Embroidery in South West Sydney
Custom embroidery, stitched in house in South West Sydney
South West Apparel embroiders logos, names and crests on workwear, uniforms and merch on a Ricoma dual-head embroidery machine in our own workshop. Nothing is sent away, so your job is checked by the people who stitched it.
Pictured: First National Greenacre, navy polos with the agency logo on the left chest
What it is
How embroidery works
Embroidery stitches your logo into the fabric with polyester thread. Your artwork is first digitised, which turns the shapes into a stitch file that tells the machine where every stitch goes, how dense the fill is and in what order the colours run. Once that file exists it is used for every garment and every reorder, so the logo on a polo today matches the one on a jacket next year.
The Ricoma dual-head machine runs two garments at once, each head carrying a full set of thread colours. Each garment is hooped, stitched and trimmed in our South West Sydney workshop, then checked by hand before it goes in the box.
Embroidery is the premium finish for uniforms. It has texture, it holds its colour through hundreds of washes and it reads as established, which is why it is the default for polos, caps, jackets and anything a customer sees up close.
Best for
Garments and logos that suit embroidery
Polos and business shirts
A palm-sized left-chest logo is the classic uniform look.
Caps and beanies
Front-of-cap logos and a cuff logo on beanies. Embroidery is the only decoration that suits a structured cap properly.
Jackets, soft shells and hoodies
Thick fabrics take embroidery well. Chest logos, sleeve text and small back-yoke marks all work.
Hi-vis shirts and vests
A chest logo on hi-vis stays legible and survives site washing. Keep stitching clear of the reflective tape.
Aprons and towels
Durable and professional for cafes, barbers and salons where garments are washed constantly.
Logos that suit it
Solid shapes, lettering, crests and badges. Fine gradients, photographs and very thin lines are better printed with DTF.
Placements
Where the logo goes
- Left chest
- The standard uniform placement. The logo sits over the heart, palm-sized.
- Right chest
- A name, job title or second logo, balanced against the left chest.
- Sleeve
- Short text or a small mark on the upper sleeve, popular on hoodies and jackets.
- Back yoke
- Below the collar on the back. Text like a business name or website reads well here.
- Cap front and side
- Front panel for the main logo, side panel for a small secondary mark.
- Collar and cuff
- Small marks for a subtle, premium touch.
Thread and colour and care
Thread and colour
Matching your brand
- We match thread to your brand colours from a standard polyester thread chart. Send a Pantone reference or a hex code and we pick the closest thread.
- Several thread colours can run in one design; most business logos use only a few.
- Very small text loses definition in thread. We will tell you if a line needs to be simplified or enlarged, before anything is stitched.
- Metallic and high-sheen threads are available for feature details; ask when you request your quote.
Care
Keeping it looking new
- Wash inside out in cold or warm water with like colours.
- Do not bleach. Embroidery thread is colourfast but harsh chemicals dull it.
- Tumble dry low or line dry. Iron inside out and avoid pressing directly on the stitches.
- Loose threads: snip, never pull.
Gallery
Embroidered work for South West Sydney businesses
- First National GreenacreAgency polos, left-chest logo
Brotherhood Boxn ClubClub hoodies, worn ringside
Zac's CutsBarber shop jackets
Alfa Steel FixingCrew hoodies
Pit Stop Tyre ShopWorkshop hoodies
True Blue Carpet CleaningBranded hoodies
Global Transport GroupTransport crew hoodies
RH Wedding Cars & BikesDriver polos
Embroidery vs DTF
Which should I choose?
Both are done in house, and many uniform orders use both. The short version: embroidery for polos, caps and jackets; DTF for full-colour artwork, tees and big back prints.
| Factor | Embroidery (this page) | DTF printing |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Raised, textured thread. Reads as premium and established. | Smooth, thin print with a soft hand feel. |
| Colours | Solid thread colours matched to your brand; no gradients. | Unlimited colours, gradients and photographic detail. |
| Fine detail and small text | Simplified; very small text loses definition. | Sharp down to hairlines and small type. |
| Best garments | Polos, caps, beanies, jackets, hoodies, aprons, hi-vis chest logos. | Tees, singlets, hoodies, hi-vis backs, polyester sportswear. |
| Large designs | Possible on thick fabric, but heavy and costly for big back designs. | Ideal for full-front and full-back prints. |
| Durability | Outlasts the garment when washed inside out. | Lasts the life of the garment with cold inside-out washing. |
| Small runs and one-offs | Welcome; your logo is digitised once and reused. | Welcome; no per-colour setup. |
| Our recommendation | Uniform polos, caps and jackets, or any logo a customer sees up close. | Full-colour artwork, tees and merch, large back prints, kids sizes. |
What can South West Apparel embroider?
South West Apparel embroiders logos, business names and individual names on polos, hi-vis shirts, hoodies, jackets, caps, beanies and aprons, in house in South West Sydney on a Ricoma dual-head machine.
Does embroidery suit small orders?
Yes. Because South West Apparel embroiders in house, small runs and top-ups are welcome. There is no job too small: send the details and we will quote it.
What artwork do you need for embroidery?
A clean logo file (PNG, SVG, PDF, AI or EPS) is ideal. If you only have a photo or a low-resolution image, send it anyway and we will advise what is needed before we digitise it.
What is digitising and do I pay for it every time?
Digitising converts your logo into a stitch file the embroidery machine can run. South West Apparel digitises your logo once and keeps the file, so reorders and new garments use the same stitch file and match the first run.
How big can an embroidered logo be?
Left-chest logos are palm-sized and cap logos a little smaller. Larger back designs are possible on hoodies and jackets, but very large or very detailed artwork is often better suited to DTF printing. We will recommend the right method when we quote.
Will embroidery last through work washing?
Yes. Embroidery is the most durable decoration South West Apparel offers. Polyester thread is colourfast and stitched through the fabric, so it survives hundreds of washes when the garment is washed inside out and not bleached.
Free quotes
Ready to get your logo stitched?
Send us the logo, the garments and the quantities by size. We digitise it, send a proof and quote, and confirm the turnaround.