Why brand your workwear?
Branded workwear does practical jobs: customers can see who is from your company when a van pulls up, staff look like a team, and a small firm looks established. In Ireland, searches for workwear embroidery are steady all year, with the most local demand around Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick.
There are two ways to put your logo on workwear: embroider it straight onto each garment, or make logo patches that are attached afterwards.
Logo patches vs direct embroidery for workwear
| Logo patches | Direct embroidery | |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed garments from different suppliers | Easy | Each garment type set up separately |
| Waterproof jackets and heavy fabrics | Sewn or Velcro patch works well | Stitching can puncture waterproof shells |
| Staff leaving or joining | Patch moves to a new jacket | Garment is branded for good |
| Batch of identical polos | Fine | Often cheaper |
| Fine detail and small text | Woven patches hold detail | Limited on textured fabrics |
| Spare logos for later | Keep spares in a drawer | Not possible |
Our full comparison of patches vs direct embroidery covers this in more depth.
Which patch type suits which workplace?
### Trades, construction and site work PVC patches are waterproof, wipe clean and keep their colour outdoors. They are usually backed with Velcro or sewn through a channel. Embroidered patches with sew-on backing also work well on heavy cotton jackets and fleeces.
Agriculture, landscaping and outdoor services
PVC or embroidered with sew-on backing. Avoid iron-on adhesive on waxed or waterproof fabrics; it will not bond.
See your artwork as a custom Ireland patch before you buy. Free digital mockup in 12 hours — 5-piece minimum per design. We do not produce until you approve.
GET A FREE MOCKUPOffices, retail and showrooms
Woven or embroidered patches on fleeces and soft-shell jackets look smart and sit flat.
Hospitality
See our separate guide to hospitality uniform badges, which covers aprons, chef whites and front-of-house uniforms.
Where should the logo go?
Common workwear layouts:
- Left chest: company logo, 8 to 10 cm wide
- Right chest: name tab or role, 8 to 10 cm wide, see name tags for clothes
- Upper sleeve: logo or certification patch, 7 to 9 cm
- Back: large logo for visibility, 20 to 25 cm
- Caps and beanies: 5 to 6 cm
On hi-vis vests and jackets, keep patches off the reflective tape and the fluorescent background areas that the garment's safety rating depends on. Place the logo on the chest panel in the space the manufacturer leaves for branding.
Making workwear patches last
- Choose sew-on backing for anything washed weekly at 40 to 60°C; iron-on adhesive softens with repeated hot washes. - Use polyester thread to sew patches on, as it holds up better than cotton thread. - Wash garments inside out and avoid fabric softener on PVC patches. - Order spares. Keeping 10 to 20% extra patches makes it easy to brand new starters' gear later without a new order.
Ready to spec type, size, backing, and quantity? Open the quote form for a free 12-hour mockup and Ireland-wide shipping after approval.
GET A FREE MOCKUPHow many workwear patches should you order?
Count garments per person and add spares. For example, a crew of six with two jackets and one fleece each needs 18 logo patches plus spares. Because the minimum is 5 per design and the price per patch falls as quantity rises, ordering for the year rather than per new hire usually saves money. Our cost guide explains how quantity affects price.
Name patches and role tabs
Many firms add a second patch with each person's name or role. Each different name is a separate design, so they are usually ordered as a set of small runs. Velcro name tabs let a jacket pass between staff on different shifts.
Certification and safety patches
Some trades add patches for qualifications or safety roles, such as first aider or site safety officer. Keep these separate from the company logo so they can be added or removed when someone's role changes; Velcro is useful here. Make sure any certification wording matches what the person actually holds, and never imitate the official marks of a certifying body without its permission.
What this guide is based on
This guide reflects the workwear orders Irish Customized Patches makes for trades and businesses across Ireland, and standard advice on hi-vis branding. Check the garment manufacturer's guidance before adding anything to certified safety clothing. We make logo and name patches from 5 pieces per design with a free mockup and free delivery anywhere in Ireland. Get a free workwear patch mockup.