecessary complexity makes the embroidery itself easier, and also ensures your branding remains strong across different materials and garment types. Simple logos tend to be more versatile, allowing them to be used across various promotional materials without losing impact.
Think about size and detail
Logos that work well on large surfaces might not be as effective when scaled down for embroidery. If a design includes tiny lettering, complex patterns, or fine details, these can become lost or blurred when stitched onto smaller garments like polo shirts or caps. It's best to create a version of your logo that maintains clarity at different sizes, ensuring that even the smallest embroidery still looks crisp and readable.
The material of the workwear also plays a role in how well a design translates. A logo that looks sharp on a sturdy cotton jacket might not hold the same detail when stitched onto a softer, stretchable fabric. If your business uses multiple types of garments, testing different sizes and levels of detail across each one can help avoid any inconsistencies. Considering how the logo will appear when viewed from a distance is also important – overly detailed designs may not be recognisable when seen from afar.
Use the right colours
Embroidery doesn’t offer the same blending effects as digital or screen printing, so it’s important to work with solid colours that contrast well. Gradients and subtle shading are difficult to replicate with thread, so they can often end up looking patchy or inconsistent. Choosing bold, distinct colours will improve visibility, and sticking to a limited colour palette will help ensure the design remains clean and professional.
Another consideration is the colour of the workwear itself. If your embroidered logo is placed on dark garments, using lighter colours can make it stand out more, while dark embroidery on a dark fabric may result in a barely visible design. Certain colours may appear differently when stitched due to thread sheen and texture, so always check thread samples before finalising your choices. If your brand has a specific colour scheme, it may need slight adjustments to suit the embroidery process without compromising overall identity.
Make text easy to read
If your logo includes text, it needs to be legible when embroidered. Fancy script fonts, very thin lettering, or text with too many flourishes can become distorted when stitched. It’s best to use clean, bold fonts without excessive detail, and to avoid using text that’s too small. If your company name or slogan is essential to the design, make sure it remains clear across all workwear pieces.
Don’t forget to consider the minimum stitch size that embroidery machines can handle without letters becoming unreadable. Generally, text smaller than 5mm in height may lose clarity, depending on the font style. Sans-serif fonts tend to work best, as they have clean, simple lines that don’t get muddled in the stitching process. Spacing between the letters should be sufficient to prevent overlap or merging, particularly on softer fabrics where stitching can pull slightly. If your logo includes a tagline, it may be worth removing it for embroidered workwear if you find that it’s compromising the readability.
Test before committing
Before placing a large order, it’s always wise to test the logo on the intended fabric. Different materials react differently to embroidery, and a design that looks perfect on a thick hoodie may not work as well on a lightweight polo shirt. Sampling a test stitch will help you spot any issues early, saving time and money while ensuring a polished, professional look across all workwear.
A test run also enables you to assess how well the colours, size, and detail translate onto fabric. Seeing the embroidered logo in person can highlight flaws that weren’t obvious in the digital version. Test stitching gives you the opportunity to make last-minute refinements, whether that’s adjusting thread density, tweaking the size, or swapping out colours that don’t contrast enough. Many embroidery providers offer sample services, so taking advantage of this before committing to a bulk order helps avoid costly mistakes.
That’s all the key essentials covered! And of course, if you’re looking for the very best workwear to outfit your team, you’re in exactly the right place. Here at City Workwear, we supply an extensive range of workwear for a wide variety of industries, from construction to catering – so whatever you need for you and your team, you can count on us to be able to provide it!
And if you ever need any more specific advice on designing your logo, or customising your workwear, our team are all too happy to provide any advice you need. All of our customisations are done in-house using our experienced team of designers and print machinists, so you can liaise directly with us to get exactly what you’re looking for. We also provide a FREE workwear printing and embroidery service and FREE delivery for orders over £150!
Feel free to take a look around our website to see what you can find, or alternatively give our team a call on 0330 004 0440, and we’ll be happy to help however we can!
