Creating a unified brand image for your business is very important. It gives your company a professional appearance and helps your customer identify with the brand. When your staff is dressed in the same attire, it tells your customers that you function as a team and carry the same kind of professionalism in all your dealings. Another great use for branding is in gifts and giveaways such as shirts, caps and bags so that your customers have something to keep your brand fresh in their minds and for you to get maximum exposure.
Embroidery is a professional and classy way to display your brand on most kinds of apparel, such as polos, button-down shirts, caps, bags, sweatshirts and jackets. It is versatile in terms of material and looks very good. There might be some limitations in terms of design, as not every design can be recreated in embroidery form; however this is nothing that cannot be fixed with a few minor adjustments to your design.
There are 3 main styles of embroidery that can be used depending on your specific branding needs:
Direct Embroidery
As the name suggests, this type of embroidery is applied directly to the material in question. In this technique, the material is put on a hoop and inserted into the embroidery machine. The logo becomes a part of the shirt and even though it stands out, depending on the colors and the logo itself, it still sits comfortably into the fabric. It is best used when your logo is not too complicated and does not have too many different colors happening as it is more difficult to get versatility when such a large piece of clothing is being handled by the machine.
Appliqué/Patch Embroidery
Over here, the embroidery is done on a separate piece of cloth and them either sewn or ironed onto the shirt, cap or any other piece of apparel. This technique is more versatile as a small patch is easier to handle in a machine. This is best used when your logo has a solid shape or large areas of solid color. This type of embroidery is more attention-grabbing as it can be stocky, depending on the shape of your logo, and the different colored patch stands out on the background fabric. The best use for this kind of embroidery is usually in uniforms such as policemen or paramedics, as it is not considered particularly attractive. Even so, a few major brands have been known to use this style such as the Ferrari and BMW logos. However, in this case it is best to keep the size of your logo small as the thick patch can be an eyesore if it is too big.
Tone on Tone
This is a style of direct embroidery that you can use in case you do not want to scream out your logo. Mostly brands want their logos noticeable and so use striking contrasts and bright colors to grab attention from afar. Patch embroidery is especially good for this as it is a solid color on a different colored background. However, sometimes subtlety goes a long way. It looks more sophisticated and displays your brand logo without being too overtly promotional. The best effect is achieved when the logo is one or two shades lighter than the background. The logo blends into the material yet effectively getting the message across in a subtle manner.
When choosing the best kind of embroidery for your logo, it is important to consider a number of things. The design of the logo is paramount, and the brand Image and use are also important. All three methods give a unique look, and whichever one you choose, your business is sure to achieve a nice and professional look. Tell us which one you’d opt for in the comments below!