PATCHES R US ACADEMY
Which Patch Should I Choose?
Embroidered, woven, chenille, PVC or printed? You don't need to know the answer before you contact us. Start with what you're trying to create and we'll help match the artwork, finish and intended use to the construction we'd recommend.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
You Don't Have to Diagnose Your Own Project
Customers often arrive asking for embroidery simply because that's the patch style they already know. Once we see the artwork, intended size and end use, another construction may reproduce the design more successfully.
Our job is to help you work that out before full production — not leave you guessing from a list of technical options.
A logo, AI-generated image, sketch, photograph or rough concept is enough to start the conversation.
START WITH THE END USE
What Are You Making?
There may be several good options. These are useful starting points, rather than rigid rules.
Workwear & Uniforms
Usually needs durability, clear branding and a construction suited to regular wear and washing.
Sports Clubs
Crests, team branding and statement merchandise can suit several constructions depending on detail and style.
Dance Schools & Crews
Bold chenille, varsity lettering and colourful statement patches work particularly well for teamwear and performance garments.
Fashion & Merchandise
Texture, finish and visual personality may matter just as much as practicality.
Events & Exhibitions
Think about application method, volume, customer experience and whether patches will become live event merchandise.
Outdoor & Equipment
Moisture, dirt, abrasion and removability may matter more than a traditional textile finish.
Artists & Illustrators
Fine colour changes, brushwork and detailed imagery may require woven, printed or hybrid techniques.
Portraits & Photographs
Faces, pets, fur, highlights and tonal variation often need more than conventional embroidery alone.
WHAT MATTERS MOST?
Choose the Result You Care About
The finished look can be just as important as the technical construction.
Tiny Detail
Small text, fine outlines or detailed crests.
Woven may be a great fit → 🧵Classic Texture
Visible stitching with a traditional badge character.
Embroidery may be a great fit → ✨Big Visual Impact
Bold, fluffy, dimensional varsity styling.
Chenille may be a great fit → 🌧️Outdoor Durability
Moisture resistance and a rugged modern finish.
PVC may be a great fit → 🎨Complex Colour
Gradients, illustrations or photographic-style imagery.
Print may be a great fit → 🪄Detail + Textile Finish
Fine printed detail combined with a beautiful stitched construction.
Explore hybrid options →WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE MATERIALS?
Not Sure What Embroidered, Woven or PVC Actually Means?
If you'd like to understand the construction methods themselves, we've created a separate guide comparing embroidered, woven, chenille, PVC and printed patches — including how they look, feel and reproduce artwork.
Explore Patch TypesTHE OBVIOUS ANSWER ISN'T ALWAYS THE BEST ONE
Why We Might Recommend Something Different
Two customers can send us similar artwork and still end up with completely different patches. Size, garment, intended use and visual personality can all change the recommendation.
The Artwork Is Too Detailed at the Requested Size
Rather than lose important detail, we may suggest woven, print, a hybrid construction or simply increasing the finished patch size.
The Material Doesn't Suit the Garment
A durable patch isn't automatically the right patch. A rigid construction can feel wrong on lightweight clothing where a softer textile option would sit more naturally.
Texture Is Part of the Design
Sometimes preserving every tiny line matters less than creating the chunky embroidery or fluffy chenille character the project needs.
Your Artwork Can Be Adapted
Logos, illustrations, AI artwork and sketches can often be interpreted specifically for patch production rather than simply reproduced unchanged.
THINK BEYOND ONE TECHNIQUE
Sometimes the Best Patch Is a Combination
A project doesn't always have to fit neatly into one construction. Specialist techniques can combine the qualities of different finishes.
One option we use is embroidery with offset print, which keeps the beautiful textile structure of an embroidered patch while adding printed detail that would be extremely difficult to reproduce with thread alone.
Printed detail can capture fur, highlights, colour variation and depth while embroidery gives the finished patch a premium textile feel.
REAL PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS
See How We Make the Decision
Real projects rarely begin with somebody knowing the exact construction they need. The artwork, garment and intended result help lead us towards the finished patch.
TEAM PROJECT
Colour-Matching Patches to Existing Polo Shirts
A team travelling to the USA already had their polo shirts and wanted the patch colours to work perfectly with the garments.
AI ARTWORK
“Can You Make a Patch From This AI Image?”
Absolutely. AI-generated artwork can be an excellent starting point, but the final construction depends on the detail and how closely the customer wants to preserve the original image.
THE USEFUL INFORMATION
Three Things to Tell Us
You don't need a technical specification. These three things give us a much better starting point.
Where Will It Be Used?
Uniform, jacket, bag, hat, merchandise, equipment or event garment — tell us where the patch will actually live.
What Matters Most?
Tiny detail, texture, durability, exact colours, luxury finish or a particular visual style can all influence construction.
Show Us the Artwork
Logos, sketches, AI images, photographs and rough concepts are all useful starting points — even if the artwork isn't finished.
A BETTER BRIEF
“We need 100 patches for staff jackets, around 80mm wide. Here's our logo.”
That's often more useful than deciding in advance that you definitely need one particular construction.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME
We Review, Recommend & Sample
Choosing a patch construction isn't a one-shot decision made from a dropdown menu.
Send Your Artwork
We Review It
We Recommend
We Sample
You Approve
FROM THE STUDIO
The Artwork Should Lead the Decision
Don't force a design into embroidery simply because embroidery was your first idea. Equally, don't choose woven just because the artwork is detailed if the whole appeal of the project is a thick, tactile embroidered finish.
The best solution comes from balancing the artwork, intended size, end use and the way you want the finished patch to feel.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Choosing a Patch Type FAQs
Do I need to decide the patch type before requesting a quote?
Can you work from AI-generated artwork?
What if my design is too detailed for embroidery?
Can different techniques be combined?
What if I don't like the first physical sample?
STILL NOT SURE?
That's Our Job.
Send us your artwork and tell us what you're trying to achieve. We'll review the detail, size and end use and recommend the patch construction we'd choose for the project.