So Your Company Needs Workwear… But You Don’t Know Where to Start
So Your Company Needs Workwear… But You Don’t Know Where to Start
Workwear should make your team feel like part of the company—not like they’re wearing a uniform they can’t wait to take off.
For many organizations, company apparel starts with one question:
“Can we get everyone embroidered polos?”
It’s a good place to start…
…but it’s rarely the complete solution.
Whether you have 10 employees or 500, every company has different departments, different job functions, different personalities, and different comfort levels. The best workwear programs recognize those differences instead of trying to force everyone into the same shirt.
As we prepare to launch our own employee workwear catalog, we thought we’d give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we approach the process.
Because chances are, if your organization is struggling with their employee workwear program…
…you’re not alone.
Step One: Start With What Your Team NEEDS
Forget logos for a minute.
Start with the work itself.
Ask yourself:
What does each department actually need to do their job comfortably?
At Austin Screen Printing & Embroidery, our nearly 50 employees have very different needs.
Our warehouse, production, and embroidery teams spend long hours moving, lifting, printing, and working through Texas summers. Lightweight shirts, breathable fabrics, moisture-wicking materials—and yes—even tank tops all have a place.
Meanwhile our office staff, art department, customer service, and sales team interact with customers throughout the day. They still enjoy a relaxed Austin vibe, but often prefer options like:
- Embroidered polos
- Women’s styles
- Scoop necks
- Quarter-zips
- Performance shirts
- Lightweight button-downs
The goal isn’t making everyone look identical.
The goal is giving everyone apparel that helps them do their job comfortably while still representing your brand.
Step Two: Discover What People WANT to Wear
This is the step many companies skip.
You can require employees to wear something…
…or you can give them apparel they’ll actually choose to wear.
Those are two very different things.
Think about your company culture.
At ASP, we’re unapologetically Austin.
If you’ve ever visited our showroom, you’ve probably noticed the mix of vintage 1970s inspiration, western flair, old jukeboxes, colorful stripes, and our cowboy armadillo mascot, Dusty.
You’ll also see plenty of shorts, flip-flops, vintage graphic tees, hoodies, and comfortable everyday apparel.
That’s our personality.
Your company has one too.
Sometimes the best way to discover it is simply asking your team what they enjoy wearing.
A quick employee survey can provide incredible insight into preferred styles, colors, fabrics, and fits before you ever order a garment.
Step Three: Organize the Program
Now the fun begins.
Once you know what people need…
and what they’ll actually wear…
it’s time to build a program.
That’s where we love to help.
Together we can:
✔ Select apparel that fits different job functions
✔ Build a coordinated color palette
✔ Create consistent branding
✔ Recommend decoration methods
✔ Simplify future ordering
From there we can build:
- Employee online stores
- Annual apparel allowances
- Department-specific collections
- New hire onboarding kits
- Seasonal apparel releases
- Company-paid credits (for example, covering the first $100 while allowing employees to purchase upgrades themselves)
Every organization is different.
The solution should be too.
Behind the Scenes at ASP
Our new employee catalog is a perfect example.
Instead of offering hundreds of random garments, we’ve curated options that fit the way our team actually works—from graphic tees and tanks for production to Adidas polos, quarter-zips, Dickies work shirts, women’s apparel, hoodies, and more. Employees receive a company allowance and can choose the pieces that fit their role and personal style, with the flexibility to purchase additional items if they’d like.
We’re excited to share it because it demonstrates exactly the kind of thoughtful workwear program we help our customers create.
The Bottom Line
Workwear isn’t just about putting a logo on a shirt.
It’s about creating something your team enjoys wearing.
Something that represents your culture.
Styles that are practical.
Apparel that makes employees feel like they’re part of something bigger.
Whether you’re outfitting five people or five hundred…
we’re up for the challenge.
Let’s Build Your Workwear Program Together
Need help organizing your company apparel?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing an existing program, we’d love to help.
From garment selection and branding to online stores and employee allowances, we’ll work with you to build an employee workwear program that fits your team—not just your budget.
We don’t just decorate apparel.
We help build programs that work.
Contact our team today and let’s create a workwear program your employees will actually want to wear.
- Fill out this form to start a conversation
- Call us to walk through the options 512-454-6249
- Stop by the shop in person 8613 Cross Park Dr. Austin, TX 78754
Austin Screen Printing & Austin Embroidery
Proudly serving Austin since 1975
Helping customers make informed apparel decisions for 50 years.