Production 4 min read
Embroidery vs printing: when to choose which for your brand
Caps, hoodies, polos — embroidery adds premium feel. Here's when it's worth the extra cost.
Printing isn't always the right answer. Embroidery gives your brand a premium, durable, tactile finish — but it costs more and limits design complexity. Here's how to decide.
When to choose embroidery
- Caps and beanies (almost always)
- Polo shirts and uniforms
- Premium hoodies (small chest logo)
- Anywhere durability matters more than detail
When to choose printing (DTF)
- Large multi-color designs
- Photographic or gradient artwork
- T-shirts with bold front graphics
- Lower price points
Cost difference
Embroidery typically adds 20-40 MAD per piece compared to printing. But it justifies a higher retail price — customers see embroidery as a quality signal.
Design tips for embroidery
- Keep logos simple, ideally 1-3 colors
- Avoid fine text under 5mm
- Stick to vector files (.ai, .svg)
- Limit total design width to 10cm for chest placement
At MerchLab Studio, embroidery is available on caps, polos, and hoodies. Our team converts your logo to a stitch file at no extra charge.
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