Custom Embroidery in Portugal: How to Order Online

Ordering custom embroidery in Portugal no longer means finding a nearby physical shop, taking a garment there and waiting for a quotation. Today you can choose the product, upload your artwork, approve the personalisation and receive the finished order at home.

Bordados Custom operates mainly online, with in-house production and no minimum order quantity. We work with individuals, companies, associations, clubs, teams, motorcycle groups and students, from single items to larger orders.

1. Where can you order custom embroidery in Portugal?

The best option depends on the result you want. There are general personalisation shops, retailers that receive the order and send production to a third party, and companies that specialise directly in embroidery.

At Bordados Custom, embroidery is the core of the business. We prepare the digitised embroidery files in-house, carry out our own tests and produce the embroidery on our own machines. We do not send embroidery orders to another company for production.

For the customer, this means that the people analysing the artwork also understand how thread, fabric and embroidery machines behave in real production. When a detail needs adjusting, a section needs simplifying or a different construction needs testing, the entire process stays under the same production control.

You also do not need to be close to our premises. The shop operates mainly online, so customers can order from anywhere in Portugal or from abroad and receive the finished work by carrier.

2. Catalogue products or fully custom embroidery?

There are two main ways to order from Bordados Custom.

The first is to choose an existing catalogue product. Many embroidered patches are already designed and can be viewed directly in the shop. Because the artwork preparation already exists, these products can generally be produced more quickly and are often priced below a design created exclusively for one customer.

One example is our large range of Portuguese parish and coat-of-arms patches. It would be impractical to keep every design physically in stock, so some are produced after the order is placed. Even then, because the preparation process for the collection is already established, production can move quickly.

The second option is fully personalised products. Here, the customer sends their own logo, name, image or concept and the work is prepared specifically for that order.

The online shop currently includes custom patches, T-shirts, sweatshirts and caps, and the range is updated as new products are added. The best way to check the current selection is to visit the personalised products section.

3. How do you order custom embroidery online?

The online customiser is designed to make the process straightforward, even for customers who have never ordered embroidery before.

1. Choose the product you want to personalise.
2. Select the available options, such as size, quantity, model or backing.
3. Upload the logo, artwork or image you want us to use.
4. Complete the order at the price shown online.
5. Our team reviews the artwork and prepares it for production.
6. When appropriate, we send a digital embroidery preview for approval.
7. After validation, the order moves into production and is then shipped.

For custom patches, our software allows us to create a visual representation that is close to the intended finished result, helping the customer understand the composition, main elements and overall appearance before production.

Customers who are unsure about the right option do not need to order blindly. You can contact us by WhatsApp or through the website contact section. We normally reply on the same working day and can help you decide whether the chosen product, size or technique is appropriate.

4. Can the price increase after we review the artwork?

No. For products configured through our online customiser, the price paid is the final price for the selected order. Complex artwork does not lead to a later surcharge simply because it takes longer to prepare.

There are cases where, after reviewing the file, we believe another personalisation method will give a better result. Artwork with extremely fine detail, gradients or visual characteristics that do not translate particularly well into traditional embroidery may be better suited to another patch production method.

In that situation, we explain the alternative to the customer. When the recommended method costs less, the order value is adjusted in the customer's favour. The aim is not to use embroidery at any cost; it is to deliver the method that best suits the artwork and intended use.

5. Can you send your own garments to be embroidered?

Yes. Customers who already own the garments can send them to us and order the embroidery as a separate service.

The process is simple: we provide the delivery address, the customer sends the garments using their preferred postal or courier service, and once the material arrives we embroider it and return the completed order.

Shipping to our premises is arranged and paid by the customer. Return delivery is included in the amount agreed for the service.

When we supply the clothing, we use models we know and consider suitable for embroidery. We test garments and materials because fabric weight or a "100% cotton" label alone does not guarantee quality. We explain this in more detail in our guide to choosing clothing for embroidery.

6. Why choose a custom embroidery company with in-house production?

Not every place that accepts embroidery orders necessarily produces the work itself. Clothing retailers, general personalisation shops and other businesses may operate as intermediaries and send the embroidery to a separate supplier.

That does not automatically mean the finished work will be poor, but there is an important difference: a specialist company with in-house production can directly control every stage, from embroidery digitising and testing through to stitching and finishing.

This is the type of service we want to provide. We are not simply a shop that also happens to offer embroidery. Embroidery is the centre of the business. We work for customers who value definition, finishing, durability and attention to detail, including designs that require more preparation time.

7. How long does a custom embroidery order take?

Our committed lead time for a normal order is up to two weeks, although many orders are completed and delivered before that limit.

The actual time depends on the design, the need to prepare and approve the artwork, the current production workload and, for clothing, the availability of the requested colour and size.

We do not permanently hold every T-shirt, sweatshirt and cap model in every possible colour and size because this would require thousands of stock combinations. When necessary, we order garments from our suppliers while the embroidery design is being prepared, helping to reduce the impact on the overall turnaround time.

Catalogue products with artwork already prepared may move more quickly. Some patches that still need to be produced can normally be dispatched only a few days after the order.

8. Frequently asked questions about ordering custom embroidery

Can I order just one item?

Yes. We do not require a minimum order quantity.

Do I need to visit in person?

No. The entire process can be handled remotely, from ordering and uploading the artwork to approval and delivery.

Do you ship outside Portugal?

Yes. We ship throughout Portugal and also accept international orders.

Do I approve the design before production?

For work where approval is appropriate, we prepare a digital preview and seek the customer's confirmation before production.

Will complex artwork cost more after I order?

No. For products configured online, the price paid is final. Complex artwork may require additional preparation time, but this does not result in an extra charge afterwards.

Can I provide my own clothing?

Yes. You can send the garments to us, we produce the embroidery and return the completed items.

What happens if my design is not suitable for embroidery?

We review the artwork and, when another method is likely to produce a better result, we explain that option before production.

Does Bordados Custom outsource embroidery production?

No. Embroidery digitising and production are handled in-house.

A specialist custom embroidery shop, available online

Ordering online does not have to mean losing access to specialist support. Bordados Custom is designed to combine both: the convenience of an online custom embroidery shop with the control of specialised in-house production.

You can order a single item or a larger run, choose between catalogue products and fully custom work, send your own garments and speak directly with us whenever you need help.

The goal is simple: customers looking for custom embroidery in Portugal or from abroad can manage the entire process remotely without giving up quality, attention to detail or direct production control.