Branded sweatshirts for employees: selection, branding and ordering
A logo sweatshirt is suitable for workers if the model matches the work that will be done in it, the material can withstand frequent washing, and the logo is marked in a way that matches the design and use. A soft sweatshirt without a hood or a zippered sweatshirt with an embroidered logo is usually suitable for the office. A denser and more durable model is suitable for warehouse and yard work, while a sweatshirt in a good color that can accommodate a larger print on the back is suitable for an event. Below, we will go through all the decisions you need to make for an order: model, material, sizes, branding method, placement, care and a checklist before a large order. The same logic applies to other textiles with employee logos.
Order logo sweatshirts for your team. Logo.ee will help you choose suitable textiles, arrange logo printing or embroidery, package the order and arrange delivery. Check out logo products .
In short
- Choose a model for the job, not the catalog image. A sweatshirt needs different things in the office, warehouse, outdoors, and at a trade show.
- Embroidery is suitable for a simple logo and long-term wear , screen printing for large quantities with a single design, DTF and DTG for multi-color or detailed images.
- Collect sizes from each employee separately before ordering and leave a spare for new people.
- A sweatshirt does not replace personal protective equipment. Where high-visibility clothing or other protection is required, it must meet the applicable requirements.
- Maintenance determines how long the logo will stay beautiful. Include maintenance instructions with your employees' sweatshirts.
Table of contents
- Which sweatshirt is right for which job?
- Material, cut and color
- Sizes: how not to get it wrong
- Logo marking on a sweatshirt
- When a sweatshirt is part of work attire
- Other textiles with logos for employees
- Maintenance to make the logo last longer
- Check before placing a large order
- Our view: The hoodie is the team's most visible piece of clothing
- Order logo sweatshirts for employees through us
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Which sweatshirt is right for which job?
The same sweatshirt won't fit every team. Before choosing a model, ask yourself where and how often it will be worn, and whether it's an everyday workwear item or more of a team gift.
| Usage | Suitable model | What to watch for | Appropriate branding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office and customer service | Crew-neck or zip-up sweatshirt | Clean cut, neutral color, soft interior | Embroidery on the chest |
| Warehouse, production, installation | A thicker sweatshirt, with a zipper if necessary | Wear-resistant material, comfortable to move in, does not get stuck | Embroidery or durable print |
| Outdoor work and cool rooms | A hoodie or fleece as a layer under a jacket | Warmth, layering option | Embroidery on the chest, print on the back |
| Events, fairs, competitions | Hoodie in bright brand color | Visibility from a distance, large surface on the back | Silk screen printing, DTF or DTG |
| Team gift | High-quality hoodie or zip-up sweatshirt | Wearable even in leisure time, discreet logo | Small embroidery, tone-on-tone design |
For a sweatshirt intended as a gift, it's a good idea to keep the logo modest. People are more likely to wear clothes in their free time that don't look like an advertising poster. We've written more about what makes people actually wear promotional textiles in the article Promotional textiles that people actually wear .
With hood, zipper or without hood
A hoodie is the most popular and is great for events and younger teams. A zip-up hoodie is practical if the employee needs to adjust their outfit during the day or wears a polo shirt underneath. A sweatshirt without a hood is the most formal and is suitable for the office and customer service. If the work takes place near machinery, consider whether a hood and drawstrings are appropriate there.
Material, cut and color
The material of the sweatshirt affects both comfort and how the logo looks on it.
- Cotton is soft and breathable, suitable for the office and as a gift. Embroidery and DTG printing are well suited to cotton surfaces.
- A cotton/polyester blend holds its shape better, wrinkles less, and withstands frequent washing. It's a good choice for everyday workwear.
- Polyester and fleece generally dry quickly and can provide a warm layer outdoors or in cool spaces. Embroidery or DTF suitability depends on the fabric surface, composition and printing system; test fleece on a sample first.
- Denser fabric may feel stronger, but durability also depends on fibre, construction and care. A lighter sweatshirt can suit a one-off event; for everyday wear, choose a robust model.
Fit. Many styles come in men's, women's, and unisex fits. If your team is mixed, offer a choice. A unisex fit is easier to order, but it's often too wide in the shoulders and too long in the length for women. If your employees have children and you want to make a set for family day, ask for children's sizes as well.
Color. Navy, black, gray, and dark green are practical: stains are less noticeable; color fastness depends on the material and care. White and light gray are suitable for the office, but they get dirty quickly in a work environment. When choosing a brand color, keep in mind that the fabric may not exactly match your brand tone. It is often better to choose a neutral sweatshirt and convey the brand color through the logo.
Sizes: how not to get it wrong
Size is the most common problem with employee sweatshirts. A sweatshirt with the wrong size ends up in the closet and money is wasted. Do this:
- Ask for the manufacturer's size chart and send it to the staff with the chest circumference and length, not just the letters. The L of different brands can vary greatly.
- Offer a chance to try them on. If you're ordering a larger quantity, it's a good idea to order a few samples in different sizes first so people can try them on.
- Collect the sizes by name in one table: name, cut, size. This makes it easy to check that everyone has answered, and later distribute the sweatshirts to the right people.
- Keep a spare. Order a few extra pieces in the most common sizes for new employees and replacements.
- Think about layering. If a sweatshirt is worn under a jacket or over a shirt, a person may need to go up a size.
The same table can later be used for repeat orders as the team grows.
Logo branding on a sweatshirt
The choice of branding method depends on three things: design, quantity, and how the sweatshirt will be used. Our services include all major textile branding methods, so we choose the method based on the design, not the other way around.
| Method | Best suited | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | Simple logo, on the chest or sleeve | High-quality and representative appearance, long lifespan |
| Silkscreen printing | Larger quantity, fewer colors | Uniform, bright result on a large surface |
| DTF printing | Multicolored logo, smaller quantity, different materials | Fine detail; synthetic fabrics require checks of material and transfer-system compatibility |
| DTG digital printing | Photos, gradients, complex images | Full-color design on cotton |
Embroidery is often the best choice for employee sweatshirts because it looks presentable and can withstand everyday wear. A logo with very fine lines and small text sometimes needs to be simplified for embroidery. For more examples, see our guide to embroidering a logo on clothing .
Screen printing is suitable if you order a lot of the same sweatshirts and the logo has few colors. A large back print at an event or competition looks good in screen printing.
DTF and DTG printing are suitable if the logo is multi-colored, contains gradients, or if each sweatshirt needs to be slightly different, such as with an employee's name. The differences between the methods are also explained in our logo application methods guide and article on promotional gift printing methods .
Logo file and layout
The basis for a good result is a decent logo file, preferably in vector format. If the company does not have a unified visual identity or the logo only exists as a low-resolution image, it is worth fixing it before ordering textiles: a professional logo and visual identity design will give a result that looks equally good on a sweatshirt, on the web, and on a vehicle. If necessary, our designer will help prepare the file for branding.
Common placements on employee sweatshirts:
- Left chest: classic and representative, suitable for embroidery.
- Back: large surface, good for events and visibility.
- Sleeve: additional space for a website address, slogan, or department name.
- Hood or neck: a small detail that makes a sweatshirt special.
Do not place the logo where it will be hidden by a zipper, pocket, or drawstring. Once the design is in place, we will send you a mockup for approval so you can see how the logo will look on the sweatshirt before production.
When a sweatshirt is part of work attire
In the office, a sweatshirt is simply a comfortable and uniform piece of clothing. In an Estonian work environment where there are hazards, employers have certain obligations. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, hazardous areas must be marked, and if the hazard cannot be avoided or reduced to a limit by technical or work organization measures, the employer must provide the employee with personal protective equipment.
This means that the logo hoodie is suitable for wearing under or alongside protective clothing, but does not replace protective clothing where it is required. If the risk assessment indicates that high-visibility protective clothing is required in traffic, on a warehouse floor or near forklifts, the appropriate garment and class that meets the requirements of EN ISO 20471 will be selected. The standard divides such clothing into three classes and stipulates, among other things, the minimum areas of visible fluorescent and reflective material. These areas are not the only requirements: the arrangement of the materials and the compliance of the entire garment are also important.
| Class | Fluorescent background material | Reflective material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.14 m² | 0.10 m² |
| 2 | 0.50 m² | 0.13 m² |
| 3 | 0.80 m² | 0.20 m² |
Source: High-visibility clothing guide to EN ISO 20471 classes .
If the logo is applied to high-visibility clothing, it must not reduce the fluorescent or reflective surface below the class requirement. The work environment risk assessment will determine which class is required for your workplace. If you are unsure, ask your work environment specialist or occupational health doctor. Browse our range of branded products.
Other textiles with logos for employees
A sweatshirt is often just one part of an employee's outfit. A uniform gives the team a more complete look and the employee clothes for every season.
- T-shirts: simple, cheaper, and great for summer, events, and under a hoodie. A good first step if you're just experimenting with a uniform.
- Polo shirts: more representative than a T-shirt, suitable for customer service, trade shows, and the office.
- Fleeces and vests: a warm layer for workers outdoors or in cool spaces.
- Jackets and softshell jackets: for outdoor work and travel, logo usually embroidered on the chest.
- Hats and caps: a small but visible detail that people love to wear.
- Aprons: for catering, cafes and workshops. For information on material, embroidery and care, read the article apron with your own logo .
- Work clothes: work jackets, trousers and other clothing for physical work.
To assess suitability, ask three questions about each product: is it comfortable to work with, will it withstand the wash load of the job, and would the employee want to wear it even if no one asks? If the answer is yes to all of these, the product is right. We have prepared a separate guide on quality and durability: Choosing corporate textiles .
Maintenance to make the logo last longer
Even durable branding lasts longer when the sweatshirt is cared for correctly. Give employees these simple instructions with their sweatshirts:
- Wash inside out. This will reduce the friction of the print and embroidery in the drum.
- Follow both the garment and branding supplier's instructions for washing temperature and drying, using the stricter limit. Excessive heat and tumble drying can damage the decoration.
- Avoid bleach and strong stain removers in the logo area.
- Do not iron directly onto the print. If ironing is necessary, iron inside out or through the fabric.
- Wash with similar colors to prevent light-colored sweatshirts from taking on a strange hue.
Embroidery can be a good fit for a sweatshirt that is worn frequently, but durability depends on the fabric, thread, execution, and care. For printed designs, we choose the method and material so that they are compatible with each other.
Check before placing a large order
A larger order means that the error will be repeated hundreds of times. Go through this list before confirming the order:
- Quantity and stock. Are all employees counted, including part-time employees and those on leave? Is there stock for new people?
- Sizes and cuts. Is each person's size listed by name and checked against the size chart?
- Sample. Have you seen the product and material in person? For larger orders, it is worth ordering a sample first.
- Mockup. Is the logo size, color, and placement confirmed on the mockup? Is the Pantone shade or thread color correct?
- Delivery time. Does the deadline take into account production, branding, and transportation? If you need the sweatshirts for a specific event or Christmas, start early, as production is more intense during the peak season.
- Packaging and distribution. Will the sweatshirts be packaged by name or by department? Will the delivery go to one location or multiple offices?
- Repeat order. Can I reorder the same model and color later?
If you want the sweatshirts to be part of a broader employee recognition program, also read the article Employee Gift .
Our view: The hoodie is the team's most visible piece of clothing
We have been dealing with promotional gifts and corporate textiles since 2004 and have seen that the sweatshirt is the most worn piece of clothing by employees. It is worn in the office in the morning, at the gym in the evening, and in the forest on the weekend. Every time, the person also wears your logo.
That's why we don't recommend choosing a sweatshirt based solely on price. A good sweatshirt starts with the question of where and how it will be worn. That's where the material, cut, and branding come from. Our job is to help make these decisions so that the result is suitable for both the job and the employee themselves.
With us, you can get everything from one place: we help you choose a product, create a design and mockup, label with embroidery, screen printing, DTF or DTG printing, pack the order and deliver it both in Estonia and across Europe. Each order is a project for us, not just a quantity. Uniform clothing unites a team, and we have also written a separate article about how clothing with a logo unites a team and increases motivation.
Order logo sweatshirts for employees through us
If you need branded sweatshirts, T-shirts, fleeces or workwear for your employees, we can help you choose the model, material and branding method for your team. Send us a request with the quantity, desired deadline and logo file and we will put together a quote with a mockup.
Check out our textile branding services or view our selection of branded products .
Frequently asked questions
Is embroidery or print better for an employee sweatshirt?
For everyday wear and a representative look, embroidery on the chest is usually the best choice because it is durable and looks high-quality. For large back designs or multi-colored logos, screen printing, DTF or DTG printing is more suitable. Often combined: embroidery on the front, print on the back.
What is the easiest way to collect employee sizes?
Send your employees the manufacturer's size chart with measurements and collect the answers in a single named table. For larger orders, order samples in different sizes first so people can try them on. Also keep a few spares in the most common sizes.
Can a sweatshirt with a logo be workwear in a hazardous environment?
The sweatshirt is suitable for wearing at work, but it does not replace personal protective equipment where a risk assessment requires it. For example, in traffic or on a warehouse site, the need for protective clothing and the required class are determined by the risk assessment; the selection of high-visibility protective clothing is based on the requirements of EN ISO 20471. If necessary, ask your work environment specialist which protective clothing is mandatory at your workplace.
Can an employee's name be added to each sweatshirt?
The employee's name can be added to a suitable model using DTF or DTG printing or embroidery. The method is selected based on the fabric, placement and design; a sample will be made if necessary. Send us a list of names with sizes and we will also package the sweatshirts by name for easy sharing.
How early should I start ordering?
Please allow time for product selection, mockup approval, branding, and delivery. If you need the sweatshirts for a specific event or as a year-end gift, contact us early as production is more intense during peak season.
Sources
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, State Gazette
- High visibility clothing, Health and Safety Authority
- Logo and visual identity design
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