The Complete Guide to Embroidered Workwear

Embroidered workwear is one of the most effective ways to make your business look professional and established. A cleanly stitched logo on a polo shirt or jacket says something about your company that a plain garment simply cannot. But if you have never ordered embroidered workwear before, the process can seem confusing.

This guide covers everything you need to know — from how embroidery works to choosing the right garments and placing your order.

Why Choose Embroidery?

Embroidery has been the go-to choice for professional workwear branding for decades, and for good reason:

• Durability — Embroidered logos are stitched directly into the fabric. They do not crack, peel, or fade like some printed designs. In many cases, the embroidery outlasts the garment itself.
• Professional appearance — There is a tactile, premium quality to embroidery that is hard to replicate. It creates a raised, textured finish that looks smart on everything from polo shirts to softshell jackets.
• Versatility — Embroidery works on virtually any fabric — cotton, polycotton, polyester, fleece, softshell, and even denim. If you can wear it, we can probably embroider it.
• Wash resistance — Because the design is stitched rather than applied to the surface, embroidered logos withstand industrial and domestic washing without deteriorating.

What Can Be Embroidered?

The short answer: almost anything. The most commonly embroidered workwear items include:

• Polo shirts — The single most popular item we embroider. A polo with your logo on the left chest is the workwear staple for thousands of UK businesses.
• Fleeces and softshells — Perfect for outdoor workers and anyone who wants a smart layering option with their branding.
• Jackets and coats — From bomber jackets to padded parkas, embroidered outerwear keeps your brand visible even in winter.
• Sweatshirts and hoodies — Increasingly popular for casual workwear, especially in creative industries and trades.
• Caps and beanies — Headwear embroidery is a brilliant way to extend your branding, especially for outdoor teams.
• Shirts and blouses — Corporate teams often add a subtle embroidered logo to Oxford shirts for a polished, professional look.

Browse our full product range to see the thousands of garments available for embroidery.

Understanding Stitch Counts

Embroidery pricing is largely driven by the stitch count — the total number of stitches needed to reproduce your design. A simple text-only logo might be 3,000-5,000 stitches, while a detailed crest or multi-colour logo could be 10,000-15,000 stitches or more.

Higher stitch counts take longer to run on the machine, which is why more detailed designs cost more. However, the setup cost (digitising your logo) is a one-off — once your design is in our system, you can reorder without paying for setup again.

What is Digitising?

Before your logo can be embroidered, it needs to be converted into a stitch file — a set of instructions that tells the embroidery machine exactly where to place each stitch, what colour to use, and in what order. This process is called digitising.

Good digitising is the difference between embroidery that looks sharp and professional and embroidery that looks rough or distorted. At Xceluk, our experienced digitisers know how to adapt logos for different garment types and sizes, adjusting stitch density and underlay to get the best result on each fabric.

Logo Placement Options

Where you place your logo affects both the look and cost of your embroidered workwear. The most common positions are:

• Left chest — The classic position. Typically 80-100mm wide. Visible, professional, and suitable for all garment types. This is where the majority of workwear logos go.
• Right chest — Often used for a wearer’s name or secondary branding alongside a left-chest logo.
• Back of garment — Larger designs (up to 300mm+ wide) for maximum visibility. Common on jackets and hi-vis vests for tradespeople who want their company name seen from a distance.
• Sleeves — A modern, stylish placement. Works well on polos, sweatshirts, and jackets.
• Collar or cuff — Subtle placements for a premium, understated look.

Visit our customisation and pricing page for detailed information on logo sizes and positions.

Choosing the Right Garment for Embroidery

While embroidery works on most fabrics, some garments are better suited than others:

• Structured fabrics (polos, fleeces, softshells) give the cleanest results because the fabric holds its shape under the needle.
• Lightweight fabrics (thin t-shirts, performance wear) can still be embroidered, but may need a stabiliser backing to prevent puckering.
• Waterproof fabrics — Embroidery creates needle holes, so heavily waterproof jackets are sometimes better suited to printing. However, for most workwear-grade waterproofs, the needle holes are so small they do not affect performance.

Not sure which garment is right? We are always happy to advise. With nearly 20 years of experience, we have embroidered just about every type of garment you can think of.

How to Prepare Your Logo

To get the best results, supply your logo in the highest quality format you have. The ideal formats are:

• Vector files (.ai, .eps, .svg) — These give the sharpest results because they can be scaled without losing quality.
• High-resolution images (.png, .jpg at 300dpi or higher) — We can work from these, though very complex designs may need some simplification.
• PDF files — Often contain vector data and work well for digitising.

Do not worry if you only have a low-resolution logo — we will do our best to work with what you have, and we will always send you a free digital proof before proceeding so you can check you are happy.

The Ordering Process at Xceluk

1. Choose your garments — Browse our online shop or ask us for recommendations.
2. Send us your logo — Email it to sales@xceluk.com or upload it when you place your order.
3. We digitise and proof — We create a stitch file and send you a free digital proof showing exactly how it will look.
4. You approve — Once you are happy, we schedule your order for production.
5. We embroider and deliver — Turnaround is typically 5-10 working days, and delivery is free on orders over £99+VAT.

Caring for Embroidered Garments

Embroidered workwear is low-maintenance, but a few simple steps will keep it looking its best:

• Turn garments inside out before washing to protect the embroidered area from friction.
• Wash at the temperature recommended on the garment label — most workwear handles 40°C perfectly.
• Avoid tumble drying on high heat where possible, as it can cause some fabrics to shrink around the embroidery.
• Iron around the embroidered area rather than directly on it, or use a pressing cloth.

Get Your Team Looking Professional

Embroidered workwear is an investment in your business’s image. It tells your customers that you take pride in what you do, and it gives your team a sense of identity and belonging.

With no minimum order, free digital proofs, and nearly 20 years of experience, Xceluk makes it easy to get started — whether you need one embroidered polo shirt or a thousand.

Call us on 01440 712290 or contact us online to discuss your embroidery project. We are based in Haverhill, Suffolk and serve businesses right across the UK.