STEP 1: Identify Your Company Culture

Are you a casual company like a tech startup, a more traditional environment like a law firm, or something in between? Keeping in mind the overall company culture will help you narrow down the selection of potential garments, whether you’re a T-shirt and jeans kind of company or a workforce more likely to wear polo shirts and slacks.

STEP 2: Recruit An Employee Advisory Committee

There are so many choices for brandable garments that it can be overwhelming to choose. Don’t go it alone. It’s important to seek input from a variety of employees. Recruit a panel of individuals who represent a diverse cross-section of your staff to provide input and help choose the garments they will eventually be wearing. This helps avoid the potential pitfall of ordering a large program that they won’t be happy with sets you up for success.

STEP 3: Ask Questions

This is probably the most important step. Now that you have your advisory panel, it’s time to go over some key questions: What is the intended use of the apparel? When will people be wearing it (i.e., trade shows, regular office days or weekends?). What is your color scheme? Are brand-name garments important? (And, of course: What’s your budget?)

Also ask what technical features, if any, they want in their branded garments, such as easy care, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, UPF rating (sun protection), sustainable/recycled fabrics, etc.

STEP 4: Establish Scope (How Many Garments, What Types)

Now that you know generally garments you’re looking for, it’s time to determine the scope of your apparel program. Is this a single shirt for outfitting an event, a set of items in a welcome kit or a selection for a company store?

Also be sure to identify who will be wearing the garments and what their job functions are, because different divisions may require different pieces to better serve them. For example, the general manager of a car dealership may want a tailored button-down shirt, which would not be practical for the mechanics in the repair shop.

STEP 5: Get Samples In Their Hands

It’s all abstract until folks can touch and feel the product – and better yet, try it on. Once your employee focus group can see what they like about the garment or what they might not like, then you can get specific feedback to help transition them into a piece that would work better. If you’ve successfully translated the information from the previous steps into a selected garment or collection, this is a great way to get people excited and build buy-in through word of mouth.

STEP 6: Decide On Decoration

Garment decoration has evolved from the standard logo embroidered on the left chest. Consider placing your company logo on the sleeve or in other different placements for a modern look. Also consider what decoration method you want to use. Embroidery is standard for dress shirts and fleece vest or jackets, but screen printing, heat transfer or embossing might be more effective for T-shirts and other types of apparel.

STEP 7: Don’t Forget About Presentation

Once you’ve gathered all the info and designed an apparel program tailored to your needs, be sure your distributor adds a few finishing touches like tags to make a great first impression when employees receive their branded garments.

Here are a few garments to consider for your next corporate apparel project: