This guide explains a simple three-layer system and how to brand it so your team still looks like a team in January.
Base layer: keep skin dry
The base layer sits next to the skin. Its job is to move sweat away so the body stays dry, because wet skin loses heat fast. Thermal tops and leggings in wicking fabric work far better than a cotton T-shirt, which holds moisture.
For very cold or static work, such as traffic marshalling or port work, thermal leggings under work trousers make a real difference.
Mid layer: hold the warmth
The mid layer traps warm air. Fleeces, sweatshirts, hoodies and gilets all do this job. A gilet keeps the core warm while leaving the arms unrestricted for climbing, lifting or reaching. A fleece adds warmth to the arms too.
This is often the layer customers see most, as people take their coat off in vans, shops and homes. It is a good place for your main logo.
Outer layer: stop wind and rain
The outer layer keeps out wind and water. A softshell handles wind and light showers and is comfortable to move in. A waterproof jacket, ideally certified to EN 343, handles heavy rain. A padded jacket adds insulation for static work. For roadside or yard work, the outer layer may need to be hi-vis.
Do not forget the extremities
Heads, hands and necks lose heat quickly and are easy to forget.
- Beanies under or instead of caps, where helmets are not needed
- Snoods or scarves for wind on exposed sites
- Thermal or winter gloves that still allow grip
- Warm work socks inside safety boots
Making layers work together
Check that layers fit over each other. A fleece needs room under a jacket, and a jacket needs room over a hoodie. If staff layer up heavily, size outer jackets up. Pick colours that work together, so a navy fleece under a navy jacket looks deliberate rather than mismatched.
Where to put your logo
Brand every layer that might be the outermost one at some point in the day. Embroider the left chest on fleeces, gilets and softshells, as these are often the layer seen indoors. Print a larger logo on the back of outer jackets for outdoor visibility. Embroidered beanies are a simple way to add a logo seen from a distance. Base layers do not need branding as they stay hidden.
Ordering what this guide covers
The garments this guide talks about, such as thermal base layers, gilets and bodywarmers and branded fleece jackets, can all be ordered from one piece with free logo setup. The logo price drops at 9 and again at 25 garments, and every garment with a small logo counts towards it, whatever the style or colour. Before anything is made, we embroider an actual sample of your logo and email you a photo to approve, or you can pop in to our Hull workshop to see it.
