GUIDE – NEW ZEALAND
Logo embroidery: what works best.
Embroidery gives a raised, premium, hard-wearing finish. A few design choices make a big difference.
Quick answer
Embroidery stitches your logo in thread for a raised, premium and hard-wearing finish. It suits polos, caps, jackets, hoodies, workwear and bags, and works best with bold shapes, a limited number of colours and text that is not too small.
How embroidery works
Your logo is digitised into a stitch file that tells the machine where and how to stitch. Thread colours are chosen to match your brand, and a backing is used to keep the fabric stable while it is stitched.
Design tips for clean embroidery
- Keep text at about 5 mm tall or larger so the letters stay readable
- Avoid very thin lines and tiny gaps, which can fill in
- Simplify gradients, shadows and photographic detail, as thread works in solid colours
- Give us Pantone references and we choose the closest thread colours
Which garments suit embroidery
Embroidery works best on medium and heavier fabrics such as polos, sweats, jackets, caps, workwear and bags. Dense designs on lightweight tees can pucker, so for tees we may suggest a smaller design or a print instead.
Typical placements
- Left chest on polos, shirts and jackets: about 7–10 cm wide
- Cap front: sized to suit the cap panel
- Sleeve or back neck: small logos or text
See our embroidery service for more. New Zealand orders are produced with our accredited Auckland production partner.
Questions
What is the minimum order for embroidery?
We confirm embroidery minimums in your quote, based on the garment and design.
Can you embroider organic cotton garments?
Yes. Embroidery works well on organic cotton, especially heavier styles such as sweats, polos and caps.
Do I need an embroidery file?
No. Send your logo as a vector file and we prepare it for embroidery. You approve a free mockup first.
Related guides
OCC APPAREL – NEW ZEALAND
Work with us – get a free quote.
Please complete the form and give as much detail as you can. Attach one artwork file to give us an idea of your design; once we’re in touch we’ll send instructions for the rest.
We print and ship nationwide, quotes are free and no-obligation, and every order gets a professional mockup before production.