Embroidery has long been associated with polos and corporate uniforms, but today it's become a go-to choice to elevate everyday apparel. Brands are using embroidery in more thoughtful ways by focusing on clean designs, unique placements, and details that feel wearable, intentional, and premium rather than promotional.
If you are planning custom apparel for your business, team, brand or event, here are the embroidery trends we are seeing most and why they work so well. And for more information on the embroidery process, pricing, tips and artwork specs, you can check out our embroidery services page.
Small, simple embroidery is everywhere right now. Think small icons, short words, or compact logos stitched cleanly on the chest, sleeve, or yoke.
This style works especially well for cafes, retail brands, studios, and lifestyle merch where wearability matters more than loud branding.
Why it works:
Tone-on-tone embroidery uses thread that closely matches the garment colour, creating a subtle, textured look rather than high contrast.
This approach is popular with the brands that want their merch to feel elevated, understated, and fashion-forward rather than overtly promotional. Try this look on some of these popular garment styles.
Why it works:
Unstructured "dad" caps continue to dominate custom headwear. Paired with simple embroidery like icons, small text, or minimal logos, they've become a go-to merch item for brands of all kinds.
These hats feel casual, wearable, and less corporate than structured caps.
Why it works:
Sleeve embroidery is a subtle way to add branding without crowding the front of a garment. This can be a logo, workdmark, date, or icon stitched near the cuff or on the shoulder.
It's often used as a secondary detail alongside a small chest logo and works great on heavyweight t-shirts and hoodies.
Why it works:
Vintage-inspired fonts, script logos, and crest-style embroidery are making a strong comeback. These designs feel nostalgic while still working in modern merch collections.
They're especially popular with restaurants, bars, bands, and community-driven brands. Add your retro design to a vintage style cap.
Why it works:
Crest-style and badge embroidery remains popular for teamwear, clubs, and group apparel but the trend has shifted toward cleaner, more refined designs rather than oversized stitching. Structured emblems, simplified shapes, and smaller sizing that still shows team spirit but in a more subtle way.
Why it works:
Embroidery placed on the side panel or back of a custom hat is becoming increasingly popular with brands that want a subtle, elevated look. Instead of a large front logo, this placment works will for small icons, text, or secondary branding.
Why it works:
Embroidered patches are being used more frequently as standalone items or sewn onto hats, jackets, and bags. Including patches in your merch line adds versitlity amd can easily increase your product line by using the same patch on multiple garment styles and headwear.
Why it works:
Adding initials, names, or numbers with embroidery has become popular for staff apparel, team gear, and limited-run merch.
It's subtle, thoughtful, and adds preceived value to the garment.
Why it works:
Not every trend fits every brand. The best embroidery choices depend on how the apparel will be worn, who it's for, and how visible you want the branding to be.
In general:
Working with a shop that understands both embroidery limits and design trends can make a huge difference in the final result.
The best embroidery doesn't shout, it speaks quietly and confidently. Right now, brands are choosing cleaner designs, unique placements, and details that feel wearable first and promotional second.
If you're planning custom embroidered apparel, leaning into these trends will help your merch look current, intentional, and something people actually want to wear.
For more information on check out our embroidery services page or email us with any questions.
