7 Things You Need to Consider when Buying Hats for Embroidery

The Hat’s Structure

The first thing to consider when you’re buying hats for embroidery is the structure of the hat, which will determine its overall look. Generally, hats can be classified as either structured or unstructured. An unstructured cap is less stiff in feel and doesn't hold as firm of a shape. You can tell this if you lay an unstructured hat on a table, it will appear slightly “floppy,” and be laying almost flat. There’s no right or wrong, it’s only a matter of the look you’re going for. The other part of a hat’s construction to consider is the profile. Generally, hats have either a high, mid or low-profile design. You’ll need to look at your logo and decide what’s going to work best. High profile hats will have the largest space for embroidery, and vice versa. So, if you have a large and/or intricate logo, a high-profile hat might be a better choice.

How Many Panels the Hat Has

Hats will generally have 5, 6 or 7 panels. You can see the panels on any given hat as being separated by seams. When you’re getting hats for embroidery, the thing you want to consider is that a 6-panel hat will have a seam running down the center, which makes it harder to embroider. However, this does not mean that you can’t embroider on a 6-panel hat. It just means you need to make sure the embroidery is done perfectly, and consider the look of your logo. If you have a logo that’s split in the middle and won’t cover the seam of a 6-panel hat, then a 6-panel hat may not a good choice.

The Type Should Suit the Customer

It’s very important to consider your target customer when choosing the type of hat for embroidery. Generally, there are baseball hats, trucker hats, fitted hats and snapbacks. Each one caters a bit more to a certain style and demographic. So, depending on the type of business you are, think about your customers and what kind of hat they would want. For example, a trucker cap is great for those who work outdoors and want a mesh back that offers some air flow. Alternatively, if your brand caters to a younger, more trendy audience, a snapback or fitted cap may be a better choice.

Example of a Trucker Cap

The Material

The material of a hat is quite crucial, because it will determine much of the way it feels for the wearer. For example, polyester will provide moisture wicking properties and will be very beneficial for athletes, frequent runners, or anyone who is going to be sweating. Another example is water-resistant fabric, which would be a great choice for anyone frequently on a boat, in a marine environment etc.

Example of a Polyester Running Cap

The Colour

Potentially easy to overlook, the colour of a hat is crucial. Some hats only come in a couple (or even one) colour(s), so before you’ve made your choice and assume that it comes in the colour you’ll want, be sure to check the available colours for the hat you want. You should start your shopping with an idea of a few colours you think will look with your logo, so that your search is simpler and narrows down the options for you.

The Price

When initially selecting hats for embroidery, the price might not be the first thing that jumps out, especially if you’re shopping wholesale. And while bulk pricing keeps your costs lower the larger the order, you need to work out your budget and order quantity, as that will inform the maximum amount per piece that you can pay. This means when you’re shopping for hats, you can keep that number in your mind and instantly weed out hats that are out of your price range.

The Brim and Under-Visor

The shape of the brim plays a huge part of the hat’s look. Some hats have pre-curved brims, so if you’re going for a flat brim look, you’ll ideally want to avoid pre-curved brims. Conversely, if you’re looking for a curved look but the hat comes with a flat bill, it will mean that the wearer will have to manually curve the brim. Of course there’s nothing wrong with this, it’s just something bear in mind!

Example of a Flat Bill Cap

Example of a Pre-Curved Visor

So there you have 7 things to consider before buying hats for embroidery. Do you think we missed anything? Be sure to let us know. Happy embroidery!