Customizing Apparel: Logo Design & Placement Guide

Whether you’ve been in the promotional products game for a while or are just getting started, mastering the art of logo design and placement on custom apparel can take your business to the next level. As promotional apparel is one of the most popular advertising tools available in the market, taking the time to consider the various imprint locations, colour possibilities, and design elements is a great step toward ensuring your promotion is a success. To help you get the most out of your products, we’ve created a guide filled with tips on how to personalize your favourite apparel.

Know Your Audience

The first step in apparel customization is choosing the right apparel for your intended audience. The material of your apparel, the logo size, placement, and shape will differ based on the occasion and demographic. For example, if you are designing t-shirts for a local sports tournament you will want a t-shirt that offers moisture-wicking features & is breathable. If you are designing polos for your staff to use every day you’ll likely select a durable yet comfortable option that can be used in a professional setting. Consider what the promotional purpose of your branded product is and who will be seeing your product in action as it will help you determine the best way to reach your target.

Imprint Locations & Sizes

For the most part, there are 7 imprint locations you can choose from: full front (8” W x 13” H), full back (8” W x 13” H), right/left chest (3.5" W x 4" H), right/left sleeve (3.5" W x 3.5" H) and yoke/nape (4" W x 2.5" H). The centre chest location (full front) is ideal for large logos, slogans, and landscape-oriented designs. If you are looking to increase awareness and turn recipients into walking billboards, this imprint location is your best bet. The full-back imprint location is great for adding visibility to your products, similar to the front location it is ideal for elaborate, complex logos with lots of small details.

The left and right chest imprint options are usually reserved for simple logo designs with minimal wording. It is the go-to placement for company logos or group uniforms with short texts. Due to size restrictions, avoid adding too much detail because the audience will not have enough time to figure it out. Sleeve placement is a stylish and distinctive way to showcase your brand elements like logos, patterns, graphics, or even taglines. If you want to create a look that rivals what is available in retail, you should opt for personalizing the sleeves.

If you are looking to create a design that will add visual interest to your t-shirt and make it stand out from popular front or back placements, we recommend the nape/yoke placement. This area is located in the upper back region and offers a more unique location to add your logo. Designs here are frequently paired with left/right chest or centre chest placement.

Additional Imprint Options:

Gone are the days of promotional t-shirt logo placement being one size fits all. If the above placement options do not fit your needs, we also offer a set of additional imprint options available upon request. Please note that these locations are not standard but can be requested when you speak with your representative. These include an oversize placement at the front or back (15” W x 17” H) ideal for tank tops and drawing additional attention to your product through contrast. We can also customize the pocket on your pocket shirts (3” W x 3” H) and offer a special imprint for your long sleeve shirt (3” W x 14” H). If your promotion includes youth apparel, there is a corresponding imprint option (toddler: 8” W x 10” H) that is smaller than the regular full front placement. Lastly, you can request an oversized imprint on the Yoke/Nape location for a maximum size of 5” W x 3” H.

Always remember that creativity is all about thinking outside the box, so if you have any questions regarding the placement or sizing of your imprint, our team of representatives can help you select the best option to help you create a unique promotion. For more information on imprint methods and design possibilities, check out our blog to learn more about how to get the most out of your products!