A uniform order can go sideways long before ink touches a shirt. The wrong garment can wear out quickly, an unclear logo file can delay production, and a rushed approval can leave your team with colors that do not match. Knowing how to source branded uniforms means planning the order around how your employees actually work, not simply choosing the lowest-priced shirt.

For companies, schools, and organizations in Salt Lake City and across the Wasatch Front, a good uniform program makes employees easy to identify and gives your brand a consistent presence. The goal is not to buy the most expensive apparel. It is to get garments, decoration, quantities, and timing right for your team.

Start with the job, not the logo

Before choosing polo shirts, work jackets, T-shirts, or hats, think about where the uniform will be worn. A front-office team may need polished polos or button-down shirts. A landscaping crew, warehouse team, or event staff may need breathable shirts that hold up to frequent washing. A restaurant team may need aprons, caps, and moisture-wicking shirts that are easy to replace as staffing changes.

Ask practical questions: Will employees work indoors or outside? Are they moving, lifting, or working in heat? Do they need layers for Utah weather? Will the uniforms be washed after every shift? Is there a safety requirement, such as high-visibility colors or a specific garment style?

These answers narrow the choices quickly. A lightweight performance shirt can be a smart option for a summer event in Provo or an outdoor service crew. For a customer-facing team in Draper or South Jordan, a durable polo with embroidered branding may make more sense. The best garment depends on the role, the season, and the impression your company wants to make.

Set the quantity and replacement plan

Uniform sourcing works better when you order for the full team rather than one employee at a time. Count current staff, then add a few extras for new hires, size exchanges, and replacements. Ordering an extra handful of common sizes can save your operations manager from starting a separate order next month.

Most businesses should also decide how many pieces each employee needs. One shirt per person may work for a single-day corporate event. A service team that works five days a week usually needs several shirts per employee. If the garments are part of a daily dress code, consider a mix of short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, outerwear, and hats instead of making one item do all the work.

At Affordable-Printing, our standard minimum is 12 pieces, which fits most company departments, teams, schools, and event groups. If your company has a smaller initial group, combining several apparel items into a coordinated order can help you reach a practical quantity while giving employees options.

Choose garments your employees will actually wear

A logo cannot rescue an uncomfortable shirt. Fit, fabric, weight, and care requirements all affect whether employees wear uniforms willingly and whether the garments continue to look professional after repeated use.

Cotton T-shirts are familiar, comfortable, and often cost-effective for staff events, volunteer groups, and promotional use. Blended shirts can offer a softer feel, better shape retention, or improved moisture management. Performance fabrics work well for active crews and warm conditions, but they require decoration methods suited to the material. Polos offer a more professional appearance for sales teams, office staff, hospitality, and field representatives.

Do not assume every employee fits into the same unisex style. A well-planned uniform order includes a reasonable size range and, when appropriate, men’s and women’s cuts. It is worth collecting sizes before the order is placed. Guessing creates avoidable exchanges and leaves someone on the team wearing a shirt that does not fit.

Your budget matters, but the cheapest blank is not always the lowest-cost choice over time. If a thin shirt fades, shrinks, or loses its shape after a few washes, your company may be replacing it sooner than expected. For uniforms worn every week, spending a little more on a durable garment can be the better business decision.

Pick the decoration method that fits the uniform

The right decoration method depends on the artwork, garment, quantity, and intended use. Your printer should explain the trade-offs in plain language and recommend a method based on the order, rather than pushing one process for everything.

Screen printing for bold, repeat orders

Screen printing is a strong choice for larger uniform runs, especially when the logo uses solid colors and needs to be printed in the same location on every garment. It produces durable, vibrant prints and is commonly used for T-shirts, work shirts, event apparel, and team gear. We can Pantone match screen printing inks when brand color consistency is a priority.

Screen printing is usually most economical as quantities increase. It may be less practical for a small run with a detailed, full-color design because each ink color requires setup. That does not make it the wrong choice, but it is a reason to compare methods before approving the order.

Embroidery for a polished, durable look

Embroidery works especially well on polos, jackets, caps, button-down shirts, bags, and other structured garments. A stitched left-chest logo gives a uniform a professional finish and stands up well to repeated wear. For companies that have a simple logo or wordmark, it is often the natural choice.

Thread has texture, so embroidery is not ideal for every design. Fine details, small type, and complex gradients may need to be simplified. Thread matching helps keep your branding close to your approved colors, but thread and printed ink reflect light differently. If exact logo color is critical, review the proof carefully before production.

DTF and DTG for detailed, full-color artwork

DTF, or direct-to-film, is useful for detailed, full-color logos and designs, including artwork with multiple colors or small quantities. It can be applied to many garment types and provides flexibility when your team needs several designs or names within the same project.

DTG, or direct-to-garment, prints directly into compatible fabric and is well suited to detailed artwork on cotton garments. It can create a softer feel than some transfers, particularly on lighter garments. Both DTF and DTG are valuable tools, but garment fabric and design placement matter. A good production team will help you choose based on the result your company needs.

Prepare artwork before requesting a quote

You do not need to be a designer to order branded uniforms, but a clean logo file makes the project easier. Send the best version of your logo you have, along with any brand guidelines, preferred colors, and examples of how you want the finished apparel to look. Vector artwork is ideal for screen printing and embroidery, though our team can review what you have and help determine whether artwork cleanup is needed.

Be specific about placement. “Logo on the front” can mean left chest, full chest, center chest, or sleeve depending on the garment. For most uniforms, a left-chest logo is standard. Back prints can work well for service crews, event staff, and organizations that need branding visible from a distance. Names, job titles, department labels, and individual numbers should be listed carefully before approval.

A production proof is the point to check spelling, colors, garment style, placement, and quantities. This is not busywork. Once the proof is approved, production is built around those details. Taking ten extra minutes at this stage can prevent a costly mistake.

Build a realistic production timeline

Uniform orders often have a hard deadline: a new store opening, a trade show, a company retreat, a school season, or a community event. Start the conversation early, especially if you need multiple garment styles, specialty sizes, individual names, or a specific color that may have limited availability.

Our standard turnaround is 12 business days from artwork approval, although our team often finishes sooner. Artwork approval, garment availability, and the complexity of the decoration all affect the schedule. If your company has a tighter deadline, ask about rush options before finalizing the order. It is much easier to plan a rush order when the timeline is clear from the beginning.

For recurring uniform needs, keep a record of the approved garment, logo size, thread or ink colors, and placement. This makes reorders faster and helps your company maintain a consistent look as employees come and go.

Compare quotes by what is included

A useful uniform quote should make it easy to see what you are getting: garment brand and style, quantities by size, decoration locations, number of colors or stitches, setup or artwork needs, and estimated delivery timing. A low price without those details can become expensive if it excludes needed services or uses a garment that does not meet the job requirements.

For many Utah businesses, working with one local team for garments, artwork, decoration, and delivery reduces the number of moving parts. You do not need to coordinate one vendor for shirts, another for embroidery, and another for promotional items. If you also need drinkware, bags, lanyards, or corporate swag for a launch or event, coordinating those items alongside uniforms can keep your branding consistent.

The right uniform order should make your employees feel prepared for work and make your company easy to recognize. If you are sourcing branded uniforms for a team in Salt Lake City or anywhere along the Wasatch Front, Affordable-Printing can help you choose garments and decoration that fit the job. Get a free quote at affordable-printing.com/request-a-quote/ or call (801) 260-0606.

How to Source Branded Uniforms for Your Team