★ OEM — YOU DESIGN, WE MAKEODM — WE DESIGN, YOU BRAND★ 12+ DECORATION METHODSLOW MOQ★ PRIVATE LABELSINCE 2011 ★ OEM — YOU DESIGN, WE MAKEODM — WE DESIGN, YOU BRAND★ 12+ DECORATION METHODSLOW MOQ★ PRIVATE LABELSINCE 2011
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Custom
Embroidery

Flat, 3D, appliqué and chenille — all produced in house in Quanzhou. 24 of our 65 production styles carry embroidery, 12 of them 3D. MOQ from 5 pieces.

What embroidery can we actually do in house?

All of it, on site in Quanzhou. Embroidery is not sub-contracted out, which is why a thread colour change mid-run is a conversation with the machine operator rather than a renegotiation with another vendor.

Across our current 65-style production catalogue, 24 styles carry embroidery and 12 of those specifically use 3D embroidery. The remainder use flat embroidery, appliqué or chenille patches.

TechniqueBest forHeight / finishCost driver
Flat embroideryLogos, text, left-chest brandingFlush to fabricStitch count
3D / puff embroideryBold dimensional logos, caps, chest hits2–5 mm raisedStitch count + foam
AppliquéLarge varsity letters, back panelsFabric layer + satin edgeFabric + edge length
Chenille patchVarsity letters, retro streetwearTufted pile, 3–4 mmPatch area
Towel embroideryAll-over texture, oversized graphicsLooped pileCoverage area

When should you choose 3D embroidery over flat?

3D embroidery places a foam layer under the stitch, lifting the design 2 to 5 mm off the fabric. It reads as premium on bold, simple shapes — block letters, thick logo marks, cap fronts.

It does not work for fine detail. Thin lines, small text under roughly 8 mm and gradient artwork lose definition because the foam has to be trimmed cleanly at every edge. If your logo has serifs or hairlines, flat embroidery holds it better.

A practical rule: if you can draw the shape with a thick marker and it still reads, 3D will work. If it needs a fine pen, use flat.

What is the difference between appliqué and a chenille patch?

Both add a fabric layer rather than thread coverage, which is how large varsity letters get made without a stitch count that would stiffen the panel.

Appliqué cuts your shape from a contrast fabric — melton wool, twill, leather — and satin-stitches the edge down. Clean, flat, structured.

Chenille uses a tufted pile fabric, giving the fuzzy raised texture on classic letterman jackets. Warmer and more retro, and the pile direction catches light differently across the patch.

On cost, both are driven by area and edge length rather than stitch count, which makes them cheaper than full embroidery for anything larger than about 10 cm.

What are our embroidery terms?

Published figures from our own product pages, not a quoted range.

SpecOur terms
MOQ5 pieces on hoodies and tees, 10 on structured jackets
Sample feeUS$25–80 depending on construction
Sample lead time7 days after artwork and measurements confirmed
Bulk lead time7 days on 57 of 65 catalogue styles
DigitisingIncluded in the sample fee, reused in bulk at no charge
Fabric weight range180–480 GSM across the catalogue
Max colours per designUp to 12 thread colours in one run

What artwork do we need from you?

Vector is ideal — AI, EPS or PDF with outlined text. We digitise from vector cleanly and the result holds at any size.

If you only have a raster file, send it at the largest resolution you have plus the intended physical width in millimetres. We can digitise from a good PNG; we cannot digitise reliably from a screenshot.

Also send: thread colour references (Pantone or a physical thread swatch), placement measured from a fixed point such as the shoulder seam or the centre front, and whether you want flat, 3D or appliqué. Guessing on any of these is the main cause of a second sample round.

How do we control embroidery quality in bulk?

Your approved physical sample is held on site and is the standard bulk is checked against — not a photograph and not a general quality promise.

Practically, the things that go wrong in embroidery bulk runs are thread tension drift, backing that shows through on light fabric, and placement creep across sizes. We check all three against the approved sample during the run rather than after packing, because the line is ours and stopping it costs us nothing but time.

You can also send your own QC inspector to the line on packing day. We will give you the address.

Quick answers

What is the MOQ for custom embroidered hoodies?

5 pieces per style and per colourway. Structured jackets start at 10 pieces because of component minimums.

Do you charge a digitising fee?

Digitising is included in the sample fee and reused in bulk at no extra charge. Many suppliers bill it separately, so ask.

How many thread colours can one design use?

Up to 12 in a single run. Beyond that the machine needs a thread change mid-run, which we will flag before sampling.

Can you match a Pantone thread colour?

We match against thread libraries rather than Pantone directly, because thread and ink behave differently. Send a Pantone reference and we will send back the closest thread options on the sample.

Can you combine embroidery with printing on one garment?

Yes. Embroidery, puff print, screen print and DTG are all stations in our factory, so a single garment can carry several decoration types without moving between vendors.

Get a costed quotation

See also our puff printing capability page and the full OEM & ODM overview.

Send your style, target quantity and artwork to duocaiyears@gmail.com or WhatsApp +86 139 6021 7862. Our full numbers are on the manufacturing FAQ.

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