What to Look for in An Embroidered Lab Coat

Just about anything constructed of fabric can be embroidered, including pillows, linens and towels, and articles of clothing, such as jackets; however, this article provides an overview of monogramming techniques and serves as a useful guide to those looking at embroidery options specifically for lab coats.

In the medical profession, a person’s rank, education and title can be indicated on a name tag, or more commonly found embroidered onto their lab coats or scrubs. The name and title placement is a “mark of status and achievement” and communicates to patients the clinician’s professional designation. When embroidering a lab coat, it is customary to include one or two lines of embroidery. The first line contains a person’s full name and credentials. The second line is usually the type of specialty or practice name. The addition of an embroidered logo can be used to effectively brand a company or practice as well. Be sure to get the correct spelling of the person’s name and title. While it may seem like alphabet soup, the correct use and placement of these letters and initials is very important in medical settings.

When choosing to add a logo or other custom embroidery, be sure to look for companies that use the latest in digital embroidery equipment and that provide stitched-out proofs (not just digital versions), before approving final embroidery work. This gives the buyer a chance to review not only the quality of the stitching and how the logo or embroidery will look when translated onto fabric, but the accuracy of the information to be embroidered. Also, be sure they use of high-quality, 100 percent polyester thread, which allows the embroidered work to retain its color, even when the garment is bleached.

A white lab coat is subjected to countless stains in both clinical and laboratory settings, so it’s important that the thread used in embroidery is resistant to fading from exposure to bleach. In addition, the use of all polyester thread means that its colors won’t bleed onto white coat during washing or cleaning. The practice of polyester threading for embroidery is what allows white athletic socks with colored logos to be bleached without the logo losing its color or bleeding onto the white socks.

Aside from the thread’s material, an equally important factor is the density of the stitching. To avoid cheap-looking embroidery, one must ensure that only high density embroidery is used, otherwise the white background shows through the lettering or logo, creating an extremely unprofessional appearance. In general, the adage, “You get what you pay for” applies to embroidery work. Why bother spending extra on a high-end lab coat only to depreciate it with lower stitch rates, lower quality thread and yarns?

To avoid the above scenario, be sure that a company is using only the newest and most technically advanced embroidery machines. The only way to ensure that a company will follow through on its promises is to provide a high-resolution logo file. When using a font for custom embroidery, be sure to use a digitized font to ensure higher quality finish (if unsure, check with the company before choosing any non-standard font type). Always request a sew-out, which is an actual swatch of fabric with the logo or embroidered text that provides a “sewn-out proof” not just a picture depicting the embroidery work. Depending on the company, sew-outs and digitizing of logos usually range from $35 - $125, depending on complexity, color variation and stitch quantity. Be sure the company uses correct backing placed behind the fabric to absorb numerous stitches and to increase the durability and longevity of the embroidered work, so that it doesn’t cause puckering around name and title.

Ordering a customized lab coat has never been easier, with many companies offering online shopping and one-stop embroidery work. By using this guide and carefully choosing from the countless options available today, it is possible to find a high quality lab coat with the finishing and embroidery detailing once reserved only for the elite.