Six Amazing Facts About Polo Company Shirts

Corporate Polo Shirts (aka - Company Polo Shirts) will be the foundation of many companies staff uniform but how do you ensure you get it correct for your company? Smarter than a T-shirt and less formal than a shirt, the Corporate Polo can often provide just the proper balance between style and substance but like any item of corporate clothing it must be appropriate for the working environment and be able to deliver wearer comfort & value-for-money.

It might sound obvious but a Polo Shirt isn't an item of safety clothing, so it's vital that the company (or a suitably qualified person) execute a risk assessment. Anyone involved with hazardous work requires special consideration, which is why today's article is only intended to deal with Corporate and light industrial applications - for which the very first choice is fabric.

Polo Shirts tend to be worn as a base layer (next to the skin), so it is critical to consider the temperature of the place of work - your staff certainly will not thank you if they are too hot (or too cold)!

Inside this regard, the choice between Cotton and Polyester (or a mix of the 2) will be as relevant as the load of the fabric itself: Cotton is a natural fibre and is therefore kind to the skin as well as secure to wear BUT a synthetic fabric, such as Polyester, might be more robust and easier to care for. This really is why nearly all Corporate Polo Shirts are made of fabric with a mixture of both Cotton & Polyester fibres.

The exact choice relies upon a range of factors, so it's best to speak to your supplier for specific advice but as a rule of thumb, Cotton Polo Shirts in 220 to 250gsm weight fabric will normally be reserved for office & clerical staff, whilst Cotton/Polyester in 180 to 220gsm weight are mainly used for Company Polo Shirts in light industrial fabrication & engineering.

Polo Shirts are obtainable in a number of styles; usually they come with two or three button opening (placket) at the neck, a rib knit collar and short sleeves but there are actually additional options and some of these may be useful, for example a very long back panel (to keep the wearers lower back warm) and side vents (for ease of movement).

Colours need to be considered in light of your corporate logo and if there's not much of a similar colour available from stock then go with a complimentary colour or (if you require sufficient quantity) perhaps a bespoke Polo, manufactured to match your company colour/s.

For Corporate Polos there can really be only one choice and that's embroidery. An embroidered Polo Shirt looks so much smarter than one that is printed and conveys an air of quality that's challenging to obtain with every other type of embellishment. The traditional placement for the company logo is on the left or right chest but an increasing number of companies are adding additional embroidery to the chest, sleeves and back for example the company website, brand names and sometimes individual wearer names (though this does limit the possibility to reuse the garment, if a member of staff should leave).

It is vital that your particular supplier digitises the image correctly for use on Polo Shirt fabric and uses the proper backing but a knowledgeable embroiderer will do this as a matter of course. It sometimes can be necessary to make minor adjustments to a company logo, such as enhancing the thickness of fine lines or the size of small text to be able to give the best result but again your supplier should discuss this with you and advise how it's possible to show your logo to best effect.

Having the proper Polo Shirt can really help your company portray a professional image, to both visitors and also the wider business community. An attractive and comfortable Company Polo also can help unify your staff and motivate them to work with the company, rather than just for the company.

Unfortunately, Corporate Polo Shirts tend to be seen as little more than a cost to the company and it can be tempting for buyers and business people to look towards the cheapest option but if that suggests presenting a poor image or replacing the garments sooner than expected, then what is the real cost?

Sometimes the main difference between a cheap garment and also the right garment is measured in pennies. With the proper choices and also the right supplier, your Corporate Polo Shirts should represent real value-for-money and that is a much more savvy way of protecting your bank balance for the long-term.