Choose From Quality Fabrics Like Pique Cotton or Performance Knits
When ordering custom tailored polo shirts, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right fabric. The material directly impacts the look, feel, and performance of your polo. Here are some top fabric options to consider for your custom polos:
Pique cotton is a classic textured knit fabric that gives polo shirts their signature ridged texture. It’s lightweight and breathable while still being substantial enough to hold a logo embroidery well. Pique cotton has a casual, timeless look perfect for weekend wear. 100% cotton pique has great movement but can shrink. Blends with spandex offer stretch. Herringbone pique has an interesting zigzag texture.
Performance knits use technical fabrics designed for athletic activities. These include polyester, nylon, and spandex blends that wick moisture, dry quickly, resist fading and shrinkage, and stretch with movement. Performance polos keep you cool and allow full range of motion which makes them ideal for sports teams, golfers, and active workers.
Interlock knits have a smooth face and soft hand for incredible comfort. Interlock polos have natural stretch and recovery. Interlock is durable and holds color well. It’s available in antimicrobial blends ideal for healthcare or food service workers. Lightweight interlock works great as a base layer.
Mesh or micro mesh fabrics have ventilation holes to increase breathability. Mesh panels under the arms, along the sides, and on the upper back keep you cooler by allowing air flow. Mesh athletic polos are excellent for warmer climates or summer outdoor events.
Woven fabrics like Oxford cloth or poplin have a dressier look and feel than knits. Button-down woven polos can substitute for dress shirts when a relaxed but polished aesthetic is desired. Wovens hold creases well but can be prone to wrinkling.
With so many fabric options for custom polos, you can select the right materials for functionality, comfort, and style. Analyze the end use environment and needs to choose the perfect fabrics for your embroidered tailored polos.
Customize the Collar, Sleeves, Length, and Side Panels
One of the best parts about ordering custom tailored polo shirts is getting to customize all of the design elements to perfectly fit your needs and preferences. When designing your own polos, you have options to customize the following areas:
Collar: Choose between a flat rib knit collar or classic polo collar. Adjust the collar height, thickness, and stiffness. Opt for a button-down collar for a dressier look.
Sleeves: Select set-in or raglan sleeves. Choose long, short, or 3⁄4 length sleeves. Indicate desired sleeve diameter, bicep circumference, and forearm circumference for a truly custom fit.
Length: Decide if you want a hip length, high hip, or mid hip polo. Crop it short or extend it long. Women can choose a shaped shirt with longer back hem (high-low). Tall or petite? Opt for extended or shortened overall polo length.
Side Panels: Some polos include extra side panel fabric for a contoured fit. This allows the shirt to conform to your natural shape. Side panels suppress muffin top and create a flattering silhouette. They also give you more room to tuck the shirt in comfortably.
With your input, the polo maker can adjust all of these elements to create the perfect custom shirt tailored specifically to your proportions. For example, a petite woman with narrow shoulders may prefer a polo with short cap sleeves, feminine collar, extended length, and side panels to flatter her figure. A tall athletic man could design a casual polo with raglan sleeves, ribbed collar, and high-hip length for full coverage when swinging a golf club or tennis racquet. The options are endless when you customize.
A tailored polo provides way more flexibility than picking a standard size off the rack. Communicate your ideal collar, sleeve, length, and side panel preferences to the manufacturer. Providing your detailed measurements helps them construct a polo shirt that fits you flawlessly. Personalize your next polo with customization for the ultimate in comfort, performance and style.
Add your logo or design on the chest, sleeve, or back
One of the biggest benefits of ordering custom tailored polo shirts is getting to add your own unique logo, design or text. While pre-made polos only let you choose from stock embroidery options, custom polos allow you to add your signature logo or motifs anywhere on the shirt.
On the chest is the most popular placement for logos, names or numbers. Most opt for the left chest to mimic the positioning on mass produced polos. However, you can request placement on the right chest or center chest for a non-traditional look. Size the logo to make a bold statement or shrink it down for a more subtle branding effect.
The back of a polo shirt offers a large blank canvas for getting creative. Add an oversized logo between the shoulder blades. Or use the entire back area to showcase a photo, graphic or text. Vibrant full back designs really make the shirts pop when viewed from behind.
For teams and athletes, the sleeve is the perfect spot for showing team logos, names and numbers. Place a logo on one sleeve only for an asymmetrical look. Or add player names/numbers to both sleeves to coordinate with team uniforms. Sleeve designs can incorporate stripes, color blocking or other accents.
Polo shirt makers can print or embroider your designs to specifications. Embroidery offers bold dimensional text and logos that really stand out. It is ideal for company names, slogans or crest logos. Printed designs allow for full color images, photos and complex multicolor graphics at a lower cost.
With your own customized polos, you don’t have to settle for the same tired logo everyone else has. Work closely with the manufacturer to translate your vision into unique logos, graphics and text that represent your brand or team. Take advantage of the blank canvas polo shirts offer to showcase your one-of-a-kind designs.
Pick from over 30 colors to match your brand
Finding polo shirts in your brand’s exact signature colors can be a challenge when purchasing off-the-rack. But with custom tailored polos, you have the option to select from an extensive color palette and truly match your company, team, or organization’s official hues.
Most polo shirt manufacturers offer 30+ base color options, including standards like black, white, navy, red, grey and royal blue. You’ll also find on-trend brights like neon yellow, orange, green and pink for a bold pop of color.
Beyond the basic solids, there are color-blocked polos featuring two complimentary tones like light blue and navy. You may also find heathered polos with mixed flecks of color for visual interest. And printed patterns like stripes, florals and geometrics add even more color variety.
If your brand has specific Pantone-matched colors, most shirt makers can color match the exact hex code or swatch sample you provide. This ensures the finished polos flawlessly align with your official logo and marketing materials. Even tricky colors like neon highlighter yellow, metallic gold, or light pastel purple can be matched and produced.
Color coordinating your staff uniforms or team jerseys shows organizational pride and professionalism. Club members or event attendees will appreciate the cohesive palette when branded merchandise seamlessly matches other collateral. And color psychology indicates your chosen hues subconsciously influence perceptions of your brand.
So don’t settle for close enough when ordering custom polos. Leverage color matching technology to get your shirts produced in the precise tones that reinforce your image. With over 30 colors to choose from, you can select the perfect palette to represent your brand when designing tailored polo shirts.
Design an athletic, slim, or relaxed fit style
One of the most useful aspects of ordering custom tailored polo shirts is getting to select the specific fit type that suits your needs and preferences. Unlike pre-made polos that come in standard “one size fits most” cuts, custom polos allow you to choose from athletic, slim, relaxed, and other fits to design the perfect shirt silhouette.
Athletic fit polos feature a tapered cut with shorter sleeves and slimmer sides. This contour-hugging shape allows a full range of motion without restricting movement or billowing out. The athletic cut is great for sports teams, active work uniforms, or guys with a mesomorph body type.
Slim fit polos are trimmed through the body and sleeves for a lean silhouette. They lightly skim the contours of the chest and waist without clinging too tight. The slim cut offers a modern, polished look popular for business casual office attire.
Relaxed fit or classic fit polos provide comfortable room through the midsection. They have straight sides, extended sleeve lengths, and loosely drape rather than cling. Relaxed polos accommodate fuller figures or accommodate movement for busy jobs.
Women can also choose a feminine cut polo specifically tailored to the female form. These include a shaping side seam, bust darts, and hip-length hemline. Petite and tall length options are also available.
With custom polos, the fit doesn’t need to be one-size-fits-all. Analyze your usage occasions, industry norms, body types on your team, and personal preferences. Then select from athletic, slim, relaxed, and specialty fits for a tailored polo shirt that suits your specific needs.
Embroider your name, number, or text on the front or back
Custom tailored polo shirts give you the ability to personalize each shirt with a name, number, or custom text embroidered right on the garment. This extra touch is perfect for employee uniforms, sports team jerseys, golf polos, or any other application where individual identification is helpful.
On corporate polos, embroidering the employee’s first or last name on the front left chest presents a polished branded image. Guests, vendors, and customers will appreciate being able to easily identify workers at a glance. If logo placement on the left chest leaves no room for names, consider the right chest or upper back.
Sports team polo shirts traditionally feature the player’s jersey number embroidered on the back beneath the shoulder blades. Optionally, you may also include the player’s full name or last name on the upper back or sleeve. Coaches and staff members can opt for title text or initials instead of numbers.
Golf polos and other athletic polos look extra sleek when embroidered with the wearer’s full name, nickname, or initials on the front or back. Avoid plain polo shirts that blend into the crowd by showcasing your unique monogram.
When ordering team or staff polos, provide the shirt company with a spreadsheet including each individual’s name and number or text selections. Advise employees to double check spelling so their shirts turn out accurate.
Embroidered personalization takes basic polos to the next level. Shirt text conveys professionalism for employee uniforms while also enabling quick identification. Player numbers and names bring sports polos to life as true team jerseys. Add individual flair to your next batch of custom tailored polos with personalized embroidery.
Create a moisture-wicking polo for sports or activewear
When ordering custom tailored polo shirts for sports teams, athletic clubs, or active occupations, consider selecting a high-performance moisture-wicking fabric. These technical fabrics have special properties to keep sweat away from the skin and speed up drying time.
Moisture-wicking polos pull perspiration away from the body through the fabric itself. The moisture gets drawn towards the surface where it can evaporate quicker. These “sweat-wicking” properties help keep players cool, dry, and comfortable during action.
Polo shirt fabric blends made with polyester, spandex, nylon, and other synthetic fibers offer the most effective moisture management. The manmade fibers have extruded filaments that improve wicking through capillary action and rapid absorption.
Moisture-wicking polos also utilize mesh paneling in heat zones under the arms, along torso sides, and across the upper back. These highly breathable zones allow maximum air circulation to cool hot spots and vent trapped sweat vapor.
Antimicrobial treatments can be added to inhibit odor-causing bacteria growth. Silver ion infused fabrics fight microbes on the surface while preventing smelly bacterial buildup internally.
The result is an ultra high-performance polo that battles sweat, odors, and overheating. Athletes stay drier, fresher, and more focused on the game or match instead of discomfort. For any vigorous activities from cycling to CrossFit, order custom moisture-wicking polos purpose-built for active lifestyles.
Select a soft interlock knit polo for maximum comfort
When your top priority for custom tailored polo shirts is uncompromising comfort, choose a soft interlock knit fabric. This finely woven yet stretchy material has a luxuriously smooth face for incredible softness right against the skin.
Interlock knit is constructed using two alternating sets of ribbed stitches. The double-knit rib pattern interlocks the front and back fabric layers to produce a dense, durable material. Interlock polos hold their shape wash after wash.
Nylon and spandex blends boost the natural stretch and recovery of interlock knits. The stretchy properties allow freedom of movement while the resilience maintains the shirt’s fit over time. Interlock shrinks and wrinkles less than cotton.
Interlock polo shirt fabric has a fluid drape and zero irritation against the skin. Its lightweight open weave structure makes interlock highly breathable and effective at wicking moisture from the body. Perspiration passes through the fabric yarns rather than absorbing.
Garment finishing treatments like peaching and softening processes further enhance the luxurious hand feel of interlock knits. The ultra-soft hand makes it one of the most comfortable fabrics worn directly against skin.
For corporate offices, retail, hospitality, and other client-facing industries, interlock polos project professionalism while keeping employees relaxed. For best results, order your custom interlock shirts in a slim or athletic fit to complement the drape and stretch.
Get the perfect work polo with stain-resistant fabric
For companies that require embroidered polo shirts as work uniforms, specialized stain-resistant fabrics can help keep shirts looking crisp and professional. Custom polos for messy jobs or accident-prone environments should be made of materials treated to repel stains.
Stain-resistant polo fabrics leverage advanced nanotechnology coatings that create a protective barrier. Liquids bead up on the surface while stains have difficulty adhering and penetrating the shirt. Stains can simply be wiped away before setting in.
These stain-repellent polo shirt fabrics maintain breathability for comfort. But the coating prevents absorption and wicking to inhibit staining. Oils, greases, paints, dirt and mud can be easily removed from the shirt’s face.
Look for durable water and stain repellent (DWR) treatments that stand up to commercial laundering. Industrial wash procedures can strip off flimsy coatings, but robust DWR treatments remain effective for the long term.
While no fabric is 100% impervious to stains, stain-resistant polos are lifesavers for accident-prone work environments. They keep maintenance, electrical, plumbing, manufacturing, and healthcare employees looking tidy and professional. Despite spills and splatters during the workday, their uniforms stay presentable and serviceable longer.
For maximum stain resistance, choose polyester or poly/spandex blends over natural fibers like cotton. And advise employees to pretreat major stains before washing. By selecting custom polos made of stain-resistant fabrics, companies keep their branded work shirts looking like new wear after wear.
Choose a woven texture for a dressier, business casual polo
Most polo shirts have an inherent casual vibe thanks to their knit construction. But for organizations that want polos with a dressier, more refined aesthetic, choosing a woven fabric is key.
Woven polo shirt fabrics like poplin and Oxford cloth have a dressier drape and sheen than traditional jersey knits. Poplin is smooth and lightweight while Oxford has a subtle basketweave texture. Both woven options look crisp and sharp when embroidered with a company logo.
The structured woven fabrics hold creases and pleats well, lending a tailored look reminiscent of woven dress shirts. But the polo’s short sleeve and collarless design keeps the style appropriately business casual.
Woven polos often incorporate design details more common on dress shirts. Look for options with a button-down collar, chest pocket, side pleats, or inner taping along seams. Patterns like gingham check or graph check further elevate the polish.
While knit polos easily wrinkle, woven polo fabrics hold their pressed look all day without crumpling. Just be sure to launder woven polos gently and touch up with an iron as needed to maintain their crispness.
Trade out those flimsy untucked knits for woven polo shirts when you want the comfort and breathability of a polo but need the crisp tailored aesthetic of a dress shirt. Custom woven polos provide a suitable business casual option for professional offices, corporate events, and client meetings.
Opt for an antimicrobial finish to keep odors away
For companies ordering embroidered polo shirts for hot, humid, or active work environments, an antimicrobial finish is highly recommended. Antimicrobial treatments prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria in the fabric.
Polo shirts treated with an antimicrobial finish like SilvadurTM use silver ion technology that naturally inhibits microbe growth. Silver ions bind to and rupture cell walls in bacteria. This disruption prevents microbes from reproducing and spreading.
By neutralizing sweat-loving bacteria at the source, antimicrobial polo shirts stay fresher longer. Odors from trapped sweat don’t get the chance to bloom and worsen throughout the day. The shirts maintain a neutral odor.
Antimicrobial textile treatments are also available with copper ions or chitosan biopolymers instead of silver. Each agent interferes with bacterial metabolic processes to stem contamination.
The antimicrobial effect is embedded into the polo shirt fibers during manufacturing for lasting protection. It won’t wash out or degrade over time. But beware topical applications that may dissipate after laundering.
Help your employees feel cool, confident, and professional by ordering custom tailored polos with an antimicrobial finish. Say goodbye to embarrassing BO when staff stays dry and odor-free even on extra long hot summer shifts.
Mix performance fabrics like spandex for stretch and mobility
When ordering custom tailored polo shirts for athletic teams, active workwear, or frequent movers, consider selecting high-stretch performance fabrics blended with spandex or elastane.
Spandex and lycra add significant stretch and recovery power to polo shirt fabric blends. Just a small percent of spandex woven into polyester or nylon can create four-way stretch for flexibility.
The elasticity of performance fabric blends allows polos to move naturally with the wearer without any restriction. The stretch accommodates bending, reaching, swinging, running and all physical activity.
Shirts made with stretch fabrics are less likely to ride up, gap open, or constrict. The custom polo shirts maintain their smooth flattering fit even during vigorous movement. Athletes and employees stay fully focused on their game or work.
Look for spandex blends with moisture-wicking, wrinkle resistance, shape retention, breathability and other performance properties too. The spandex improves stretch and mobility while advanced polyester or nylon fabrics provide specialized benefits.
For a custom polo that can keep up with busy lifestyles, specify a performance fabric blend with at least 5-15% spandex or elastane. The ideal stretch level depends on the spandex fiber type and other fabric contents. But some mobility goes a long way towards comfortable custom tailored polo shirts.
Choose breathable mesh panels to keep you cool and dry
When ordering custom polo shirts for hot weather activities or environments, strategic mesh paneling can make a huge difference in comfort and breathability. Mesh fabric inserts provide targeted ventilation.
Mesh is a lightweight knit material with visible perforations for maximum air flow. On polo shirts, mesh panels are typically placed under arms, along the side ribs, and between the shoulder blades on the upper back.
These heat zones on the body tend to overheat and accumulate sweat. Mesh panel “windows” wick away perspiration while allowing air circulation to cool and dry hot spots.
The mesh fabric itself is highly breathable and moisture-wicking. The micro-perforations suck away sweat through capillary action. Mesh construction has more airspace within the knit than solid fabrics.
Compare solid pique polos that easily become hot and clingy with discomfort versus mesh-paneled polos that feel drier and airier during activity. Mesh makes light breezy polo shirts perfect for outdoor summer jobs.
Consider mesh-paneled polos for warm weather uniforms, sports practices, and breathable everyday wear. The mesh slit designs and contrasting textures also give the polos an eye-catching athletic look.
Beat the heat in custom polos specially engineered with mesh for targeted ventilation. Strategic mesh panels keep individuals cool, dry and comfortable when temperatures rise.
Get the right polo to represent your team, company, or organization
Custom tailored polo shirts enable teams, companies, clubs, churches, events, and organizations to create branded shirts that perfectly represent their group. The right polos project unity and professionalism.
Start by selecting quality performance fabrics in your organization’s signature colors. Use the exact Pantone color codes to color match your shirts to existing brand assets. Choose color blocking if your logo contains multiple colors.
Next, embroider your established logo in the optimal size and location to showcase your branding. Scale the design to make a bold statement or subtle impression. Consider left chest, right chest, full front, or back positioning.
For athletic teams, customize the shirt style for optimal play. Opt for an athletic cut, moisture-wicking fabric, mesh panels, and the team name prominently displayed. Numbering on back and sleeves completes the cohesive team look.
Clubs can design polos casually embroidered with the organization name, year, and member name. Or go for a clean, professional design befitting community service groups.
Proudly display your organization’s name and crest on corporate polos for conferences, company retreats, and more. Choose embroidered polos over printed t-shirts for a polished and upscale impression.
Don’t settle for mismatched shirts when placing group orders. Design custom polos tailored specifically for your organization’s brand image, activities, and culture. The right shirts motivate members to perform their best.
Order polos online for convenience and customization
Shopping for custom tailored polo shirts online makes the ordering process super convenient while offering more personalized customization than local stores. Take advantage of the flexibility of online polo designers.
Online polo builders walk you through selecting every element of your shirt design. Choose logos, text, colors, fabrics, sizes, fits, lengths, sleeves, and other options via user-friendly web interfaces.
Inputting each person’s measurements ensures optimal sizing for a tailored fit. Share design mocks and fabric swatches to match colors accurately. Provide your artwork and see digital previews before approving.
Online is the only way to access some niche polo customization options like moisture-wicking athletic fabrics or extended size ranges. And you can order just one test shirt or thousands of team uniforms.
Domestic polo companies ship direct from local warehouses for faster delivery with no imported stock. Order management portals allow reorders, additions, and customization for future batches.
No more guessing if “close enough” sizes and colors will work. Avoid the limitations of in-store polo selection. Design signature shirts tailored specifically for your company or group by ordering custom polos online.