The Complete Guide to Custom Workwear in the UK

Everything you need to know about choosing, ordering, and caring for custom workwear and branded clothing for your business. This guide covers every aspect of workwear — from picking the right garments to understanding embroidery vs printing, hi-vis regulations, sizing, and bulk ordering. Written by our team with over 20 years of experience supplying UK businesses.

What Is Custom Workwear?

Custom workwear is clothing that has been personalised with your company logo, name, or design. This is typically done through embroidery (stitching the design directly into the fabric) or printing (applying the design using ink or transfer methods). Custom workwear serves multiple purposes: it builds brand identity, creates a professional team appearance, and in many industries, meets safety and compliance requirements.

At Xceluk, we supply and customise workwear for businesses of all sizes — from a sole trader wanting 5 branded polo shirts to large organisations ordering thousands of embroidered jackets. We stock over 9,000 products from more than 200 leading brands.

Embroidery vs Printing — Which Is Better?

This is the most common question we get asked. The honest answer is: it depends on what you need.

Embroidery

Embroidery involves stitching your logo directly into the fabric using industrial embroidery machines. It produces a premium, raised finish that looks professional and lasts the lifetime of the garment.

  • Best for: Polo shirts, jackets, fleeces, caps, corporate wear — anything where you want a premium, long-lasting finish
  • Durability: Excellent — survives hundreds of washes without fading
  • Setup cost: One-time digitisation fee (we do this free), then per-item stitching cost
  • Ideal logo size: Up to about 12cm wide for chest logos. Larger designs are possible on backs
  • Minimum order: No technical minimum, but 5+ items recommended for cost efficiency

Printing (Screen, Transfer, DTG)

Printing applies your design to the garment surface using ink. There are several methods:

  • Screen printing: Best for large runs (50+). Vibrant colours, durable finish. Setup involves creating a screen per colour
  • Transfer printing: Good for complex multi-colour designs and smaller runs. Digital design printed onto transfer paper then heat-applied
  • DTG (Direct to Garment): Like an inkjet printer for fabric. Best for photographic designs and one-off items

Our recommendation: For most businesses, embroidery on the chest/breast and printing on the back gives the best combination of premium look and cost efficiency.

How to Choose the Right Workwear for Your Industry

Construction and Trades

Construction sites require clothing that meets specific safety standards. At minimum, you’ll need:

  • Hi-vis jackets or vests — EN ISO 20471 compliant (see our hi-vis guide below)
  • Safety boots — steel or composite toe cap, EN ISO 20345 rated
  • Work trousers — durable fabric with knee pad pockets, multiple tool pockets
  • Waterproof jackets — for outdoor work in British weather
  • Hard hats and gloves — site-specific PPE requirements

Popular brands for construction: Portwest, Beeswift, JCB, Regatta, and Result.

Healthcare and Medical

Healthcare workwear needs to be comfortable for long shifts, easy to clean, and professional in appearance:

  • Tunics and scrubs — breathable, easy-wash fabrics
  • Lab coats — white or coloured, embroidered with name/role
  • Comfortable footwear — slip-resistant, anti-fatigue

Hospitality and Catering

Front-of-house and kitchen staff have different requirements:

  • Chef whites and checked trousers — traditional or modern styles
  • Aprons — bib, waist, or full-length depending on role
  • Front-of-house uniforms — polo shirts, shirts, or blouses with subtle branding

Corporate and Office

Corporate workwear is about subtle, professional branding:

  • Branded polo shirts — the most popular corporate uniform choice
  • Oxford shirts and blouses — with small embroidered logo
  • Softshell jackets or fleeces — for client-facing outdoor meetings
  • Lanyards and accessories — low-cost branding items

Sports and Leisure

Team kit needs to be comfortable, breathable, and available in team colours:

  • Performance polos and t-shirts — moisture-wicking fabrics
  • Hoodies and track tops — for warm-ups and sideline wear
  • Printed numbers and names — heat transfer vinyl for individual personalisation

Schools and Education

School uniform needs to be durable, affordable, and easy to wash:

  • Sweatshirts and cardigans — embroidered with school logo
  • PE kit — hoodies, t-shirts, and shorts
  • Book bags and backpacks — printed with school name

Understanding Hi-Vis Classes and EN ISO 20471

Hi-vis workwear in the UK must conform to EN ISO 20471. There are three classes based on the minimum area of visible material:

Class 1 — Lowest Visibility

Minimum 0.14m² of fluorescent material and 0.10m² of reflective tape. Typically vests and simple garments. Suitable for low-risk environments with limited vehicle movement.

Class 2 — Medium Visibility

Minimum 0.50m² fluorescent and 0.13m² reflective. Vests, waistcoats, and short-sleeve garments. Suitable for most roadside work and warehouse environments.

Class 3 — Highest Visibility

Minimum 0.80m² fluorescent and 0.20m² reflective. Full jackets, coveralls, and trousers. Required for motorway work, railway environments, and anywhere with fast-moving traffic.

Our recommendation: When in doubt, go for Class 3. It’s better to be over-protected than under-protected. Portwest and Yoko offer excellent ranges across all three classes.

Size Guide — Getting the Right Fit

Sizing varies between brands. Here’s a general guide for the most popular workwear brands:

Men’s Sizing (Chest in inches)

  • XS: 34-36″ | S: 36-38″ | M: 38-40″ | L: 40-42″
  • XL: 42-44″ | 2XL: 44-46″ | 3XL: 46-48″ | 4XL: 48-50″

Women’s Sizing (Bust in inches)

  • XS: 30-32″ | S: 32-34″ | M: 34-36″ | L: 36-38″
  • XL: 38-40″ | 2XL: 40-42″

Tip: When ordering for a team, order a sample in your most common size first. We can send samples at cost price — much cheaper than ordering the wrong sizes in bulk. Different brands fit differently, and it’s always better to check.

How to Order Custom Workwear

Our ordering process is straightforward:

  1. Browse and choose your garments — shop online at xceluk.com or call us to discuss options
  2. Send us your logo — email your artwork to sales@xceluk.com in AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, or high-res PNG format
  3. We digitise and proof — we convert your logo for embroidery (free) and send you a virtual proof to approve
  4. Production — once approved, we embroider or print your order in-house at our Haverhill workshop
  5. Delivery — dispatched via tracked courier, typically within 5-7 working days of approval

For plain (undecorated) orders, turnaround is usually 1-3 working days.

How to Care for Embroidered and Printed Workwear

Proper care extends the life of your branded garments:

  • Wash inside out — protects the embroidery and print from friction with other garments
  • Use a moderate temperature — 40°C is ideal for most workwear. Check the care label
  • Don’t use bleach — bleach damages both embroidery threads and printed designs
  • Tumble dry on low — or air dry if possible. High heat can damage transfer prints
  • Don’t iron directly over embroidery or prints — iron around them or place a cloth over the design
  • Repair promptly — if threads start to pull on embroidery, trim them rather than pulling

Bulk Ordering and Trade Pricing

We offer discounted pricing for larger orders. The more you order, the lower the per-unit cost — both for the garments and for the decoration.

  • 1-9 items: Standard retail pricing
  • 10-49 items: Small discount on decoration costs
  • 50-99 items: Reduced per-unit pricing on both garments and decoration
  • 100+ items: Best pricing available — contact us for a custom quote
  • 500+ items: Contract pricing — we’ll work with you on the most cost-effective solution

We also offer trade accounts for regular customers, giving you consistent pricing and priority turnaround.

Choosing the Right Brand

With 200+ brands in stock, choosing can be overwhelming. Here’s a quick guide to our most popular brands and what they’re best for:

  • Portwest — Hi-vis, safety, and workwear. Excellent quality-to-price ratio. Industry standard for PPE
  • Regatta — Outdoor jackets, fleeces, and softshells. Great for branded outdoor workwear
  • Fruit of the Loom — T-shirts, polos, and sweatshirts. Reliable, affordable, wide colour range
  • Gildan — Budget-friendly basics. Excellent for large-run printed garments
  • Russell — Premium polos, sweatshirts, and fleeces. Excellent embroidery surface
  • Kustom Kit — Corporate shirts, polos, and knitwear. Smart, professional finish
  • Uneek — Broad range of everyday workwear. Good mid-range option
  • Result — Outerwear, hi-vis, and performance clothing. Durable and practical
  • Beeswift — Safety boots, PPE, and hi-vis. Trade-focused range
  • AWDis / Just Hoods — Hoodies and casual wear. Huge colour range, soft fabrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum order for custom workwear?

There is no minimum order on plain (undecorated) garments — you can order a single polo shirt if that’s what you need. For embroidery and printing, we recommend a minimum of 5 items to keep the per-unit cost reasonable, but we can do smaller runs.

How much does embroidery cost?

Embroidery pricing depends on the size of the design (measured in stitches) and the quantity of garments. A typical left-chest logo (up to 7,000 stitches) costs approximately £3-5 per item on runs of 10+. We provide exact pricing with every quote.

Do you deliver to my area?

Yes — we deliver UK-wide via tracked courier. Free delivery on orders over £99+VAT. Standard delivery is £5.95 for smaller orders. Our workshop is in Haverhill, Suffolk, and we serve businesses across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire — plus nationwide delivery.

Can I see samples before ordering?

Yes. We can send samples at cost price so you can check the quality, colour, and fit before committing to a larger order. We also have a showroom in Haverhill that you can visit — call 01440 712290 to arrange.

How do I send my logo?

Email your logo to sales@xceluk.com. We accept AI, EPS, PDF, SVG, or high-resolution PNG/JPEG files. We’ll digitise it for embroidery free of charge and send you a virtual proof before we start production.

What if I don’t have a logo yet?

We can work with simple text-based designs or help point you in the direction of graphic designers who can create a logo for you. We’ve also worked with many businesses who start with just their company name in a clean font — it looks professional and is very cost-effective.

Do you print on garments I supply?

Yes, in some cases we can decorate garments you provide, though we recommend using our stock as we can guarantee quality and consistency. If you’d like us to print on your own garments, contact us to discuss.

How long will my embroidered workwear last?

Embroidery is extremely durable and typically outlasts the garment itself. With proper care (washing inside out at 40°C, avoiding bleach), embroidered logos remain sharp and vibrant through hundreds of wash cycles.

Can you match my brand colours?

For embroidery, we have access to hundreds of thread colours and can match to Pantone references. For printing, we use full-colour CMYK processes that can reproduce virtually any colour accurately.

Do you offer rush orders?

Yes, subject to stock availability. Contact us to discuss your deadline and we’ll do our best to accommodate urgent orders. Standard turnaround is 5-7 working days from artwork approval.

Contact Us

Ready to order, or need advice? Get in touch: