Industry Guides

How to Avoid Common Issues with Embroidered Work Uniforms

3rd February 2026

Choosing custom workwear is an excellent way to strengthen your brand identity and present a unified, professional team. Embroidered logos and brand names have a tactile, three-dimensional quality.

However, it’s not always as straightforward as simply ordering embroidered workwear. Without understanding the manufacturing process or choosing suppliers wisely, you may encounter issues when ordering embroidered work uniforms.

In this guide, we’ll run you through the benefits of embroidered uniforms, the most common problems that can occur, and how you can avoid them.

What are embroidered work uniforms?

Embroidery is the process of stitching a design directly onto a garment using thread and specialised machines. For customised uniforms, your logo, company name, or employee names are digitised before the embroidery machine reads them and stitches them onto polo shirts, jackets, caps, or anything else you like.

Unlike printed workwear, which sits on top of the fabric, embroidered designs become a part of the garment’s structure, creating a durable, textured finish. High-quality thread and modern embroidery machines stitch precise and consistent results across large orders, making this method ideal for corporate uniforms, industrial workwear, and promotional clothing.

Benefits of embroidered workwear

Embroidered workwear lends itself to a plethora of benefits, making it popular across several industries, from construction and hospitality to manufacturing and agriculture.

Durability & longevity

With embroidery, the thread is stitched into the fabric, so the logos don’t crack, peel, or fade - even after repeated use or washing. Professional embroidery withstands hundreds of wash cycles, resisting chemical treatments and high-temperature laundering. Embroidered uniforms can also last much longer than printed alternatives, delivering a better return on investment.

Professional appearance

Embroidery adds a polished, upscale look that communicates quality and attention to detail. The raised, three-dimensional stitching draws the eye and differentiates your uniforms from flat printing methods. Clients and customers perceive embroidered garments as premium and authoritative. Presentation is key, and if a potential customer is torn between two brands offering the same service or product, a well-dressed sales rep or engineer might just swing it for you.

Brand visibility

When employees wear branded uniforms, they become walking advertisements. Every meeting, client visit, and public interaction reinforces your brand identity and improves recognition. High-quality embroidery ensures your logo stands out and remains visible, even on durable work garments. The tactile nature of embroidery creates memorable interactions that help your business stand out in competitive markets.

Versatility

Embroidery works on a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, fleece, denim, and canvas. It adapts to lightweight polos, heavy jackets, caps, and even bags, allowing you to maintain consistent branding across diverse uniform categories. Industries such as healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and professional services all benefit from embroidered uniforms.

In many businesses, different roles require different garments, but still need to present a unified front. For example, engineers on the factory floor may need durable, high-vis jackets, while office-based staff may wear polo shirts. The versatility of embroidered work uniforms means you can create consistency among your workforce, even when they wear different clothing.

Personalisation & value

Embroidery allows you to add names, job titles, or department indicators, giving employees a sense of pride and ownership in their personalised workwear. The premium appearance and tactile quality increase the perceived value of the garment, making it suitable for corporate gifts or merchandise too. Employees might even feel more confident or enjoy team unity when they wear consistent, high-quality uniforms.

With many benefits, it’s easy to see why embroidered uniforms are the preferred choice for personalised workwear. Yet without careful planning, buyers can encounter a range of issues.

Common problems when ordering embroidered uniforms

Whether you’ve ordered embroidered items before or you’re completely new to the process, there are a few things to understand to help you avoid common problems when ordering.

Choosing the wrong fabric

Although many different fabrics can be embroidered, there are some unsuitable materials. Thin or stretchy fabrics like Lycra, lightweight jersey, or thin t-shirts can pucker or distort under the weight of stitching. If you plan to embroider on lightweight garments, it’s best to choose smaller, simpler designs.

Poor artwork preparation

Embroidery interprets digital artwork differently from printing. Low-resolution images or intricate logos with fine gradients and small text can translate poorly when reduced to thread. Vector files, such as AI, EPS, or SVG, can help to ensure crisp results. Overly complex designs or gradients will often appear messy and lose impact when stitched, so it’s best to simplify your logos for embroidery where possible.

Incorrect placement or sizing

Misplaced or incorrectly sized embroidery can ruin the professional appearance of your work uniforms. Logos placed too low, too high, or off-centre can distract from your brand messaging and may make the garments uncomfortable for the wearer. Try to choose standard placements for embroidery, for example: the left chest for logos, sleeves for additional branding, and larger designs on the back of garments.

You also want to avoid overcrowding with too many embroidered elements. This can look cluttered and further complicate the design.

Ignoring colour contrast and thread quality

Poor contrast between thread and garment colour can make designs hard to read and will diminish brand impact. Thread quality is also a consideration, since low-grade threads can fray, break, or fade quickly. Polyester threads are durable and have colourfast properties, making them a common choice. Rayon can also deliver a glossy finish, but it has slightly reduced durability.

Rushing production and ignoring lead times

Embroidery is more labour-intensive than printing. This means rushing the production process can lead to errors, skipped quality checks, and miscommunication about design details. It’s important to pay attention to the given lead times, since insufficient lead times may incur rush fees for you.

Over-customisation and unnecessary options

While embroidery offers endless personalisation, adding too much can increase costs and complicate production. For example, multiple elements on one garment can add time and cost, while also making the garments uncomfortable or cluttered.

Skimping on quality to save money

Opting for the cheapest embroidery service or garments isn’t always wise. Low-quality materials and poor workmanship can lead to stitches that unravel, uneven tension, and colours that bleed or fade. Additionally, uncomfortable fabrics can restrict movement or require special care.

How to prevent problems when ordering embroidered uniforms

While it’s still a possibility for problems to occur when ordering embroidered work uniforms, there are some ways you can prevent them from happening.

Work with an experienced supplier

A reliable embroidery partner will guide you through fabric selection, design adjustments, and production timelines. Look for companies with high-quality machines, positive customer reviews, and experience in your industry. At MyWorkwear, we have 50 years of experience in customised workwear, so you could say we know what we’re doing!

Provide clear instructions and approve logos

When submitting your artwork, ensure it’s high-resolution for the best output. You should also specify thread colours and placements accurately before signing off on digital proofs or physical samples. All of this should be done in advance of your garments going into full production to avoid delays or issues with the final product.

Plan for your budget

As well as the production cost, consider design digitisation fees before ordering your workwear so you know exactly how much you’ll need to spend. Once you’ve found a supplier, be sure to look at quantity discounts and the cost difference between embroidery and printing. Remember, high-quality embroidery will last longer than print, so you’ll reduce replacement costs over time. At MyWorkwear, we offer a price match guarantee, ensuring you always get the best value.

Order extras

When submitting numbers for your order, consider ordering extras as spare uniforms. These can accommodate new hires, size exchanges, and unexpected replacements, saving you money and time.

Consider the purpose and comfort of your garments

To avoid placing a large order that isn’t fit for purpose and costs you more in the long term, be sure to choose fabrics and properties that are suitable for your industry. This might be flame-resistance for hospitality, durability for engineering, or moisture-wicking for active professions.

It’s also common practice to order samples before placing an order so you can test the fit and feel of your garments, ensuring they are comfortable and allow for plenty of movement.

Think ahead

Invest in premium garments and embroidery that will look good after many washes. It may seem more economical to opt for cheaper options, but once you factor in the cost of having to replace them, you may end up spending much more. It’s also a good idea to standardise your design across different garments and avoid unnecessary updates to reduce digitisation costs for future orders.

Why choose MyWorkwear for personalised uniforms?

There are many embroidery providers in the market, so finding a reputable company to satisfy your requirements can be time-consuming and confusing. MyWorkwear is one of the UK’s leading personalised workwear specialists, trusted by industries for five decades.

Our experienced teams can help you select the right garments, simplify your logo for optimal embroidery, and recommend thread colours that maximise contrast and visibility. We also use state-of-the-art technology and embroidery machines to deliver crisp, durable designs that withstand heavy use.

We understand that time is critical, too. By planning production schedules and maintaining close relationships with trusted suppliers, we minimise lead times and help you avoid rush fees. Our digital proofs and sample service also give customers confidence before the full run goes ahead.

From high-visibility jackets and flame-resistant coveralls to polo shirts and corporate wear, MyWorkwear supplies customised garments for every industry. We also provide ongoing uniform account management and inventory services to help you scale smoothly.

Enhance your personalised workwear

Embroidered uniforms elevate your brand image, instill pride in your workforce, and deliver long-term value. But achieving professional results requires thoughtful planning. At MyWorkwear, we have the expertise, quality control, and industry-specific knowledge to ensure your team’s uniforms will meet the demands of your work environment.

Whether you’re outfitting engineers, construction workers, or corporate staff, choosing MyWorkwear means you’re investing in durability, professionalism, and brand consistency.

Contact us today to discuss your personalised workwear needs and experience the difference that embroidered work uniforms can make.

Here at MyWorkwear, we have been proud suppliers of personalised workwear since 1976.

To see how we can provide the perfect workwear for your team to keep them looking professional and performing at their best, please click the button below.