Custom Gilets and Bodywarmers: A Branding Guide
By The Velocity Wear Team
Branded gilets and bodywarmers are usually embroidered left-chest and have become one of the most-ordered corporate and workwear layers in the UK. Velocity Wear produces them from a 20-piece minimum with mixed sizes, typically around 10–15 working days from artwork approval for embroidery, plus 2–5 working days tracked UK delivery.
Why the Gilet Took Over
A gilet solves a specific British problem: it is warm enough for most of the year without being too warm indoors, it layers over a polo or shirt without looking like outdoor gear, and it works across sectors that would never agree on a jacket. Estate agents, site managers, event staff, agricultural businesses and corporate teams have all converged on it for roughly the same reasons.
Choosing the Right Type
The category covers several quite different garments.
- Padded or quilted gilets: the most common corporate choice, warm, structured, and the style most people picture.
- Fleece gilets: softer and lighter, better as an indoor or mid layer, generally the most affordable option.
- Softshell gilets: wind-resistant with some water resistance, the best choice for outdoor working teams.
- Hi-vis bodywarmers: where visibility is required on site, with branding kept proportionate so it does not cover reflective material.
Placement and Decoration
Embroidery is standard. A left-chest logo is the conventional placement and the one that reads as professional rather than promotional; a back logo is sometimes added for site visibility. Padded and quilted fabrics need decoration handled carefully — heavy stitching across a quilted panel can pucker if the design is too dense, so simpler marks generally sit better than intricate ones on this garment type.
“"The gilet is the only branded layer most teams will wear voluntarily. That alone makes it worth spending on."”
Sizing and Ordering
Gilets are worn over other layers, so account for that in the size spread — a fitted gilet over a fleece is uncomfortable and will not be worn. Orders start at 20 pieces with mixed sizes allowed, and bulk discounts reach up to around 40% as quantities rise. If you are kitting out a growing team, ordering a wider size spread up front is cheaper than small top-up runs later, each of which pays its own setup.
Artwork
Supply vector artwork and confirm exact brand colours so thread can be matched as closely as the palette allows. Simplify fine detail and small text before embroidery. Preview placement and scale on the garment in the free Design Studio, and compare gilet types and quantities in the free instant price calculator before committing — the cost difference between a fleece gilet and a padded one is often smaller than expected across a full run.