Workwear isn’t a fashion statement. It’s functional gear that people wear 8 to 12 hours a day, five or more days a week. It gets washed hard, worn rough, and judged by customers, coworkers, and safety inspectors.
Adding your company branding to workwear means choosing the right garments, the right decoration method, and the right program structure so your team looks professional without sacrificing comfort or compliance.
Here’s what to know about custom workwear across different industries, how to decorate it properly, and how to set up a uniform program that actually works.
Types of workwear by industry
Hi-vis and safety apparel
High-visibility clothing is required by OSHA for workers near traffic, heavy equipment, or low-light environments. This includes construction crews, roadwork teams, warehouse workers, and utility workers.
Hi-vis garments come in three ANSI/ISEA 107 classes:
- Class 1: Minimum visibility. For workers in low-traffic areas with separation from vehicles. Think parking attendants or warehouse workers.
- Class 2: Higher visibility with more reflective material. For workers near traffic up to 25 mph. Road construction flaggers and utility workers typically need Class 2.
- Class 3: Maximum visibility. Required for workers near high-speed traffic (over 25 mph). Full sleeves and legs of fluorescent material with reflective striping.
The fluorescent colors (typically lime yellow or orange-red) and the reflective tape placement are specified by the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard. Your decorated hi-vis shirts need to maintain their compliance rating after branding. That means logos can’t cover or interfere with reflective tape, and any printing or embroidery must stay within designated areas.
Custom hi-vis shirts typically place the company logo on the left chest (above or beside the reflective stripe) or on the upper back. Keep logos small enough that they don’t block the fluorescent background color or the reflective material.
FR-rated (flame-resistant) workwear
Industries like oil and gas, electrical work, welding, and chemical processing require FR-rated clothing. These garments are treated or constructed with fabrics that self-extinguish when exposed to flame or electric arc.
FR workwear has strict rules about decoration:
- Embroidery is generally the safest method for FR garments because thread doesn’t affect the fabric’s FR properties. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 2112) allows embroidery as long as total embroidered area stays under 25 square inches per garment.
- Screen printing and heat transfer may compromise FR performance depending on the ink or transfer material. Some inks are FR-rated, but many standard inks and vinyl transfers aren’t. Always verify that any printing material used on FR garments meets the relevant standard.
- Don’t assume. Ask. If you’re branding FR workwear, your decorator needs to know the garment is FR-rated so they use compliant materials and methods.
Medical scrubs and healthcare apparel
Medical scrubs need to withstand industrial laundering at high temperatures, resist stains, and stay comfortable through long shifts. Most healthcare facilities also have color-coding systems (blue for nurses, green for surgical, etc.), so color consistency matters.
Embroidery is the go-to decoration method for medical scrubs. It holds up to repeated high-temp washing better than any print method. A small embroidered logo on the chest or sleeve is the standard approach. Keep designs simple because scrubs have limited decoration space, and anything too large adds weight and stiffness to a garment that needs to move.
Culinary and food service
Chef coats, aprons, and server uniforms need to handle heat, grease, and constant washing. Embroidery works well on chef coat chests where the fabric is thick enough. Aprons handle both embroidery and screen printing. Avoid large printed graphics on anything near open flame.
Construction and trades
Beyond hi-vis, trades workers wear heavyweight cotton shirts, duck canvas outerwear, and ripstop pants. These fabrics handle embroidery well due to their weight. Screen printing works on heavier cotton work shirts. For Carhartt-style jackets, left-chest embroidery is the standard.
Decoration methods for workwear
Embroidery: the default for most workwear
Embroidery is the most popular decoration method for workwear, and for good reason:
- Thread is physically stitched into the fabric, so it doesn’t crack, peel, or wash out
- It works on thick, structured fabrics that are common in work clothing
- It maintains its appearance through hundreds of industrial wash cycles
- It looks professional and polished, even on rugged garments
Embroidery is the recommended method for polos, button-downs, jackets, hats, FR-rated garments, and medical scrubs. For workwear that gets washed daily, embroidery outlasts every print method.
The main limitations: embroidery can’t reproduce photographic images or very complex multi-color designs efficiently. If your logo has more than six colors or requires gradient effects, you’ll need a simplified version for embroidery. Learn about the process in our post on how embroidery digitizing works.
Screen printing: best for cotton work tees
Screen printing works well on standard cotton and poly-cotton work shirts. It’s more cost-effective than embroidery for large, multi-color designs, and it handles bold graphics well.
For workwear, screen printing is best suited to: – Cotton work tees and crew necks – Casual uniform shirts – Event or safety awareness shirts (where large back prints with text are needed)
Screen printing doesn’t hold up as well as embroidery under industrial laundering. After 50+ heavy wash cycles, printed graphics can start to crack. For daily-wear work shirts that get washed frequently, embroidery lasts longer.
When to mix methods
Many businesses use both methods across their uniform program. A common setup:
- Embroidered polos and button-downs for customer-facing staff and management
- Screen printed t-shirts for warehouse, shop, and field crews who need cheaper, replaceable shirts
- Embroidered hats across the whole team
- Embroidered jackets for cold weather
This approach balances cost and appearance. The items that need to look professional and last get embroidery. The items that get trashed regularly get screen printing for lower replacement cost.
Durability considerations
Workwear gets industrial laundering, chemical exposure, physical abrasion, and sun damage. Your decoration needs to survive all of it.
Embroidery thread (especially polyester) handles this well. It resists bleach, UV fading, and high-temp washing. Screen print durability depends on ink type. Plastisol is durable but will crack under extreme wash conditions. Water-based inks feel softer but fade faster.
For workwear that needs to look sharp after six months of daily wear: embroidery, every time.
Setting up a uniform program
If you’re outfitting a team of 10 or more, a structured uniform program saves money and headaches compared to one-off orders.
How uniform programs typically work
- Initial setup. Choose garments, finalize logo placement, approve samples.
- First order. Outfit your current team.
- Reorders. New hires and replacements ordered as needed. Setup is already done, so reorders are faster and often cheaper per piece.
- Inventory management. Some businesses keep common sizes in stock. Others order on demand.
What to consider
- Size range. Workwear needs to accommodate a wider size range than corporate apparel. Stock sizes from Small through 4XL or 5XL. Extended sizes (3XL+) often cost more per blank.
- Replacement schedule. How often will garments need replacing? Work tees in a machine shop might last 3 to 6 months. Embroidered polos in an office might last 2+ years.
- Employee contribution. Some companies provide uniforms free. Others offer a stipend or split the cost. Decide this before ordering.
- Branding consistency. Lock in your logo files, PMS colors, and placement specs. Keep them on file with your decorator so every reorder matches the last.
Branding on workwear: practical tips
- Keep logos small and simple. Left-chest embroidery at 3.5” to 4” wide is the standard for a reason. It’s visible, professional, and cost-effective.
- Add employee names. Individual name embroidery on the right chest or a name patch on the front is common for customer-facing roles. It adds a personal touch and helps customers identify your team.
- Use one-color logos on hi-vis. Dark-colored logos (navy or black) on fluorescent backgrounds maintain visibility and keep decoration costs low.
- Match your workwear to your brand. If your brand colors are blue and white, choose navy polos with white embroidery rather than random garment colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decoration method lasts longest on workwear?
Embroidery offers the best durability for workwear that gets daily use and industrial washing. Thread stitched into fabric resists cracking, peeling, and fading better than any print method. It’s the top choice for uniforms, work polos, and jackets at RiverCity.
Can you put logos on hi-vis safety clothing without affecting compliance?
Yes, but placement is critical. Logos must not cover fluorescent material or reflective tape required by ANSI standards. RiverCity places logos on the left chest above reflective stripes or on the upper back to maintain hi-vis compliance.
How do I set up a company uniform program?
Start by choosing garments and finalizing logo placement, then place your initial order to outfit current employees. Set up a reorder system for new hires and replacements. RiverCity helps businesses establish uniform programs with consistent branding and simplified reordering.
What’s the difference between Class 1, 2, and 3 hi-vis clothing?
Class 1 offers minimum visibility for low-traffic areas, Class 2 provides higher visibility for workers near traffic up to 25 mph, and Class 3 offers maximum visibility for high-speed traffic environments. Each class has specific requirements for fluorescent material and reflective tape placement.
Can you embroider FR-rated (flame-resistant) workwear?
Yes, embroidery is the preferred method for FR garments because thread doesn’t compromise fire-resistant properties. NFPA standards allow embroidery up to 25 square inches per garment. Screen printing and heat transfers may affect FR performance and require special compliant materials.
Get started with custom workwear
The process for custom workwear starts with understanding your specific industry requirements and determining the best garments and decoration methods for your team.
Request a quote and tell us: – Your industry and any compliance requirements (hi-vis class, FR rating) – Number of employees and size range – Garment types you’re interested in – Your logo file and brand colors – Whether you want embroidery, screen printing, or aren’t sure
RiverCity Screenprinting & Embroidery handles both embroidery and screen printing in-house at our facility in San Marcos, TX. We’ve been outfitting businesses with custom work clothing since 1978, and our team can help you find the right garments, decoration methods, and program structure for your needs.
For more on building a cohesive brand through apparel, check out our posts on custom embroidered uniforms for businesses and company uniform design tips.