What are the best clothing types for branded workwear?

As a business owner, branded workwear provides a unique opportunity for you to ensure that your business is represented in the best light possible. 

By combining the professionalism of your employees with a clearly branded outfit, you ensure that you achieve maximum exposure, without it seeming pushy or out of place. 

Working out what items of clothing will be best can be tricky, however, and the right answer is often highly context dependent. From polos to high-vis jackets, these are a few potential options worth keeping in mind. 

Polo and t-shirts

If you’re looking for an easy, affordable, versatile item of branded workwear that can work in an incredibly diverse range of different settings, then a smart polo (or, in a slightly more relaxed setting, a t-shirt) will likely do the trick. 

A small embroidered logo and brand name on the chest is unobtrusive but professional, and is often very affordable to have put on a large number of polos or t-shirts. 

Hoodies

In some cases, a branded hoodie can work really well. What you’ll often find is that while these items aren’t worn so much during actual work hours, your employees will wear them on their time off – at the gym, at the pub, on dog walks – exposing your brand to a vast number of potential clients. 

Make sure that it’s a comfortable, high-quality item from somewhere like Screen Textiles, to maximise the chances that it doesn’t just get shoved in the back of a cubby hole somewhere and never actually see the light of day. 

Gilets

In more professional settings, such as in the financial sector or consultancies, a branded gilet is often the way to go. 

These professionals will often be expected to wear a suit, which should almost never be branded, and a gilet offers a smart but also somewhat casual way of integrating subtle branding into that kind of outfit. 

It’s somewhat of a mystery how this trend has stuck, given that these gilets are often pieces of outdoor kit from brands like Patagonia; perhaps it’s the similarity to formal wastecoats – whatever it is, branded gilets seem to be here to stay. 

Hi-vis jackets

In some environments, such as at events or on worksites, some kind of branded hi-vis jacket or vest might be a good idea. 

An important thing to note is that if it’s a regulatory requirement that workers in these areas wear such a jacket, then any other piece of branded clothing would be hidden beneath.

Branded hi-vis gear also looks formal, and shows both clients and members of the public that you take safety seriously.

Branded workwear is an excellent investment for a lot of businesses, but it’s important that you think about it in a really strategic manner. Take your time, find a supplier that can provide both the clothing and the embroidery or printing service, and you should be able to get your hands on some kit that professionalises your business and helps with your marketing.