Branchen
Workwear with logo for tradespeople: pieces, embroidery and print
T-shirt, polo, jumper, vest: which workwear works well in the trades, when embroidery or print lasts and what applies to hi-vis vests.
What workwear has to cope with in the trades
Workwear in the trades has two jobs. It has to survive everyday work: dust, paint, oil, lots of movement and frequent washing. And it is advertising. Your team stands in a customer’s living room, on scaffolding by the main road and at the till in the DIY store. Every time, someone sees your logo.
That leads to three questions we clarify with you before every order: which pieces does your team really need? Which finish lasts on which piece? And what should people be able to read from a distance? The answers differ from trade to trade. A painter needs different clothing from an electrician, a gardener different clothing from a tiler.
The basic kit: which piece for what
Vests are especially popular in the trades: the torso stays warm, the arms stay free, and in winter a vest fits over a jumper. If you want vests embroidered with your logo, we offer softshell, fleece and quilted vests, many of them in women’s and men’s cuts. This is how we use the individual pieces:
T-shirts
The piece that gets washed most often. Logo on the front embroidered or printed, contact details large on the back.
Polo shirts
For customer appointments and the office. Chest embroidery looks particularly smart on polos.
- FrontBack
Jumpers and hoodies
For the cold season and under the vest. Chest embroidered, back printed.
Vests and softshell jackets
The outermost layer, the one people see most. Logo on the chest, lettering on the back if needed.
It makes sense to plan several shirts and a jumper per person: that way one set is always in the wash and one is in use. From larger quantities, the price per piece also drops noticeably.
Matching garments
Design them in the shop
Embroidery or print: what lasts in everyday trade work
Both finishes last if they suit the garment. The difference lies in how they age and what they can show well:
| Criterion | Thread in the fabric Embroidery | Ink on top Print |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Three-dimensional, high quality, looks like an established business | Flat, crisp, also on large areas |
| Many washes | Very robust, survives many washes | Lasts well when washed inside out |
| Small lettering | Limits with very fine details | Even small lettering stays sharp |
| Large areas | Becomes stiff and heavy | Stays flexible, ideal for the back |
| Typical for | Logo on chest and sleeve, names | Contact details and lettering on the back |
With lined vests and jackets, the lining also comes into play when embroidering. What to look out for is explained in our article Embroidering jackets with your logo.
From the workshop
Contrast beats a rainbow of colours
White lettering on dark grey fabric: embroidery hardly gets simpler, and that is exactly why it is easy to read from a distance. On dark workwear, a single-colour, light embroidery often looks clearer than a multicolour logo in which individual colours get lost in the fabric.
Embroidery front, print back: the back as advertising space
The chest shows who you are. The back says how to reach you. When your team is up a ladder or leaning over a trench, the back is often seen more than the chest. That is why your phone number or website belongs there, large and easy to read. These cases help you decide:
Your company logo goes on the left chest of the polo, jumper and vest.
Embroidery
Phone number and website should go on the back.
Print
Each person gets their first name on the chest.
Embroidery
You need many identical T-shirts with a single-colour logo.
Screen printing
Your logo has gradients or many colours and is going on a T-shirt.
DTF print
Often the best answer
Combine both
Logo embroidered on the chest, contact details printed on the back.
Embroidery + print
Contrast before brand colour
White on dark grey or black on light grey can be read from a distance. A brand colour that barely stands out from the fabric disappears.
Large area, good file
A back print needs a sharp original, ideally a vector file. A small pixel graphic turns blurry when enlarged.
For lettering on the back: bold and simple beats thin and ornate. A phone number is quick to take in when it is set in blocks of digits. A short website is easier to remember than a long one.
And hi-vis vests?
Side noteOn hi-vis vests, the fluorescent colour and the reflective strips are part of the protective function. A logo must not cover them. That is why we print it on a free area, for example on the back between the strips. We clarify beforehand what is possible on your model.
Print on a free area
Compact logo or lettering without touching the strips
Logo over the reflective strips
The strips must remain fully visible
Large design over the fluorescent colour
The more area is covered, the less the vest stands out
Washing: so logo and clothing last
Workwear in the trades is washed often and thoroughly. Embroidery copes with that well, because the thread sits firmly in the fabric. A print lasts longest when the garment is washed inside out and not ironed directly over the design. The temperature depends on the garment’s care label.
If your clothing goes to a commercial laundry, tell us in your enquiry. Washing there is often different from washing at home, and we take that into account when choosing the garment and the finish. The key rules for washing at home are in our washing instructions.
From the first idea to reordering
Clarify needs
Who needs which pieces, in which sizes and how many for changing?
Garment and logo
You choose the pieces in the shop and send us your logo. We advise you on the layout free of charge.
Approval
You receive a digital preview showing position and size, which you approve before production.
Production in Munich
We embroider and print in our own workshop. Delivery usually takes approx. 7–10 working days.
Reordering
New people on the team? You can simply reorder the same pieces.
If you are introducing workwear for the first time, our checklist Introducing company clothing takes you through the planning step by step.
Workwear with logo: frequently asked questions
Does embroidery on workwear last longer than print?
Embroidery is very robust and survives many washes. A good print also lasts a long time if the garment suits it and is washed correctly. For large back designs, print is the better choice.
Can I combine a logo and phone number on one piece?
Yes, that is the typical solution in the trades: logo embroidered on the chest, contact details printed on the back. We do both in our own workshop.
Can I get hi-vis vests with my logo?
Yes, printed on a free area. Reflective strips and fluorescent colour stay clear so the vest keeps its protective function.
What happens when new employees join later?
You simply reorder, ideally with reference to your first order. As long as the model is available, the new pieces match the existing ones.
Want to kit out your team but not sure where to start? Send us your enquiry with your logo, trade and team size – we’ll get back to you with a suggestion.
Team Shirtplus
Printing and embroidery in our own workshop in Munich. Created with AI support. Last updated: 12 Oct 2026.
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