PERSONALIZED CRAFTSMANSHIP
Custom Embroidered Jackets
An embroidered jacket is two commissions in one. There's the jacket itself — which has to fit, or the artwork sits on a garment nobody wears — and there's the embroidery, which has to be designed for the surface it goes on. Handled together, from the same specification, the two work as one piece. Handled separately, you get a decorated jacket that fits badly, or good artwork stitched onto something that doesn't suit it.
Gacket makes both parts to order: a jacket cut to your measurements, and embroidery placed and stitched to your design.
Reasons people commission one
Team and club jackets, where a name, number and crest need to be consistent across a group. Milestones — a graduation year, a tour, a date that means something. Band, crew and shop jackets that carry a logo. Personal artwork someone has drawn and wants on their back. Occasionally, a jacket rebuilt to replace one that was worn out and loved. All of these are specific by nature, and none of them exist to buy.
Getting the artwork right
This is where most of the useful thinking happens, so it's worth being deliberate.
Send the best version of your file you have. Vector artwork reproduces cleanest. A high-resolution image works. A screenshot or a small compressed file will limit what's achievable, and we'd rather tell you that up front than deliver a soft, approximate version of your design.
Simplify for thread. Embroidery is not printing. Very fine lines, tiny lettering, photographic gradients and dozens of colour steps don't survive translation into stitches. Bold shapes, clear outlines and a controlled colour palette look dramatically better. If your design is intricate, we'll suggest where to simplify rather than attempting something that won't read.
Think about placement early. A full back panel is the showcase position and the one that suits large artwork. Chest placements — left chest for a small logo, across the front for lettering — read as more restrained. Sleeves take names, numbers or repeating motifs well. The upper back below the collar is the natural home for arched lettering. Placement interacts with the jacket's seams and panels, so we work it out alongside the pattern rather than after it.
Specifying the jacket underneath
- Style — varsity, bomber, biker or a classic straight-cut jacket.
- Body — full leather throughout, or a wool body with leather sleeves in the traditional varsity construction.
- Fit and length — cut to your chest, shoulders, sleeve length and back length rather than a stock size.
- Closure — snap buttons, a zip front, or the press-stud placket of a traditional varsity.
- Trims — ribbed collar, cuffs and hem, with your choice of stripe colours.
- Lining — satin, quilted for warmth, or a contrast colour that shows when the jacket is open.
- Pockets — welt, patch or slash, inside and out.
- Leather, colour and hardware, plus thread colours for the embroidery itself.
Which hide takes embroidery well
The surface matters more than usual here, because thread has to sit on it cleanly. Cowhide gives a firm, stable panel that holds dense stitching without distorting — the right base for large back artwork. Goatskin is supple and durable with a fine pebble; it takes embroidery well and wears more comfortably than cowhide from day one. Lambskin is the softest and most luxurious to wear, and it suits smaller, lighter designs; heavy dense stitching on a very soft, thin hide risks pulling the surface. Suede gives a beautiful matte ground where thread stands out with real contrast, though it needs more care in wear. We'll advise on the combination once we've seen your artwork — the design and the hide are a single decision, not two. The types of leather guide covers each hide in more depth.
Measuring for the jacket
Take your chest measurement over a t-shirt, not bare and not over a sweater, unless you plan to wear the jacket over heavy layers — in which case say so and we'll allow for it. We'll also need shoulder width across the back, sleeve length from shoulder point to wrist, waist, and back length. Our jacket measuring guide walks through each step. Measuring a jacket you already own and like the fit of is a strong sanity check on your numbers.
The order sequence
- Send your artwork, your measurements, and a note on placement and jacket style.
- We review whether the design translates well to embroidery and come back with any adjustments we'd recommend.
- You confirm the full specification — jacket build, hide, colours, thread colours, artwork and placement.
- The jacket is cut, made and embroidered to that spec.
- It ships, free by express delivery in the USA, with international rates calculated at checkout.
Allow about 3–5 weeks for a made-to-measure jacket. Complex artwork or group orders may need a longer conversation at the start, so approach us early if the jacket is for a fixed date.
Honest FAQ
Can I return a personalised jacket?
Realistically, no. Stock pieces have a 7-day return window, but a jacket cut to your measurements and embroidered with your name or artwork cannot be resold to anyone else. Custom orders follow different terms and are handled by alteration where that's possible. This is the strongest reason to check the artwork and measurements carefully at the confirmation stage.
Can you use a logo I don't own?
We'll ask you to confirm you have the right to use any artwork you send. We won't reproduce third-party trademarks or copyrighted designs without that.
Will the embroidery come loose over time?
We guarantee the stitching for the life of the piece. Keep the jacket away from harsh cleaning and the thread will outlast most of what you put it through.
Can you do a matching set for a team?
Yes, with individual measurements for each person and a consistent design across the group. Start the conversation well ahead of when you need them.
Send your artwork and measurements through contact to begin, or read about how we make our jackets. For a sense of the base silhouettes, browse varsity jackets, bomber jackets and biker jackets.
Order Your Customized Embroidered Jacket
Customize your embroidered jacket with your preferred details, size, color, finish, and requirements.
The Journey of Creation
A meticulous process that transforms raw hides into architectural masterpieces.
Initial Consultation
Submit your request below. We review your vision, functional needs, and material preferences. A master artisan will reach out to discuss the structural feasibility of your design.
Material Selection
Choose from our curated collection of vegetable-tanned leathers sourced from historic Italian and Japanese tanneries. From pebbled textures to smooth bridle hides.
Handcrafted Assembly
Your piece is cut, stitched, and edge-finished by hand. We use traditional saddle-stitching techniques that ensure the piece will last for generations, developing a rich patina over time.
The standard is not what we make, but how we make it.
Learn more about our materials