The ultimate guide to embroidered and screen printed workwear

Jaybro is an Australian supplier of high quality, Standards-compliant hi-vis work clothing to a wide range of industries. We specialise in solving problems for our customers in the civil construction, building and infrastructure sectors. Our tag line is ‘Consider It Done’: this means we aim to take the hassles out of uniform and workwear procurement, by providing an end-to-end service to our customers.

This includes custom embroidery and screen printing services for high vis workwear. We create durable, well-finished branded clothing for infrastructure and civil contractors, local councils, traffic controllers, builders, concreters, construction professionals, tradies, landscapers and more.

Here’s our bumper guide to everything you need to know about getting your workwear customised with your brand.

Need a quick answer, or just want to get the ball rolling? Call us on 1300 885 364 or email safetysales@jaybro.com.au for fast friendly service.

(Plus, if you’re keen to find a way to manage your workwear requirements on an ongoing basis, take a look at JAMS, the Jaybro Apparel Managment Solution).

Sourcing and choosing branded hi vis workwear

Where can I buy customised hi-vis work shirts in Australia?

We have our own dedicated workwear warehouse located in Arndell Park in Sydney’s West, plus we also source clothing from some of your best-loved workwear and industrial brands. With branches around the country, we can quickly ship Australia wide!

Does Jaybro provide name and logo embroidery?

Yes! If you need to get your work shirts, pants, jackets or hi-vis vests branded with your employee names and logos, we can provide this service when you order your shirts, saving you time and removing the need to spend time finding a separate supplier to get your embroidery done.

Choosing between embroidery and screen printing

What's the difference between screen printing and embroidery?

We can supply a choice of screen printing or embroidery to create custom branded workwear for your team. Screen printing is usually better suited to larger images or larger quantity orders, as the actual printing screen needs to be created in order to print the image. The production of this screen is not economical for orders of just a few shirts. Embroidery, on the other hand, involves machine-stitching a digital version of your logo onto shirts. Our sewing machines are programmed to precisely recreate your logo. This is ideal for smaller quantities and items where elements of the design change (eg: adding staff names).

Is embroidery better quality than screen printing?

Both embroidered clothing and screen-printed workwear offer a professional finish – it’s really a matter of personal preference. Both are designed to last, ensuring your design looks good for the life of the shirt.

Is embroidery more expensive than screen printing?

Usually, embroidery is cheaper than screen printing for smaller quantities. Embroidery of a single logo costs around the same as a large coffee – we can provide an accurate quote once we know the size required and see a copy of your logo. Screen printing becomes cheaper when large quantities are required.

Selecting a design for your branded workwear

What should I print on my company clothing?

Many customers simply choose to have their logo printed on the front left or right chest pocket. This is the most common embroidery that we do. Other customers. We have embroidered shirts for massive infrastructure projects such as Sydney Metro, and for these, the customer chose to have the project name and joint venture details embroidered. Other customers simply want their name embroidered. It’s completely up to you!

What are the best embroidery designs for workwear?

Big and bold designs always look better from a distance. However, sometimes this is not possible if you have a logo with fine lines or lots of text. Depending on your logo design, it might be a good idea to drop the tag line or slogan if you have one and just use your main logo/graphic. Simplifying a logo by choosing flat colours rather than gradients and choosing colours that contrast well with the high vis yellow or orange garment is always a good idea. Our friendly team can offer guidance on designs, just call us for advice.

My logo is complex or has lots of colours, will it still look good embroidered?

Send it through to us and we’ll give you an accurate recommendation! Logos are all so different it can be hard to imagine what they will look like when embroidered. Gradients are possible but flat or plain colours give a better end result. There may be ways to simplify the design for embroidery whilst still staying true to the image. Get in touch and we’ll see how we can help.

Can you match my corporate colours?

We’ll do our best to accurately match PMS colours and corporate colours. A digital proof is always supplied for you to sign off on, however due to variances between colours on screen and embroidery thread colours, there may be slight differences in the end result.

What are my options for embroidery or screen printing placement?

Placement refers to where the logo or image sits on the actual garment. The front left or right chest is typically most popular for embroidery of logos. Pants can also be embroidered, typically near the pocket. Screen printing is likewise popular on chest pockets, and can also be applied to larger areas across the back.

Pricing and lead time on embroidery and screen printing

Can I order workwear with embroidery and no minimum order quantity?

Yes! We have no minimum order quantities. If you need just one shirt embroidered, we can help!

How much is it to set up embroidery for hi-vis clothing?

Free! We don’t charge for artwork preparation and setup.

How long does it take to embroider a logo?

The embroidery process itself is quite fast, and the quickest turnaround items that we offer are lines we keep in stock. If particular shirts, jackets or pants are non-stock items and need to be ordered in, this adds a few days to the lead time. Typically, we can embroider and deliver garments within around 5 business days for stocked items. Note our lead times begin from the date the artwork is approved.

Can I get a bulk discount for ordering lots of embroidered items?

We’ll do our best! Please get in touch if you have a large quantity of embroidery required. We can make some suggestions on the choice of garment and type of embroidery to help you choose the most economical options.

What is the cheapest way to get my clothing embroidered?

Choosing a small to medium-sized logo or design, placed in one position on a garment, is quite cost-effective. For around the same price as a large coffee, we can personalise your workwear with the design of your choice. Embroidery is priced as an add-on cost to our regular shirt prices – so choosing a basic shirt will help you save money too.

Australian Standards compliance

Are screen printed hi-vis shirts still compliant?

Yes, provided the screen printed image is confined to the area between the reflective tape on the back, it will retain its Standards compliance. Printing or embroidery over reflective tape is not recommended.

Choosing the right type of clothing for embroidery and screen printing

What types of clothing can be embroidered?

Most types of cotton and polyester shirts such as drill shirts, polos and high vis jackets can be embroidered. The only thing we don’t recommend getting embroidered is rainwear, as the needle punching may affect the garments water resistance. However, we have done this in the past on request and can do this if you would like embroidered rainwear.

What types of clothing can be screen printed?

Most types of clothing can be screen printed, like cotton or poly-cotton shirts or pants, poly fleece hoodies and nylon winter jackets. The best end result is achieved on non-stretch fabrics. Some polos with a lot of stretch look good with screen printing but the print can wear out more quickly due to the constant stretching and moving of the weave.

Keep reading: Print your logo on warm winter jackets

How to order embroidery and screen printing on your clothing

How do I add embroidery to my order?

Because our embroidery options are customised for each customer, simply contact us at safetysales@jaybro.com.au. Our friendly safety team are here to take you step by step through the process.

Where do I send my logo for printing or embroidery?

Send your design to safetysales@jaybro.com.au either as an image file or even a screenshot – our team will create an artwork file for you and send back a proof for approval.

Can I see a mockup or proof before my clothing is printed or embroidered?

Absolutely! We won’t brand your clothing until you’re happy with the design. After sending your logo to us, we’ll digitise it for the branding process, apply it to a mockup of the garment and send you a PDF proof for approval.

Ready to order your workwear with embroidery or printing?

Ready to get the ball rolling? Call us on 1300 885 364 or email safetysales@jaybro.com.au for fast friendly service, or request a quick quote.