How do you order custom workwear online?

How do you order custom workwear online?

Last Updated: October 25, 2026

Quick Summary

To order custom workwear online, prepare your logo file, choose your garments and decoration method, upload your design to the provider's platform, approve the proof, confirm your team's sizes using a size guide, and complete checkout. The process typically takes 5-10 working days for delivery.

  • Prepare your logo as a vector file (.AI, .EPS, .SVG) or high-resolution raster image at 300 DPI minimum
  • Order 10-15% extra units as a buffer for replacements and growth beyond your current team size
  • Measure your team's chest, shoulder, sleeve length, and torso before ordering to ensure proper fit
  • Embroidery costs more but lasts longer through repeated washing; printing is cheaper but fades faster
  • Standard delivery takes 5-10 working days after production begins following proof approval

Table of Contents

What You'll Need Before Ordering Custom Workwear

To order custom workwear successfully, you need a few key things in place before you start. Learn specific guidance for small teams to ensure you have everything ready. First, you'll need a clear picture of what your team actually needs, the garment types, quantities, and colours that match your brand and workflow. Second, you'll need your logo or artwork ready in the right format. Third, you should know your team's sizes and fit preferences to avoid costly mistakes.

Spending 20 minutes upfront on preparation saves weeks of back-and-forth later.

Start by gathering these essentials: a list of garment styles you want (polo shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or a mix), the colours that suit your brand, the number of units per person, and your team's size chart. You'll also need your logo in a digital format, ideally a vector file like .AI or .EPS, though high-resolution PNGs or PDFs work too. Finally, decide whether you want embroidery, printing, or both, since that choice affects cost, turnaround, and durability.

Step 1: Choose Your Garments and Colours

The first real step in ordering custom workwear online is selecting the actual garments.

For construction crews, durability matters most. The Health and Safety Executive guidance on workplace clothing emphasises that workwear must suit the environment and hazards your team faces.

Colour choice affects both brand recognition and practicality. Navy, black, and grey are professional and hide stains well. High-visibility colours like orange, yellow, or lime are essential for construction and outdoor roles where safety compliance matters.

Once you've settled on style and colour, calculate quantities. Order enough for your current team plus a small buffer, typically 10-15% extra for growth, replacements, or samples.

Step 2: Prepare Your Logo and Artwork Files

Your logo is the centrepiece of your branded workwear. If the file isn't prepared correctly, the final result will disappoint, blurry, distorted, or impossible to embroider cleanly.

The best logo formats for custom workwear are vector files: Adobe Illustrator (.AI), Encapsulated PostScript (.EPS), or Scalable Vector Graphics (.SVG).

Colours matter too. If you're embroidering, keep your logo to 5-8 colours maximum; too many thread colours make the design complex and expensive.

Before uploading, test your file by opening it in a basic image viewer and zooming in to 200%. Does it stay sharp? Are the details clear?

Deciding Between Custom Embroidered Workwear and Printed Workwear

This is where many teams hesitate. Both embroidery and printing deliver branded workwear, but they're fundamentally different processes with different trade-offs. The choice affects cost, durability, appearance, and how your team's uniform ages.

When to Choose Embroidery

Embroidery uses thread to stitch your logo directly into the fabric. Learn more about embroidery services and how they compare to other customization methods. It's tactile, premium-looking, and exceptionally durable.

Choose embroidery if durability is your priority. Healthcare teams, construction crews, and logistics staff who launder uniforms frequently find that embroidery outlasts printing. Embroidered logos don't crack, peel, or fade the way printed designs sometimes do.

Embroidery works best for smaller, simpler logos. Complex multi-colour designs become expensive and visually busy when stitched. Text under 3mm tall becomes hard to read. If your logo is intricate or has fine detail, printing is usually the better choice.

When to Choose Printing

Printing applies ink or plastisol directly to the garment surface. Explore printing options to understand how this method works for your custom workwear. It's faster, cheaper for complex designs, and allows unlimited colours without cost escalation. Printing is ideal for detailed logos, photographic elements, or multi-colour designs that would be prohibitively expensive to embroider.

The trade-off is durability. Printed designs fade and crack after many washes, especially at high temperatures. For occasional-wear branded apparel or event merchandise, printing is perfectly adequate.

Printing also works better for large coverage areas, full back prints, sleeve graphics, or all-over patterns. Embroidery on large areas becomes prohibitively expensive and creates stiffness in the fabric.

Understanding the Custom Workwear Ordering Process

When you order custom workwear online, the process follows a clear sequence. Each step has a specific purpose: narrowing your choices, approving your design, confirming quantities, and finalising payment. Understanding this flow prevents surprises and delays.

Professional wearing a branded navy polo shirt with an embroidered logo clearly visible on the chest, standing in a modern office setting with natural window lighting
Professional wearing a branded navy polo shirt with an embroidered logo clearly visible on the chest, standing in a modern office setting with natural window lighting

Step 3: Upload Your Logo and Select Placement

Once you've chosen embroidery or printing and prepared your artwork file, you'll upload it to the custom workwear platform.

Placement is critical. For polos and t-shirts, the chest is standard, typically 7-10cm wide. For sweatshirts, logos often go on the chest or back.

During this step, you'll also specify the decoration method, embroidery or print, and any colour adjustments. If your logo is multicolour and you're embroidering, you might need to simplify it or adjust thread colours to match your vision.

EG Clothing's branding guidance covers placement best practices and file requirements in detail. Take time here; a small adjustment now prevents costly reprints later.

Step 4: Review Your Quote and Pricing

After uploading your design, you'll see a quote. This shows the cost per unit, the total for your order, and any applicable discounts for bulk quantities.

Watch for hidden costs. Legitimate providers like EG Clothing include setup fees in the quote upfront, there are no surprises at checkout. If a quote seems unusually low, verify what's included: is the garment cost separate from decoration?

Pro RTX Piqué Polo T-Shirt, 60°C Wash →

This is also the moment to check minimum order quantities. Some providers require 10 units minimum; others have no minimum.

Step 5: Approve Your Design Proof

Before production starts, you'll receive a digital proof showing exactly how your custom workwear will look. This is your final chance to catch errors.

Review the proof carefully. Check that the logo is positioned where you wanted it, the colours match your expectations, and the sizing looks right. Text should be legible. Colours should match your brand. If something is off, the logo is too large, the placement is wrong, or the colours are wrong, request a revision now. Changes at this stage are free; changes after production starts cost money and delay delivery.

Approval typically takes 24-48 hours. Once you've signed off on the proof, production begins.

Step 6: Confirm Sizes and Quantities

Before payment, you'll specify the exact sizes and quantities for your order. This is where the size guide becomes essential.

Workwear sizing varies by manufacturer. A medium from one brand might fit differently than a medium from another. The size guide for accurate garment fit shows measurements in centimetres so you can match your team's actual dimensions to the correct size.

Order a mix of sizes that matches your team's measurements. If you have six people, you might order two smalls, two mediums, and two larges.

Step 7: Complete Checkout and Arrange Delivery

The final step is payment and delivery selection. Enter your billing details, choose your delivery option, and confirm your order.

Delivery timescales depend on production time plus shipping. EG Clothing typically delivers within 5-10 working days for standard orders; rush options are available for urgent needs.

Once you've placed the order, you'll receive a confirmation email with your order number and tracking information. Production begins immediately, and you'll be notified when your custom workwear ships.

The custom workwear ordering process follows seven clear steps from design upload to delivery.

Step Action Key Detail
3 Upload logo and select placement Chest placement typically 7-10cm wide
4 Review quote and pricing Pro RTX Pro T-Shirt starts at £5.53
5 Approve design proof Changes at this stage are free
6 Confirm sizes and quantities Use size guide; measure team first
7 Complete checkout and delivery Standard orders deliver in 5-10 working days

Using a Workwear Size Guide to Get Fit Right

Fit is the difference between workwear that your team actually wears and uniforms that sit in a cupboard. Poorly fitting garments damage morale and professional appearance.

Most workwear providers publish detailed size guides that show measurements in centimetres. Before ordering, measure your team.

Then cross-reference these measurements against the size chart. If someone's chest measures 102cm and sleeve length is 68cm, find the size that matches both dimensions.

The size guide for accurate fit provides detailed measurements for every garment style so you can match your team perfectly. Ordering the wrong sizes costs time and money; getting it right the first time means your team looks professional and feels comfortable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Custom Workwear

Most mistakes in ordering custom workwear online fall into predictable categories. Knowing what to watch for saves frustration.

First mistake: uploading a low-resolution logo.

Second mistake: underestimating quantities.

Third mistake: choosing the wrong decoration method. Embroidery looks premium and lasts longer, but it's expensive for complex designs.

Fourth mistake: ignoring the size guide. Workwear that doesn't fit gets rejected by your team. Measure everyone and cross-reference the chart before ordering.

Fifth mistake: rushing through proof approval. This is your final quality check. Take time to review colours, placement, and sizing.

Start Branding Your Team Today

Ordering custom workwear online is straightforward when you follow the right process. Prepare your artwork, choose your garments and decoration method, upload your design, review your proof, confirm sizes, and complete checkout. The entire process takes days, not weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information do I need to have ready before I order custom workwear online?

Gather your company logo in a high-resolution digital file (ideally PDF, PNG, or EPS format), decide which garment styles and colours suit your team, confirm the number of staff and their sizes, and choose between embroidery and printing. Have your company details and delivery address ready, and know your budget so you can review the quote without surprises. If you're unsure about sizes, most suppliers provide a workwear size guide to help you select the right fit for each team member.

How do I choose between custom embroidered workwear and printed workwear?

Embroidery suits logos with bold, simple designs. Printing handles detailed designs and photographs but may not withstand high-temperature industrial washing as well. For construction and logistics, embroidery typically outlasts printing. Consider your washing routine: if your team launders uniforms frequently at high temperatures, embroidery holds up better. For one-off events or lower-wear applications, printing is cost-effective.

How long does the custom workwear ordering process take from start to delivery?

EG Clothing typically delivers within 5-10 working days for standard orders. Always confirm turnaround times when you request your quote, as peak periods or large bulk orders may extend production schedules.

What should I check before I place a bulk workwear order?

Verify your logo file is high resolution (at least 300 DPI) and in the correct format. Confirm all team member sizes using the workwear size guide and double-check quantities against your headcount. Review the proof carefully for logo placement, colour accuracy, and spelling. Check the quoted price includes all decoration costs and confirm there are no hidden fees at checkout. Ensure your delivery address is correct and that you understand the payment terms. Request a sample garment if this is your first order with the supplier to check quality and fit before committing to the full batch.


Professional workwear does more than protect your team, it builds brand recognition and signals quality to clients and customers. EG Clothing combines in-house embroidery and printing with fast turnaround and expert guidance so your team is professionally kitted out without the hassle. With our Pro RTX garment range starting from £5.53 and our personalised service, you get branded workwear that lasts. Get started with EG Clothing and see your team transformed.