Fabric first - the decision that affects everything else

The fabric you choose for a custom polo shirt determines how it looks, how it performs, and how long it lasts. For most clubs and businesses, the choice comes down to three options: cotton piqué, polyester performance fabric, or a cotton-polyester blend.

Cotton piqué gives a classic, structured look and feels natural against the skin. It's well suited to corporate and hospitality settings where comfort during longer wear matters more than moisture management. The trade-off is that it absorbs sweat rather than wicking it, which makes it less ideal for active use.

Polyester performance fabric is the right choice for golf, tennis, and any active use. It wicks moisture away from the skin, dries quickly, and holds colour well through repeated washing. Most of our golf club apparel orders use performance polyester for this reason.

A cotton-polyester blend sits between the two - more breathable than pure polyester, more durable than pure cotton. It's a practical all-rounder for teams that need a polo that works across different contexts.

Decoration method - embroidery vs print

For polo shirts, embroidery is almost always the right choice for club badges, company logos, and crests. It gives a raised, textured finish that looks professional and holds up through commercial washing. Print on a polo shirt - particularly screen print - can crack and peel over time, especially around the chest area where fabric flexes when worn.

The exception is full-colour photographic logos or very large back designs, where sublimation or DTF print is more practical than embroidery. For most B2B polo shirt orders, a left chest embroidered logo in 3–4 inches is the standard that works in almost every context.

Fit and sizing - getting it right across a team

Fit consistency across a size run is one of the most common issues with custom polo shirts. A medium from one manufacturer can fit very differently from a medium from another. When ordering for a team or staff group, we recommend requesting a pre-production sample in the most common sizes before the full run is approved.

We offer regular, slim, and relaxed fits depending on the intended use. Corporate and hospitality orders typically go with regular or slim. Sports clubs and active use orders tend to go with a more relaxed athletic fit. Each fit is confirmed at the design proof stage before production begins.

Colours and branding consistency

If your club or organisation has defined brand colours, it's worth providing a Pantone reference at the brief stage. We match thread colours to Pantone where possible and confirm the match in the design proof. Fabric colours are selected from our available range - we'll recommend the closest match to your specification and confirm before production.

For reorders, your colour specifications and embroidery file are stored on file, which means subsequent orders are consistent with the original without needing to restart the process.

Minimum quantities and lead times

Our minimum order quantity is 20 polo shirts per style. Reorders for existing customers start from 12 units, which covers topping up for new starters or replacing worn garments without committing to a full run.

Lead time from design approval is typically four to six weeks. A digital design proof is returned within 24 hours of receiving your brief - production only starts once you've approved it in writing.

To get a quote for custom polo shirts for your team, club, or organisation, submit a brief at candishsports.co.uk/get-a-quote or call us free on 0800 056 7929.