An embroidered logo or a slogan automatically
makes any garment more interesting. The texture of an embroidered name, the
visual appeal, and the design of the font or the graphics itself combine to
elevate your product above the usual promotional items. Anyone who receives an
embroidered jacket will definitely appreciate it; doubly so if it is part of a
giveaway.
Designing embroidered items require you to
follow a few guidelines to make sure you’re designing something both beautiful
and functional. A corporate gift or giveaway is primarily for promoting your
brand; you won’t want it associated with shoddy workmanship or awkward graphic
design. Here are the basic things to consider when planning custom embroidery.
1.
Simplify the lines and shapes
Designs that work the best in embroidery tend
to be ones that have simple, straight lines. Stitching produces a thicker line
compared to ink. An illustration or image that looks fine on paper can become a
mess when converted to embroidery.
Look to famous companies for inspiration—Polo
and Lacoste, for example, have been in business for a long time because of
brand recall. This is in part because of the simplicity of their logo. When
using embroidery, think ‘less is more,’ and stick to basic shapes and fonts.
2. Strike
a balance with the design
If your company logo is ornate or does not
translate well into the fabric, work with the corporate communications or
marketing team to see if you can come up with a simplified version for your
merchandise. Detailed logos fail to transition from ink to thread.
Going too far down that direction, though, is
just as bad. If you simplify your logo too much, you risk the company looking
too generic. This runs the risk of watering down your brand or rendering it
unrecognizable, something that new businesses, in particular, should avoid.
3. Keep
to an appropriate size of embroidery
Large embroidery only works on sports-themed
items or on team jerseys, bottoms, caps and other apparel. Patches that are too
big might make the merchandise look too informal. People might see these as
costumes or gag items.
You don’t want your personnel to be literal
walking billboards of your company. Instead, embroidered shirts should have
small logos in tasteful fonts. These often work well in an informal business
setting.
4.
Choose your fabric well
Embroidered shirts don’t work well on
performance fabrics or cotton. However, they are great on outerwear, knits, and
denim. You need a thicker, stronger fabric that can hold up against thread.
Though a thin fabric might look fine when you slide it out of the packaging, it
won’t take three washes for it to start showing signs of wear.
Lighter fabrics will show ruching around the
embroidery, which makes your shirt look wrinkled no matter how many times you
have it pressed or steamed.
5. Mind
where you place the embroidery
The best place to put a company logo is on the
left chest of a collared shirt. If you put your company name right in the
middle of the chest, it becomes overbearing and kitschy. You can also put the
embroidery on a sleeve or the lower part of a sweatshirt hood.
Conclusion
Balancing simplicity with impact is always a
challenge; even experienced graphic designers struggle with conveying brand
personality in the least amount of lines possible. Avoid issues like this by
consulting a design professional before beginning a custom project.
For custom embroidery in Ottawa,
get in touch with us at Clever Print today. Our simple ordering process allows
you to fill out details and review our quote within 24 hours!
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