Techniques and applications
A logo on high-vis workwear: what should you check?
A logo on high-vis workwear starts with the exact garment
A logo on reflective workwear requires the garment model, size, logo position and decoration method to be checked first. On certified high-visibility clothing, the proposed application must fit the instructions for that article. Provide the product details and required clothing class before the logo dimensions are agreed.
For SDLG, this starts with assessing the application and feasibility. The options for your particular garment and logo are confirmed during the enquiry.
Check the product documentation alongside the colour
Start with the brand, article number, version and label. If your work requires a particular class or clothing combination, include that requirement in the enquiry. Have your organisation establish which clothing is needed. A striking colour name or photograph provides insufficient information about the documentation for the exact article.
For garments with several protective properties, the other product conditions also matter. Explain, for example, whether rain protection or other protective requirements apply alongside visibility. This allows the complete garment enquiry to be assessed before choosing a decoration method.
Logo dimensions and position belong together
On high-visibility garments under EN ISO 20471, the visible fluorescent background is part of the assessment. Sioen explains that covering it with a logo reduces the functional area. The manufacturer advises keeping reflective bands clear and considering a contrast panel where appropriate. Smaller garment sizes may also leave less room for decoration. This is manufacturer guidance for the clothing application described. Consult the matching instructions for your own article. Sioen’s technical personalisation guide.
Snickers Workwear also warns that an excessively large logo may affect a high-vis garment’s classification. The description “safety vest” or “work jacket” therefore does not establish a universal permitted back-logo size. Snickers Workwear on high-vis branding.
Show every proposed marking, including a company name on the chest, a back logo and any role description. Ask about the permitted combination of positions and dimensions for the selected article. An empty area between two seams does not itself establish an approved logo position.
Check the application across the complete size range
A team order often contains several sizes. Record the required sizes for each garment and whether you want the same logo dimensions throughout. In consultation with the product supplier, first assess the size with the most limited available space.
| What needs to be agreed? | Which information is needed? |
|---|---|
| One logo size for the whole team | The exact garment model and complete size breakdown. |
| A chest logo and a back logo | Both positions and final dimensions, together with existing markings. |
| A repeat order | The previously agreed garment and logo version, plus every change. |
| A clothing combination for work | The prescribed combination and documentation for the relevant articles. |
Keep the agreed layout as a reference and state which version it covers. A change of brand, model, size range or logo position requires another check. A design used on an ordinary polo shirt does not yet specify the application on a high-vis jacket.
Include the decoration method in the assessment
A transfer uses heat and adhesion. Embroidery puts needle stitches through the fabric. The appropriate method depends on the garment and its product requirements. Describe the appearance you want and have the method, material and position assessed together.
Specialist protective clothing may have additional instructions for decoration materials and processing. Obtain this information for the specific article. Settings or material names from an earlier order do not fully prepare a different garment model for decoration.
When discussing a trial, define what it should check, such as layout, positioning or finish. Record the product documentation and agreed assessment alongside it. For the general differences between techniques, see our guide to embroidery and DTF for workwear.
Information for your enquiry
- Brand, article number, colour and photographs of the label.
- The required clothing class or other prescribed properties.
- Product specification, user instructions and available decoration guidance.
- Quantities by size and the articles worn together.
- Your logo, every proposed position and final dimensions in centimetres.
- Details of existing printing or embroidery on the garments.
If you have already purchased the clothing, send this information first. Before supplying the garments, discuss whether the decoration can be carried out and which further assessment is needed. For a repeat order, include a clear reference to the previously agreed version.
Can a name or extra logo be added later?
Have additions assessed beforehand too. Include the existing markings and specify the new position and dimensions. The original agreement does not automatically cover an area added later.
What if the garment documentation is missing?
Request it from the garment supplier. A photograph of a brightly coloured jacket alone cannot establish the permitted decoration.
For general order preparation, see workwear printing, from logo and fabric to team order. Explore our workwear printing and workwear embroidery services.
Discuss your clothing and decoration enquiry with SDLG →
Sources consulted on 6 November 2026. No clear publication date was established for the manufacturer pages cited. They provide technical background for an enquiry. The actual application is assessed for each article.