Branded throws and blankets: a warm winter corporate gift

A throw blanket is one of the few corporate gifts that ends up on the recipient's sofa and stays there for years – provided the fabric is right and the logo is discreet. Choose badly and the blanket sheds, shrinks in the wash or carries a logo so large that nobody wants guests to see it. This guide compares fabrics, branding methods, sizes and packaging so that your client gifts are actually used this winter.

It is written for marketing and office managers who need to decide between fleece, cotton and wool blends, how to apply the logo, and what to put in the quote request.

In short

• The fabric defines the use: fleece is light and affordable, cotton breathable and easy to care for, a wool blend warmer and more upscale.
• Keep the logo small: corner embroidery or an engraved leather patch looks better in a living room than a large print in the middle.
• Labelling applies to free gifts too: under the EU textile regulation, fibre composition must be shown in the language of the country where the product reaches consumers.
• Verify certificates yourself: OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and GRS (Global Recycled Standard) can be checked by certificate number.
• Tax affects the budget: in Estonia, a branded client gift is tax-free up to €21 excl. VAT, and a quality blanket often costs more.
• Packaging is half the impression: agree on a ribbon roll, gift box or fabric pouch together with the blanket itself.

Blankets as client gifts and employee gifts

A blanket works especially well when you want a gift associated with warmth, rest and the calm of the year end. It does not get stuck in a drawer: it is draped over the sofa, taken to the summer cottage or brought along to an outdoor event. That is why it suits thanking a long-standing client better than a mass trade-show giveaway.

For clients

For a key account or partner, a blanket feels personal and considered when the colour is neutral and the brand is discreet. Add a handwritten card and choose packaging that needs no rewrapping. With a small number of recipients, a wool blend or premium cotton fits; with hundreds of gifts, fleece or recycled polyester (rPET) fleece is more sensible.

For employees

For staff, a blanket works as a Christmas gift, a home-office gift or a winter-day treat. The branding can be bolder here, for example a blanket in company colours or an internal campaign message on the label. Note that in Estonia a gift to an employee is a fringe benefit and the €21 rule does not apply; details are on the website of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

Fabrics: fleece, rPET, cotton or wool blend

The fabric affects the hand feel, the care routine and which branding method will work. The table helps you choose by purpose.

What the certificates mean

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 means that every component of the product, including threads and accessories, has been tested against more than 1,000 harmful substances. The standard has four product classes: class 1 for babies and children up to 3 years, class 2 for items with direct skin contact, class 3 for items without skin contact and class 4 for home textiles and decoration. If the blanket may end up with families with small children, ask which class the certificate covers and check the number in the OEKO-TEX Label Check.

The Global Recycled Standard is a voluntary standard owned by Textile Exchange that tracks recycled material through the supply chain. Certification requires at least 20% recycled content, and the product-specific GRS label at least 50%. If your campaign says "made from recycled bottles", that claim must be covered by a certificate. See also our sustainable promotional products.

Wool and fleece in more detail

Wool's advantage is moisture management: according to The Woolmark Company, wool can absorb up to 35% of its weight in moisture before it feels wet. That is why a wool blanket feels more comfortable than a synthetic one in a chilly cottage. Fleece's drawback is microfibres: a study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that a single polyester jacket can release around 100,000 fibres per wash, with older garments shedding more. If sustainability is part of your brand message, consider cotton or a wool blend, or add a care tip to wash less often and with a full drum.

How to brand a blanket

A blanket is a home textile, not an advertising surface. The logo works best when it looks like a design detail. There are three main options.

Embroidery

Embroidery is the most common and durable choice for fleece and cotton. It survives washing and does not crack like a print. A good spot is a bottom corner, where the logo shows when the blanket is folded. Thin lines and small text disappear into a high pile, so simplify the logo or ask for an embroidery sample.

Engraved leather or faux-leather patch

A sewn-on patch can carry the logo by laser engraving or by debossing. The result is understated and premium, and suits wool blends and cotton especially well. Ask whether the patch is washable and, for genuine leather, whether the care label takes it into account.

Woven pattern or woven label

With a woven (jacquard) pattern, the logo or brand pattern becomes part of the fabric itself. This is the most prestigious option, but it requires custom production, a larger quantity and a longer timeline. A simpler alternative is a woven label sewn into the edge. Always ask for the minimum quantity and lead time of a woven pattern in the quote.

Size, weight and packaging

Blanket sizes vary by manufacturer. On the market you will find, for example, 120 × 150 cm rPET fleece blankets and 130 × 180 cm wool blend throws. A smaller blanket suits the car, the stadium or the back of an office chair; a larger one suits the sofa and two people. Check the size on the product page and ask for the weight too, because it affects both the feel and shipping costs if gifts go to individual addresses.

Packaging options

• Roll with ribbon or belly band: simple and affordable; the band can carry your brand or a greeting.
• Matching pouch: some fleece blankets come with a pouch that stays useful for storage.
• Gift box: upscale, protects in transit and works with a card, tea or chocolate. See our gift sets for ideas.

If you want to pair the blanket with other winter textiles such as hats or scarves, browse our textile products.

Labelling and tax: what you need to know

Fibre composition label

EU Regulation No 1007/2011 on textile labelling applies to products with at least 80% textile fibres by weight. According to the European Commission's FAQ, the labelling rules apply even when the product is supplied free of charge in the course of business. The label must be in the official language of the member state where the product reaches the consumer; multilingual labels are allowed. If you give blankets to clients in Estonia and Finland, ask for a label that includes at least Estonian and Finnish.

Tax in Estonia

In Estonia, a branded promotional gift to a client or partner is free of income tax if its value is up to €21 excl. VAT; for a set, the value of the whole set counts. Above that limit, the full cost is taxed at 22/78. No VAT is charged on gifts worth up to €10 excl. VAT. The reception expenses limit is €50 per month plus 2% of the payroll. A quality wool blend blanket in a box often exceeds €21, so include the tax in your budget from the start. Source: Estonian Tax and Customs Board guide on promotional gifts.

Example: 60 blankets for key clients by December

Example: the scenario below is fictional; its numbers are illustrative and are not Logotrade data.

1. Goal: a B2B services company wants to thank 60 key clients in Estonia and Finland with a gift that will be used at home.
2. Fabric: a wool blend feels expensive and some recipients may avoid wool, so a soft double-layer rPET fleece in neutral grey with a GRS certificate is chosen.
3. Logo: instead of large embroidery, a small corner embroidery and a woven edge label in the brand colour.
4. Label: care and composition label in Estonian and Finnish.
5. Packaging: the blanket is rolled and tied with a ribbon, with a card signed by the board, and placed in a box.
6. Budget and tax: the gift value exceeds €21, so the accountant adds 22/78 income tax to the budget.
7. Timeline: the quote request goes out in October, asking for an embroidery sample, production time and delivery to two countries.

The same logic scales: for employees, the same blanket can be chosen in company colours with simpler packaging.

Checklist for your quote request

1. Who the gift is for (clients, partners, employees) and how many you need.
2. Preferred fabric and required certificates (OEKO-TEX class, GRS).
3. Desired size or use (car, sofa, outdoor event).
4. Colour and whether it must match your brand colour.
5. Branding method, position and size, plus a vector logo file.
6. Label languages according to the recipients' countries.
7. Packaging, card and any extra items for a set.
8. Budget per gift excl. VAT.
9. The date the gifts must arrive and the delivery addresses.
10. Whether you want a sample or embroidery proof before production.

All our branding services start with an approved mock-up showing the logo position and size.

Common mistakes

• The logo is too big. A giant logo in the middle turns a home item into a billboard and the blanket ends up in the cupboard.
• Fine detail on a high pile. Small text and thin lines vanish into sherpa or long-pile fleece.
• Green claims without proof. "Recycled" or "eco" without GRS or another verifiable certificate is a reputational risk.
• Label in the wrong language. An English-only composition label does not meet the rules when the blanket reaches consumers in Estonia.
• Forgetting the tax. Income tax on a gift above €21 comes as a surprise later.
• Packaging left to the last minute. A gift box and card also need design and time.

Frequently asked questions

Can a fleece blanket be machine washed?

Usually yes, but always follow the manufacturer's care label. Embroidery generally withstands washing well. To reduce microfibres, wash less often and with a full drum.

Which branding method is the most durable?

On textiles, embroidery and woven patterns last longer than prints. A leather patch is durable if both the patch and the seam survive washing – ask about this in the quote.

Is a blanket a tax-free client gift?

In Estonia, only if the branded gift is worth up to €21 excl. VAT. For a more expensive blanket, the full cost is taxed at 22/78.

Does the blanket need a label in the local language?

Yes. Fibre composition must be shown in the official language of the country where the blanket reaches consumers; multilingual labels are allowed. This also applies to products given away free of charge.

Does a wool blanket suit everyone?

Not always, as some people cannot tolerate wool on their skin. For a wide group of recipients, cotton or fleece is the safer choice; a wool blend suits a smaller group you know well.

How much time should I allow?

It depends on the fabric, the branding method and the quantity. A stock blanket with embroidery is ready sooner than a custom woven design. Ask for the exact production time in the quote and add a buffer.

Logotrade OÜ has been based in Tallinn since 2004, helping companies find branded gifts that actually get used. We are a member of the international promotional products networks PSI and ASI and of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and we deliver orders across Estonia. See examples of previous work in our portfolio, browse the full product catalogue or find seasonal ideas among our Christmas gifts.

Send your brief – number of recipients, budget, preferred fabric and deadline – to logo@logo.ee or use the contact form. We will propose suitable blankets with branding, packaging, price and timeline. You will find more practical advice on our blog.

Sources

• European Commission: FAQs on Textile Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011
• OEKO-TEX: STANDARD 100 and product classes
• SCS Global Services: Global Recycled Standard
• The Woolmark Company: Wool Is Naturally Breathable
• UC Santa Barbara: study on fleece microfibres
• Estonian Tax and Customs Board: promotional gifts