To personalise clothing and add patterns, logos or lettering, the two most common methods are textile printing and embroidery. SANVT presents the advantages and disadvantages of both textile finishing techniques. Find the right choice for your company to equip your team with epic personalised workwear!
Personalised workwear through printing
Textile printing is a popular option for getting company logos onto employee clothing for the long term. A distinction is made between transfer printing (thermal transfer printing), digital printing (DTG), screen printing (serigraphy) and many more. However, when it comes to sustainability and durability, screen printing is ahead of all other printing methods.
Advantages and disadvantages of printing on textiles
Probably the biggest advantage of textile printing compared to embroidery is the low cost - provided that large order quantities are ordered. The reason for this lies in the less labour-intensive production process compared to embroidery work. While new thread has to be used for each new embroidery, with printing (regardless of the method) both the design and the carrier material are created once and can then be reused as often as required. In terms of ‘economies of scale’, the higher the order quantity, the more favourable the prices offered. Printing company logos on team clothing is therefore more suitable when large quantities of T-shirts, for example, need to be printed quickly and efficiently.
Another advantage over embroidery is the variety of designs and the level of detail. With printing processes, complex and detailed designs with shading, complex patterns or colour gradients are possible. In contrast to embroidery, these special design features are difficult or impossible to achieve. So if your company has an elaborately designed, detailed company logo or you would like to print a team photo on the team clothing, for example, it is better to choose a printing process.
Textile prints are also more suitable for larger company logos or designs. The reason for this is not only the cost efficiency, which has already been mentioned, but also the lower weight. Printed designs do not add any additional weight to the garment as embroidery can do. Furthermore, printed logos can be a little more comfortable to wear as the prints lie flat and smooth on the fabric. This can be decisive for the wearing comfort, especially with lightweight fabrics. Textile prints can also be used on a wide range of fabrics and woven structures.
Did you know? Screen printing is the most sustainable printing process. Here some technical details
- Instead of carrier materials such as film, in screen printing fine-mesh fabrics are being used to transfer the colour to the fabric to be printed.
- To prevent the colour from smudging or fading quickly, the colour pigments are bonded to the fabric by heat setting. This makes the screen print hard-wearing and durable against external influences such as heat or water.
- Each colour in the design requires its own screen. This means that if the screens are stored temporarily, the designs can be reprinted at any time.
- Pro Tipp: when deciding for this printing method, make sure to contact the printing company in advance on how long the screens will be stored and available.
High-quality textile finishing: embroidery on clothing
The second option for incorporating a company logo onto or into an item of clothing is the embroidery finishing technique. Embroidery thread is worked into an existing item of clothing to create (company) logos, but also customised designs, patterns or lettering in general. The embroidery can be created either manually by hand or by machine. While manual embroidery tends to be used for hobby embroidery nowadays, company logo embroidery in larger quantities tends to be done by modern machines.
Advantages and disadvantages of embroidery
Embroidered motifs on clothing generally look more upmarket and give the clothing an elegant appearance. This can create a more sophisticated and professional impression, especially for employee clothing. Many people associate this finishing technique with luxury rather than its print counterpart. Not only that, the three-dimensional look gives the garments an interesting texture and also makes them look more special.
Another advantage of embroidery compared to textile printing is the longevity of the finish. Embroideries are generally more durable than prints, as the fabric yarns are firmly incorporated into the clothing material. As a result, the designs do not tear or fade as easily as prints and retain their shape and colour even after frequent wear or washing.
However, the embroideries are not only more durable with frequent use. Textile embroidery is also more resistant to UV radiation and heat than prints. This is particularly important for employee clothing that is intended for summer or outdoor team activities.
Nevertheless, embroidery is generally more complex and expensive. Therefore it is more suitable for small logos or if the quantity of garments to be embroidered is small.
Which is more environmentally friendly - embroidery or printing?
When it comes to environmental friendliness, it depends on which materials are used for finishing. In general, textile finishes can only be environmentally friendly if biodegradable materials are used. When printing, it therefore depends on the printing colour or ink. Colours that are either water-based or made from natural ingredients are environmentally friendly. Ideally, the printing companies are certified, for example OEKO-TEX or GOTS-certified.
In the case of embroidery, the fabric yarns used play an important role in the assessment of an environmentally friendly practice. If the threads are made from natural materials such as cotton, they are naturally less harmful than synthetic threads.
Conclusion: textile printing vs. embroidery
Depending on the individual requirements and print run, either textile prints or embroidery are more suitable for personalising company clothing with logos. While prints allow for cost-effective, detailed designs, especially for large print runs, embroidery is generally more durable and hard-wearing as it is incorporated into the garment to a high standard.
Customized sustainable workwear with SANVT
At SANVT, we also offer high-quality employee clothing with the option of personalisation. Whether textile printing or embroidery - together with our partners in Bavaria, Germany, we enable companies to personalise long-lasting basics from our collection with company logos or other designs. Contact us for more information or find out more here.