Well-designed personalized work uniforms do more than make your team look professional. They boost brand visibility, build team morale and help employees feel comfortable while working. Ideally, branded workwear should be instantly recognizable and look and feel great. This guide will break down how to design work uniforms in five simple steps so you can design workwear your employees are proud to wear.
- Personalized work uniforms have many advantages for small businesses. They can boost brand visibility, build team morale, improve customer trust and enhance professionalism.
- When designing workwear, it’s important to consider fabric durability, print compatibility, sizing inclusivity and branding elements, as well as industry-specific needs.
- Workwear may be tax-deductible if it’s required for the job and not suitable for everyday wear, but check local tax regulations to be sure.
- Steps to design workwear include setting a budget, choosing the right products, creating a design, finding a reliable printing partner and ordering samples before committing to a bulk order.
The benefits of personalized work uniforms
Custom work uniforms do more than just make your team look good—they’re a strategic branding tool with real business benefits.
Why wear work uniforms at work?
- Boost brand recognition: Every time an employee in branded workwear interacts with someone, your business gets exposure. Custom uniforms aligned with your brand identity—using brand colors and logos—help increase brand awareness and recognition.
- Build trust with customers: 55% of customers trust uniformed employees more than those in casual attire1. A professional look reassures people that your business is credible and delivers on quality.
- Enhance brand perception: A cohesive look signals professionalism—58% of consumers associate workwear with better product quality1. Whether you run a restaurant or a plumbing service, a well-designed uniform elevates your brand.
- Strengthen team morale and employee loyalty: A cohesive look fosters a sense of belonging—employees feel part of something bigger, which increases pride and employee retention. Plus, it levels the playing field—no worrying about dress codes or who’s wearing what.
- Maximize costs: While uniforms mean employees don’t have to stress about buying work-appropriate attire, for small business owners, uniforms are often tax-deductible, making them a cost-effective branding investment.
- Make staff easy to identify: 82% of consumers say uniforms make it easier to identify employees, ultimately improving customer service and experience, especially in retail and hospitality1.
1. Data is from a report by UniFirst on the advantages of uniforms.
What to consider when you design workwear
Creating personalized work uniforms means balancing practicality, comfort and branding. Workwear should look sharp, feel comfortable and serve employee needs without cutting corners. Let’s look at the key things to keep in mind when designing custom work uniforms.
Workwear fabric
The hoodie or T-shirt fabric you choose impacts comfort, durability and practicality. Here’s what to keep in mind when choosing workwear fabric:
- Breathability and comfort: Cotton is soft and breathable, ideal for all-day wear, while moisture-wicking polyester blends don’t crease easily—great for active jobs.
- Durability and maintenance: Heavy-duty cotton and poly-cotton blends hold up to frequent washing, perfect for uniforms that need to withstand daily wear.
- Weather and seasonality: Lightweight cotton works for warmer environments, whereas fleece-lined or insulated fabrics keep employees warm in colder climates.
- Sustainability: Eco-friendly fabric blends offer a greener choice.
- Printing method: Polyester enhances dye sublimation printing for vibrant, long-lasting designs, while cotton works best for embroidery and screen printing.
Branding and сustomization
Branded workwear is more than just professional custom clothing—it’s a marketing tool. To fully reap the benefits of personalized work uniforms, branding should be visible, professional and aligned with your brand identity.
Logo placement
As the most important branding element, always print your company logo on your custom work uniforms. The placement of your logo design matters just as much as how it looks, so it’s important to get it right.
Here are some options for where to place your logo on branded T-shirts:
- Left or centre chest is the classic choice for polished and professional-looking logo uniforms.
- Back logo placement means the logo can dominate the entire back of the T-shirt, maximizing visibility.
Custom hats and accessories offer extra branding opportunities, especially in outdoor settings, for service industries and at events. A well-placed logo on the front panel of a cap keeps your business top of mind.
Printing methods
The T-shirt printing method you use will affect the durability, vibrancy and look of your workwear. Embroidery adds texture and a premium feel to custom work uniforms, which are ideal for printing simple logos on polos, jackets and thicker fabrics. On the other hand, digital printing, like direct-to-garment printing and dye sublimation printing methods, works well for large, detailed designs and gradients.
Sizing and fit
Well-designed company uniforms should feel good and look great on all employees—whether women or men. Offer inclusive sizing and gender-neutral options to ensure consistency and fairness, enhancing employee satisfaction.
Different necklines—scoop, crew neck, V-neck and polo—offer varying levels of formality, while fits, from slim-fit to relaxed cuts, can enhance comfort.
To find the best fit for your business, check out the top T-shirt styles and types.
If your business is located outside or in a colder climate, hoodie styles like zip-ups and pullovers give your team warmth and flexibility while keeping branding front and center.
Industry-specific considerations
Work uniforms aren’t one-size-fits-all—what works in a retail shop won’t cut it on a construction site.
Different industries benefit from different types of custom workwear:
- Retail and hospitality: Branded polo shirts, T-shirts, aprons and work headwear like caps.
- Corporate and office wear: Embroidered dress shirts and custom jackets.
- Construction and trade workers: High-visibility pants, vests and jackets.
- Healthcare and wellness: Scrubs and lab coats.
The size of a business is also a factor when choosing workwear. Small businesses may opt for budget-friendly polos or T-shirt logo uniforms, while larger teams can invest in bulk embroidered branded items.
Give your employees options to make sure the uniforms you provide are something they want to wear.
How to design work uniforms: A step-by-step guide
Now that you know what to pay attention to, it’s time to put these considerations into action and learn how to design work uniforms that are practical, professional and on-brand. We’ll break down the process into clear, actionable steps so you know exactly what to do—from setting a budget to ordering samples.
Step 1: Set the budget
Before designing personalized employee uniforms, figure out how much you’re willing to spend. Budgeting for custom uniforms ensures cost-effectiveness without cutting corners, helping you make smart decisions on fabric, branding elements and quantity.
Here’s what to factor in when setting your budget:
- Quantity per employee: How many uniform items does each employee need? You might want to offer at least two T-shirts so that they can be washed between shifts, whereas one hat and hoodie is probably enough.
- Seasonal variations: Do you need lightweight options for summer and insulated layers for winter?
- Durability: High-wear industries like food service and construction need durable work uniforms to reduce long-term costs. Increased wear also means you’ll need to replace uniforms more frequently.
- Hiring frequency: If you make new hires often, factor in ongoing uniform orders.
- Level of customization: Will you personalize uniforms with each employee’s name or department-specific designs?
- Printing method: Embroidery is premium but lasts longer, while screen printing, heat transfer or digital printing can be more budget-friendly for large orders.
- Bulk vs. on-demand ordering: Ordering in bulk lowers costs per unit, whereas on-demand printing keeps inventory flexible.
Step 2: Choose the right workwear products
Select uniform items that fit your industry and deliver on employees’ needs:
- T-shirts and polos: Easy-to-wear staples keep employees looking professional and feeling comfortable.
- Hoodies and jackets: Perfect for layering over branded T-shirts, hoodies make work uniforms comfortable for any season.
- Caps and hats: A simple but great way to extend branding while offering sun protection or health and safety precautions.
For a cohesive look, ensure all uniform pieces complement each other. Layering options, like branded jackets over T-shirts, help employees stay warm and comfortable year-round while keeping branding visible. Remember to use a fabric that works with your chosen printing method and use it consistently, as colors can look different printed on different fabrics.
When selecting uniform items, we recommend choosing clothing from the same brand, ensuring color consistency. Check out these lists of the best T-shirt brands and hoodie brands.
Step 3: Design workwear for your employees
Once you know what products you’ll need, it’s time to design your workwear. You can do this using online tools and templates or hire a design professional for a fully custom look.
If you have a clear vision, knowledge of the key design principles and access to easy-to-use tools, consider DIY workwear design. Just make sure your design is high-resolution and print-ready.
If you choose the DIY route, ensure the following for effective workwear designs:
- Contrast and readability: Make sure the design stands out against the fabric color.
- Simplicity and clarity: Avoid overcrowding the design; less is often more.
- Scalability: Your logo and artwork should look sharp in all sizes, from chest prints to back graphics.
- Fabric compatibility: Check your fabric works well with your chosen printing method.
Fonts should be legible, especially with smaller T-shirt sizes, and branding should be consistent with your visual identity. If your business uses specific imagery, like icons or patterns, consider how they’ll work across different pieces of work uniform to keep the look cohesive. Stick to your brand colors, fonts and business logo for a consistent, professional look across all uniform pieces.
Get your team involved in the design process—it’s important that your employees are satisfied with their uniforms.
Step 4: Find a reliable supplier and printing partner
When it comes to custom workwear, DIY printing isn’t ideal. Company uniforms need to be durable, consistent and professionally printed to withstand frequent wear. That’s why it’s best to work with a trusted supplier that can handle the process for you.
Here’s what to look for:
- Flexibility: Can they handle bulk and small orders? Do they offer different printing methods?
- Costs: Transparent pricing helps you stay on budget. Do they offer discounts for bulk orders?
- Reputation: A reliable printing partner with high-quality results saves you time and stress.
- Reviews: Real customer feedback provides insight into the level of quality and service they offer.
Before deciding on a printing partner, check there’s no minimum order quantity for your chosen products so that you can order samples.
Step 5: Order samples, adjust and order
Never skip the sample stage. Ordering a test batch lets you check fabric quality, fit and branding before committing to a bulk order. If the material feels off, the sizing isn’t right or the logo placement doesn’t work, it’s much easier to fix before rolling out uniforms to your entire team. Once you’re confident everything looks and feels right, place your full order. Ordering in bulk can help cut costs, so planning ahead pays off.
How much do work uniforms cost?
The cost of custom uniforms depends on the fabric, printing method, order size and level of customization. Embroidery tends to cost more than digital printing, while ordering in bulk can lower costs per unit. Premium materials and items like moisture-wicking polyester and insulated jackets will come at a higher price.
You may be wondering: are work uniforms tax-deductible? In many cases, yes—if they’re required for work and not suitable for everyday wear. But always check local tax regulations or consult a tax professional to be sure.
Ready to design personalized work uniforms?
Well-designed company uniforms employees love to wear don’t happen by accident. Taking the time and effort to design and create work uniforms can add value to your team and customers. Whether you need everyday essentials or premium uniforms, finding the right fit with high-quality customization options is key. Once your uniforms are printed and delivered, set a clear uniform policy so employees know when and how to wear them—maximizing the benefits for your brand and team.
