A week ago, my team was faced with a dilemma: the supplier of our embroidered corporate giveaways backed out at the last minute. So, we scrambled on our feet to get the replacement.
To start, I didn’t have the foggiest idea about textiles and thread count. I can’t even tell cotton from polyester!
Fortunately, some good friends at Wunderlust London lent their expertise in listing service providers, and together we set out to find a suitable embroidery option in the capital.
Our team is grateful for the assistance of these list-making wizards. Thanks to them, we not only found a proper embroidery service on such short notice, but also learned a lot about choosing the right polo shirt for our needs!
How we chose the embroidery services in London
- Value and Quality: One of the things we considered was the value relative to the price point. This is why our list includes services ranging from affordable to expensive.
- Turnaround Time: We noted different turnaround times to accommodate various needs, including express, same-day, or thorough ordering services.
- Extensive Merchandise Collection: All the companies on our list have a lot of merchandise options on their webshops. By having numerous choices available, shoppers can easily compare products and make informed decisions without visiting various stores.
- Customer Review: To ensure our recommendations are authentic, we spoke with friends and customers who have used their services. Some of the feedback wasn’t flattering, but it helped us form a balanced perspective.
- Communication: We know running a business is not a walk in the park. However, we definitely appreciate those who make an effort to communicate with clients, resolve their issues, and respond to concerns online.
- Experience: All the companies we considered have decades of experience or serve a roster of prominent brands.
1. Stitch to Stitch
Address: 2 Central Parade, High Street Penge
Phone: 020 8776 5887
Business hours:
- Mon-Wed&Fri: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Thurs: Close: 7 PM
Stitch to Stitch (S2S) is popular among many football enthusiasts we know, mainly for its footwear embroidery services. Their roster of clients includes AC Milan, Adidas, and H&M.
What we like most about this company is their budget-friendly options and the convenient click-and-collect ordering system.
Ordering is straightforward, as we tried it ourselves—just a few clicks on their website, and you’re set! If you’re too busy to pick up, simply select shipping.
What’s more, S2S doesn’t have any minimum order requirements. It’s as easy as strolling into their shop to get a pair of cleats embroidered.
What we don’t like about them is the issues that arise when they have a lot of orders.
Based on our interviews with clients and our own experience, the company seems to struggle with supplier inventory and quality control for services beyond its niche. This is likely due to their quick turnaround times.
However, they often acknowledge their lapses and strive to make them right. To err is human; to make reparations is divine!
Cannot recommend them highly enough
These guys are absolutely awesome! I cannot recommend them highly enough. The communication, pricing, user-friendly approach and attention to detail were faultless. On both occasions the end product was above and beyond my expectations. Thank you very much!
- Graeme R., Google Review
Couldn’t be happier with the result
Ordered some customisation of a t shirt for a special occasion. I couldn’t be happier with the result and they were super easy to deal with and I thought the cost very reasonable. Definitely recommend!
- Alex H., Google Review
2. Hand & Lock
Address: 86, Margaret Street
Phone: 0207 580 7488
Business hours:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sat – Sun: Closed
Hand & Lock is your go-to company if you’re into atelier pieces and tradition-rich embroidery, with over 200 years in the business! They’ve also established themselves as a British institution through their embroidery school.
What we find noteworthy are their bespoke hand-made and machine-made embroidery options, along with their restoration services. A friend of mine mentioned their work on an heirloom wedding gown, which had intricate stitching on it that was beautifully restored.
In addition, we admire the meticulous attention to detail in their monograms, which include reasonably priced stitching with dense thread coverage.
However, a few customers we interviewed mentioned instances of late cancellation and a slow turnaround process, especially for design work. So, if you need something done quickly, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Attention to detail
Easy and straightforward purchase, items arrived well packaged. They are very good quality. I bought 2 embroidered badges and you can see the attention to detail with no loose threads, also a very good density of thread coverage for an item so well priced.
- Rebecca S., Google Review
Exceptional from start to finish!
My experience with Hand & Lock was exceptional from start to finish. I got in touch in regards to embossing a cardholder and was in contact with them through email over several days, with speedy and helpful replies.
- Mariya Patel, Google Review
3. East London Printers
Address: Unit 9, Acacia Business Centre, 14 Howard Rd
Phone: 020 3773 5020
Business hours:
- Mon – Fri: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sat – Sun: closed
East London Printers (ELP) caught our attention because you can choose the merchandise on their website and upload the embroidery design. This makes ordering as easy as adding items to your cart!
We appreciated their range of solutions, which includes same-day and express services, as well as logo editing with no minimum orders. Many customers we interviewed also opted for these service varieties.
What really impressed us most was their ability to enhance a logo’s image quality before stitching, which is especially helpful for those starting with small images. This service really solved our problem!
On the downside, ELP seems slow with communication. Additionally, some customers we talked to had issues like missed deadlines and forgotten items in deliveries.
Despite these concerns, they deserve a spot on our list for providing solutions tailored to various needs. Additionally, serving clients like The Wembley Club and TSB is noteworthy!
Highly recommend!
Stunning embroidery work!
Swift service and fast turnaround for bulk order. Highly recommend and will use them again 🙂
- Mateen I., Google Review
Embroidered polos were lovely
Express order embroidered polos were lovely – worn the very next day for a conference and a number of times since. The polos themselves seem to be very good quality (double hems etc) and the logo embroidery is great as well…
- Mel K., Google Review
4. Fifth Column Printers
Address: Lockwood Industrial Estate, Mill Mead Rd
Phone: 208 801 2383
Business hours:
- Visits are through appointments only
One thing that put us in awe of Fifth Column is their commitment to Living Wage accreditation and ethical standards. Sustainability-conscious organisations will appreciate their support for organic cotton, recycled clothing, and Fair Wear Fairtrade.
We also like their express service, though it does come with additional costs. What’s more, they have industrial-grade embroidery machines that accurately capture logo designs.
We were impressed by their helpfulness in accommodating our last-minute request, and customers we talked to also shared a similar experience!
Fifth Column’s aesthetic roots are noteworthy too; they began by designing and selling T-shirts for bands like The Clash and The Jam in the ‘70s!
On the downside, they require a minimum order of 50 pieces. This means you can’t approach them for the embroidery of just a dozen polo shirts.
As a result, their website only allows merchandise browsing with no add-to-cart option. Still, we think this is best to ensure everything is well-considered for bulk orders.
Overall, we couldn’t be much happier with their value offerings, and customers we interviewed echoed this sentiment!
Highly Recommended!
Bought some merch for our company, great service and fantastic, quality products. Highly recommend!
- John P., Google Review
Reasonably priced and quality service
Recently placed an order for 150 T-shirts with Fifth Column and we are very happy with the quality. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a reasonably priced and quality service. Lily was extremely helpful with our order and guided us through the order process.
- Sam H., Google Review
5. SpeedStitch
Address: Unit 32 Walthamstow Business Centre, Clifford Road, Walthamstow
Phone: 020 8531 4800
Business hours:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sat: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Here’s the truth—the long queue at SpeedStitch’s store during the school season can be a drag since they’re known for their schoolwear products. Plus, their minimum order value of £40 might not appeal to everyone.
We’ve also heard from several parents who are concerned about missing orders or late shipments. Given that they serve over a hundred schools in Britain, this isn’t surprising.
However, we included this company on our list because of their cumulative 25 years of industry experience and an extensive collection of workwear merchandise. They can embroider a variety of items, from scrubs and safety vests to aprons and chef hats!
Their well-stocked web shop also provides a range of options for different budgets. Even better, placing a basic order is quite easy!
What’s more, they make an effort to communicate with the customers and resolve issues, despite being quite busy. We personally interviewed a few customers and found that the company strives to address problems.
Additionally, they have a transparent policy on returns and exchanges on their website, which we find not only fair but helpful!
Excellent value for money
Fantastic customer service, great quality clothing, excellent value for money and speedy delivery service! Would highly recommend without a doubt! Thank you, l am sure l will be in touch again in the near future!
- Lynsey W., Google Review
Always very good!
Have supplied us workwear for years. Always very good.
- Bobby B., Google Review
