Can I Send My Own Clothing for Embroidery?

Yes, you can send your own clothing for embroidery. Bordados Custom regularly works with customer-supplied garments, from T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts to jackets, motorcycle vests, workwear and one-off made-to-measure pieces.

Before production, we assess the garment, fabric and intended embroidery position. Not every item is suitable for every design, and in some cases the placement may need to change, the artwork may need adapting or we may recommend not embroidering the item at all.

1. Can I send my own clothes to be embroidered?

Yes. We provide this service regularly for both individuals and businesses.

Many customers already have the exact garment they want to use: a particular T-shirt, company polo, sweatshirt, jacket, motorcycle vest or even a made-to-measure item. In those cases, there is no reason to buy a different garment solely for the embroidery.

The garment can be delivered to us or sent by post or courier. Once received, we carry out the required assessment, prepare the embroidery and return the finished item.

2. What do we assess before embroidering customer-supplied clothing?

Before quoting or starting production, we need to understand whether the garment is suitable for the requested embroidery.

We look at factors including:

• fabric type and thickness;
• stretch and stability;
• the requested embroidery position;
• pockets, linings, zips and seams;
• design size and density;
• machine access to the area;
• the existing condition of a used garment.

The assessment is not only about whether the machine can physically embroider the area. It is also about whether the finished result is likely to be good enough.

3. Can pockets, linings, zips and seams prevent embroidery?

They can make the work significantly more difficult and, in some cases, prevent access to the intended area.

The hoop and machine need enough access to embroider the correct layer without accidentally stitching through parts of the garment that should remain separate.

This does not always make the job impossible. Some customers are prepared to sacrifice a function of the garment to achieve the embroidery they want. On some motorcycle vests, for example, we have removed internal pockets before embroidering the final design.

4. Can used clothing be embroidered?

Yes. The garment does not need to be new.

We regularly embroider clothing that customers have already owned and worn, including jackets, sweatshirts, vests and other personal items.

When used clothing arrives, its existing condition needs to be distinguished from anything done during the embroidery process. Existing wear, fading, marks or damage are naturally not caused by the personalisation.

5. What if the garment is expensive, unique or difficult to replace?

The harder a garment is to replace, the more important it becomes to test before producing the final embroidery.

We have embroidered made-to-measure pieces where several tests were carried out on similar materials before the final garment was put on the machine.

This can increase preparation time, but it reduces the risk of discovering a problem only after the final item is already being embroidered.

Higher-risk work may therefore be priced to reflect the additional preparation, testing and responsibility associated with a difficult-to-replace item.

6. Should businesses send spare garments for larger orders?

When a customer or business supplies a larger batch of clothing, we recommend sending a small production margin whenever possible.

Industrial embroidery is a mechanical process. Despite normal production controls, unexpected issues can occur, including needle breakage, thread breakage, marking or a machine fault during production.

This should not necessarily mean just one spare garment for the entire order. When several sizes are involved, it is more useful to have some margin within each required size.

If no issue occurs, the additional garments can simply be returned already embroidered. When we supply the clothing ourselves, we manage the production margin internally.

7. How does sending clothing by post for embroidery work?

1. Contact us so we can assess the garment and requested work.
2. Once the service is agreed, we provide the delivery address.
3. Send the garments using your preferred postal or courier service.
4. The sender information allows us to identify the delivery when it arrives.
5. We prepare, test where necessary and embroider the garments.
6. The completed items are then returned.

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

8. How long does embroidery on customer-supplied clothing take?

Our normal working lead time remains around two weeks from the point when we have the garments and the job is clearly defined.

Many orders are completed earlier, but unusual garments can require more preparation before production begins.

Testing materials, adapting the digitised embroidery file, removing part of a garment or finding a safe way to hoop the area can add preparation time. That additional work is part of reducing risk and improving the final result.

9. Frequently asked questions about embroidering your own clothes

Can I send just one T-shirt?

Yes. There is no minimum order quantity, provided the garment is suitable for the requested embroidery.

Can I send my own sweatshirt or polo shirt?

Yes. Sweatshirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, jackets and many other garments can be assessed for embroidery.

Does the clothing need to be new?

No. Used clothing can also be embroidered when it is in suitable condition.

Can every fabric be embroidered?

Not necessarily. The fabric, garment construction and intended placement need to be assessed first.

Can an internal pocket become unusable?

Yes. In some cases a pocket may need to be removed, opened or otherwise compromised to access the embroidery area. This is discussed before production.

Do you test before embroidering an expensive garment?

When the risk or difficulty justifies it, yes. We can test the embroidery on similar materials before working on the final garment.

How much does it cost to embroider my own clothing?

The price depends on quantity, embroidery size, number of embroidered areas and placement. Because the garment is supplied by the customer, there is no garment cost.

Can I send clothing from anywhere in Portugal?

Yes. Garments can be sent by post or courier and we return them after the embroidery is completed.

Embroidering clothing you already own can be the right solution

You do not always need to buy new clothing to order custom embroidery. If you already own a garment you like, use a specific workwear model or have an item that is difficult to replace, we can assess whether it can be embroidered directly.

The important point is not to assume that every garment can accept every design. The final quality depends on the combination of fabric, construction, placement, size and artwork.

Before sending your clothing for embroidery, contact us and show us the item. An initial assessment helps choose the right approach before the garment is shipped.