Jackets have long been a staple in the company workwear wardrobe. Whether you’re after waterproof and warm, flexible and fleecy or padded and puffy – there is a professional and stylish jacket out there to suit your uniform requirements.
Adding printed or embroidered branding to these jackets elevates this uniform staple to the next level delivering an increased sense of unity, a more professional appearance, a boost to brand awareness and easier identification, all while providing practical and comfortable all-weather workwear solutions.
8 Types Of Workwear Jackets Suitable For Branding
Why not take advantage of the benefits of a logo-branded jacket and discover the extensive range of jackets that can be printed or embroidered with your logo or company image to create the perfect uniform. Read on to find out more about all of the different jackets suitable for workwear, their features and how they can be branded with your company logo.
1. Softshell Jackets
Providing a smarter, less bulky, more refined look, softshell jackets are perfect for a wide range of industries and are as much at home in the corporate office as out and about on the job site. Lightweight yet warm and water resistant, softshell jackets provide a versatile jacket option with a wide range of different colours and styles available to suit the working environment.
Branding For Softshell Jackets
Softshell jackets can be branded with a logo or company image using screen printing or embroidery. The sleek design of the garment and its materials provides a range of options for placement and sizing for your printed logo to be displayed. You could go for anything from a small, subtle logo embroidered on the chest to a full-size company image printed on the back.
2. Padded Puffer Jackets
Sometimes more commonly known as puffer jackets, padded jackets are constructed of a medium to heavy ‘puffy’ thermal lining (usually either down or polyester) for increased heat retention. Puffer jackets are a universally popular unisex jacket offering an additional warm layer and wind break for those cooler days, whether it’s just for the ride to work, or heading out and about during the day. Puffer jackets generally feature a hood and waist pockets and come in a variety of colours. Puffer vests are also a popular option (sleeveless puffer jackets).
Branding For Padded Puffer Jackets
Padded jackets can be branded using either embroidery or screen printing, adding your logo to the chest area is the most common, larger images may become distorted due to the uneven surface of the jacket.
3. Rain Jackets
When tackling the rain and wind on occasion the rain jacket is the go-to choice for many. These jackets provide a lightweight, easily packable option to ward off those pesky showers or heavy downpours, protecting your clothing underneath and preventing you from getting soaked. Rain jackets are waterproof and windproof with added features such as sealed seams, flap-covered side pockets, attached hoods and storm cuffs.
Branding For Rain Jackets
In order to maintain the jackets waterproof qualities, these jackets are best screen printed with your logo. While there is a fair bit of real estate available suitable for applying branding, most businesses stick to the front chest area or the back so as not to overcrowd the jacket and put people off wearing it.
4. Bomber Jackets
Bomber jackets are a versatile and traditional style that has stood the test of time. Characterised by its two side pockets, ribbed collar, hem and cuffs, these jackets can be worn by any and all team members, offering an excellent unisex option that suits many different body shapes. A wide range of colours are available, and the bomber jacket keeps the wearer warm without the addition of too much weight. The bomber jacket is a useful, affordable jacket that ensures its wearability whether you’re headed to the office or out in the field.
Branding For Bomber Jackets
Logos can be printed or embroidered onto bomber jackets efficiently representing and advertising your company while providing comfort and warmth for the wearer. Placement is traditionally on the front of the chest or side of the sleeve as well as larger images added to the back.
5. Heavy-Duty Outdoor Jackets
These jackets are the thicker, heavier, waterproof kind that you reach for when encountering the worst kinds of weather conditions during your work day in the outdoors. Featuring hoods, deep side pockets and sometimes other additional features such as adjustable cuffs and hoods, high collars, taped hems and internal pockets, heavy duty jackets are hardwearing and made for keeping you warm in all kinds of weather while using modern fabric technologies that allow you to carry out your duties unencumbered.
Branding For Heavy-Duty Outdoor Jackets
Designed to provide a waterproof layer between you and the elements, these jackets are not generally not suitable for embroidery as this may compromise their waterproofing, heavy duty jackets are best branded using the screen printing method.
6. Fleece Jackets
Constructed from polar fleece materials, this lightweight and extremely comfortable jacket provides a smart addition to any workplace uniform while also providing the perfect branding opportunity. Expect to find a wide selection of options in the fleece jacket range, generally based on the materials used to make the jacket, including low pill microfleece, sherpa fleece, jacquard fleece and so on. Hybrid versions are also available, which can be made from a combination of puffer jacket-style quilting with fleece sleeves, for example.
Branding For Fleece Jackets
The options are pretty much unlimited for branding fleece jackets. Embroidery or screen printing are both great options along with 3D embroidery, the application of woven badges and digital transfers etc.
7. Corporate Jackets
Generally constructed from a wool blend fabric, corporate jackets are destined for the office on most accounts but also have their uses when visiting site locations for a smarter, more unified appearance. Traditionally equipped with a zip front and two welt pockets, the corporate jacket often has hidden internal pockets and a more modern fit and cut.
Branding For Corporate Jackets
These jackets are an ideal option for embroidered logos due to the fabric’s wool content, embroidery penetrates the fabric for a better and longer-lasting finish. Smaller logos added to the chest or the side of the sleeve are popular with corporate jackets in keeping with the understated tones of the corporate image.
8. Hi Visibility Jackets
Hi Vis jackets are a workwear staple for many businesses, these jackets can be designed and made to meet the reflective and visibility standards for a number of industries (such as the Vic Rail compliant workwear) or simply made of highly reflective materials for general use. Hi Vis clothing in general, is designed to make the wearer more visible with the view to increasing personal safety while on the job. These types of jackets are generally made of a variety of modern materials that provide warmth, flexibility and protection from the weather. Hi Vis jackets are available in nearly all of the jacket styles mentioned above, including the bomber jacket, heavy-duty jacket, vests, softshell jackets, rain jackets and more.
Branding For Hi Vis Jackets
The addition of logos and company images to Hi Vis jackets is common however, when it comes to meeting specific industry standards, there can be limitations on the size and placement of the branding. For Vic Rail compliance, for example, branding is permitted as long as it does not cover the reflective tape and leaves a free space minimum of 0.2 square metres for daytime wearers and 0.4 square metres for nightime wearers. As well as the obvious safety reasons, branding on Hi Vis jackets is often used for easy identification purposes on the work site.
Garment Branding FAQ
Selecting a design for your branded workwear can be as simple as using your existing logo or there may be more to it – read on to find out the answers to a few of our most frequently asked questions when it comes to using screen printing and embroidery for workwear branding.
What Types Of Clothing Can Be Embroidered?
Most cotton and polyester fabrics and wool blends can be easily embroidered. This includes clothing such as shirts, polos, shorts, fleece jackets, softshell jackets, bomber jackets etc., and also includes Hi Vis jackets and workwear. Embroidery is not recommended for garments that are intended to be waterproof as the needle punching through the fabric may compromise its water resistance. However, it is possible to embroider wet weather gear upon special request.
What Types Of Clothing Can Be Screen Printed?
Screen printing is popular because it is easily applied to most kinds of non-stretch fabrics and clothing. Cotton, polyester or poly-cotton fabrics work best including garments such as shirts or pants, polar fleece hoodies and jackets. Sometimes screen printing can be used on stretchy fabrics but the end result will likely wear out more quickly due to the constant stretching and moving of the weave.
What Should You Print On Company Clothing?
The company logo is the top choice for most businesses, using just the company name is also a popular option particularly where space is limited, or the logo is overly complicated. Other images or text (dates, event names, significant details etc.) can also be used if preferred – it’s completely up to you!
Where Should The Logo Be Placed?
Simple company branding is usually placed on the front chest pocket area of the jacket or clothing. This placement is an industry-standard and widely accepted within all business situations. Other placement options include the side of the sleeve near the shoulder and the back of the garment for larger images. Branding is usually placed near or on the pockets for shorts, trousers or pants.
Which Embroidery Designs Work Best?
When it comes to embroidery, simple, bold designs tend to work best. Too much text or intricate design features can be lost when viewing from a distance or seem overly complicated when viewing up close. Depending on your company’s individual requirements, it may be prudent to simplify your design and stick to basic colours if intending to embroider branding onto your jackets.
Complex Logo With Lots Of Colours?
The outcome of logos and images can be tricky to visualise when embroidered onto clothing, if you are unsure if your logo is too complex, it is always best to consult with company branding specialists before committing to any embroidery or screen printing. All good uniform companies will happily provide brand management advice and recommendations. If embroidering or printing on Hi Vis jackets, it is also necessary to consider colours that will contrast with the bright, highly reflective materials.
Is It Possible To Match Existing Corporate Colours?
While the very best is done to accurately match the provided colours variances between the colours generated on the screen and embroidery thread used may occur, meaning there could be slight colour differences in the garment’s end result.
Which Is Better Screen Printing Or Embroidery?
Both of these options have drawbacks and benefits, the decision between the two will depend on a number of individual factors including image size and complexity, garment fabric, order quantities and more – see here for more information on screen printing vs embroidery.
Ordering branded jackets for your business is easy with experienced workwear and uniform specialists Big Branding. Whether you’re looking to make your jacket stand out with a large image placement on the back or subtle embroidery on the chest or sleeve – get in touch with the experts at Big Branding today to ensure the best possible outcome!
