7 Basic Types of Decoration Techniques You Need To Know About

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Jun. 3

When it comes to decorating your branded apparel, there are tons of decoration techniques available! We've narrowed down 7 of our favourites to share with you.

1. Embroidery

Embroidery is by far one of the most popular ways to decorate your branded apparel, and we're sure you've seen a few examples in your lifetime. There are two types of embroidery: flat embroidery and puff (or 3D) embroidery.

What's great about embroidery is that we can ensure the thread matches the PMS colours of your logo, which is important for representing your brand colours accurately on your promotional product!

Flat embroidery is one of the most common decorating techniques used simply because it's so versatile. It's great for polo shirts, hats, jackets, sweaters, towels, beanies, blankets... you name it, we could probably embroider it!

Another benefit of embroidering is its durability compared to other decoration techniques. So if you're looking for something more resistant to damage from washing, this is definitely something to consider.

Popular Locations:

Left/Right Chest, Left/Right Bicep, Back Yoke, Back/Front at Lower Edge of Garments

Ideal on:

Polos, outerwear, headwear, shirts, hoodies, pants, blankets, (soft) luggage, and much more!

Minimum Quantity: 10

2. Puff or 3D Embroidery

3D embroidery, also known as puff embroidery, is a technique where foam is inserted under the embroidery stitch, thereby creating a 3D look and feel on your promo product.

The best designs for puff embroidery are simple ones that really pop out, like initials or alphabets. Since there's foam inserted under the embroidery stitches, it can be hard to maintain the details on tiny text or designs.

3D embroidery is great on caps or garments (such as jackets) that won't be washed frequently or placed into a dryer.

Popular Locations:

Left/Right Chest, Left/Right Bicep, Back Yoke, Back/Front at Lower Edge of Garments

Ideal on:

Polos, outerwear, headwear, shirts, hoodies, pants, blankets, (soft) luggage, and much more!

Minimum Quantity: 10

3. Screen Printing

Screen printing got its name because it literally pushes the ink through screens. With a multi-colour print job, each colour requires a separate screen. This is why there’s a limit to the number of colours in screen printing (we recommend 4 or less), and why the cost increases with each colour addition.

Screen printing is one of the most common types of decoration, and the most cost effective option for larger quantities.

However, not all materials print well with screen printing, so it's probably best to consult a promotional branding specialist (aka us!) to help with your next project!

A good time to use screen printing compared to embroidery is when you're trying to convey a more relaxed and casual attitude, as embroidery gives off a higher perceived value with its intricacy. It's great for trade show giveaways and customer appreciation giveaways, as screen-printed T-shirts are cost-effective especially when you have a large order.

Ideal on:

T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and more!

Minimum Quantity: 12

4. Custom Patches

Custom patches are a great way to add some texture and durability to your next project. A custom patch is perfect if you're looking to add some dimensional depth to your logo!

Patches come in all types of materials and methods of construction, such as:

Leather patches
Embroidered patches
Woven patches
Bullion (Usually hand stitched meticulously with gold and silver wire for distinguished emblems)
Chenille patches (Usually referred to as varsity lettering, chenille is soft, puffy and has a wool-like texture)
Rubber patches

You can put a patch on many items as they now come with a variety of backings like plastic, iron ons, adhesive, velcro and heat seal!

Minimum Quantity: Starts from 50

5. Custom Woven Labels

Brand recognition is the name of the game when it comes to custom fabric labels and tags for your promotional branded products.

Custom woven labels add a retail look to your apparel or product, while clearly personalising each piece with your unforgettable brand.

You can put it anywhere from:

The neck of the shirt
The hem of the sleeve
The hem of the bottom of the sleeve

This can also be helpful for both you and the end user, whether it's displaying your brand or a message (such as its eco-friendliness or sustainably made).

Minimum Quantity: Starts from 100

6. Dye Sublimation

Dye sublimation is now one of the most popular ways of printing your artwork onto promotional products, and for good reason!

Here's a super condensed explanation of the dye sublimation process. It works by bonding water-based dye (in a gaseous state) with the molecules of the fabric you're printing on through the use of a heat press and some transfer paper.

This unique decoration method offers all sorts of possibilities for your branded apparel with full colour, high resolution prints that will never fade.

It's perfect for sports or retail apparel with its razor sharp details, and can even print text as small as 8 points.

The possibility is endless with this decoration technique!

Ideal on:

Mouse pads, golf shirts, athletic gear, t-shirts, lanyards, socks, jerseys, tote bags and more!

Minimum Quantity: 12

7. Appliqué

This particular decoration features appliqué, flat embroidery AND screen printing!

Appliqué comes from the French word "appliquer", which literally translates to apply!

It's a decoration method that essentially involves stitching smaller pieces of fabric or other decorations onto a larger piece to create different designs or patterns.

It's a good alternative to embroidery, where the cost of embroidering is affected by the number of stitches in your design.

If you have large and bold shapes, appliqué is perfect for showcasing the design on your promotional product!

It's also a popular choice for decoration as the design can be seen from a distance.

If you want your branded apparel to stand out even more, you can do an inverse appliqué or even a full reverse appliqué.

With this decoration type, it's best showcased on hoodies, sweatshirts and fleece products. Talk to us for more ideas of what other types of products you can use appliqué on!

Ideal on:

Hoodies, sweatshirts, fleece products and more!

8. Heat Transfer

Heat transfer is a great decoration choice if you are looking for affordable design options with unlimited colors.

Also known as a digital transfer, this process first starts by printing out the artwork and then applying it onto the surface with a heat press.

Heat transfer designs are affordable and great for decorating your orders, whether large or small. It can also be used on a wide range of fabrics as compared to dye sublimation, which typically only works on polyester fabrics.

Ideal on:

T-shirts, activewear, sweatshirts, backpacks, teamwear, uniforms, jerseys, sports apparel and more!

We hope you've got a better understanding now of the different decorating techniques available.

If you find that it's a lot to take in, our Promotion Branding Specialists are more than happy to help guide you through your decision process on what works best for your brand.

We've really enjoyed creating this guide for you and we'd like to know if you found it useful. If you have suggestions for other types of content you'd like to see, let us know and we'll put it on our list.

If you have any questions about a particular project, email us at cs@outstandingbranding.ca or call us at (204) 694-6696. We can’t wait to help you bring your brand to life!