The Polo Shirt: one of the most versatile garments in anyone’s wardrobe. And one of the coolest styling pieces in the fashion world. You can wear them while rubbing elbows with execs in the boardroom, or when you’re chilling at a backyard BBQ. Dress ‘em up. Dress ‘em down. They assuredly look fantastic.
With decorations, the awesomeness meter of polos goes further up. Polo shirts can be decorated in a lot of ways. But let’s just cover embroidery in this read. Here are a few off-the-wall tips for apparel decorators to transform polo shirts into something hotter than a quadruple espresso.
#1. Mind The Needle
There are times when you can’t afford to mess up even a single polo embroidery. To make sure that doesn’t happen, start with your choice of the needle. If it has a really sharp tip, chances are that the piercing will mess up your design. A 75/11 ballpoint needle could be a good option. With its round tip, it will more likely move the fibers to the side instead of piercing through them. The design will be notably crisper.
#2. Cut-Away All The Way
Now let’s talk about stabilizers. They are basically the backup dancers of your embroidery performance. Still, surprisingly many decorators overlook the significance of this component, and might even go for tear-away stabilizers on polos. There are instances where tear-aways have worked, but there are more instances of puckering and distortions due to tear-aways. Just to be on the safeside, use cut-aways. Note the direction of the weave and stick the backing onto it but in the opposite direction preferably in a 45 degree angle. This keeps the stabilizer from stretching much.
#3. Choose Polo Brands Wisely
You can get polo shirts anywhere these days. But for your embroidery project to deliver a quality output, you need polos designed for the purpose. That’s why decorators buy polo shirts wholesale from long-standing brands with a good rep. My personal recommendation would be to invest in Port Authority or Core 365 wholesale polo shirts. They are really amazing for embroidery.
#4. Never Stretch A Polo When You Hoop It
Admit it. Hooping is a hustle. A small one could spell disaster. A big one won’t cut it. You need a secure hoop of the right size for embroidery on polos. Basically, any hoop that stretches a polo, even its top layer, can mess up the decoration. Ideally, the polo should be snug while it’s being embroidered.
#5. Get The Services Of A Digitizer
Yes, you heard that right. Certain kinds of designs that are to be embroidered, may require certain densities, an appropriate material, and even different push & pull compensations. To put it plainly, there are a lot of factors involved when it comes to embroidering a particular type of garment, be it a polo or a cap. The settings are different for each. So if you are not very savvy in digitizing, it’s best to go for the services of a professional digitizer. A digitizer can ensure that your design is digitized specifically for polo shirts. In the long run, this can save you a lot of money and reduce various potential risks.
Smart Sourcing: How To Get The Right Polo Shirts
You want polos that’ll make your customers really happy and comfortable, but you don’t want to sell off your valuables to afford them. The best way to keep your investments low is to source uniform polo shirts wholesale. Always buy in bulk so the per-piece pricing goes down as much as possible. There are many suppliers that offer top quality blank polo shirts from renowned brands at excellent bulk discounts. Core 365 and Port Authority are just two solid options. But there are a lot more. Compare prices, quality, and minimum order quantities before you actually place the order.
The Placement Predicament
Embroidery placement can be really tricky, and might even require you to down some beer (or not). For left-chest logos, aim for about 7-9 inches down from the shoulder seam and 4-6 inches over from the center. But to make sure you got it right, you can always go for a placement test. Use scrap fabrics, get your design on them, and then measure them up on polos of various sizes.
Finish Strong
Last but not least, let’s take a quick look at the finishing touches. After you’ve embroidered the polo, give the garment some love. A light steam press will have your design looking sharper. Emphasis on light, because if the heat is too much, you just lost one.
By now, you may have realized that when it comes to apparel decoration, it’s the little things that separate glorious success and absolute failure. Pay attention to the little things. And with these tips, your polos will be forever fabulous.
