Branded Uniform Program for a Lisbon Tech Company
A Lisbon-based tech company with 400 employees engaged White Cotton to manufacture 1,000 embroidered polo shirts and cotton oxford shirts for their corporate uniform program, with quarterly reorder capability and colour-matched consistency across production runs.
Type
Tech Company
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Size
Established Label
The Challenge
The Challenge
The company was rebranding and needed a complete uniform refresh for 400 employees across three offices. Previous uniforms from a Chinese supplier had inconsistent sizing between batches, logo embroidery that frayed after 20 washes, and a 12-week lead time that made seasonal reorders impractical. They needed a local partner who could guarantee batch-to-batch consistency and deliver reorders within 3 weeks.
Our Approach
Our Solution
White Cotton developed a two-garment uniform system: a 220 GSM cotton pique polo for daily wear and a 200 GSM cotton oxford button-down for client-facing days. Both featured left-chest embroidery of the company logo at 8,000 stitches with tear-away backing. We created a dedicated production template stored in our system, so reorders use identical patterns, thread colours, and embroidery files — guaranteeing consistency even 18 months later.
Step by Step
The Process
Needs Assessment
On-site meeting at the client's Lisbon headquarters to understand dress code requirements, employee sizing distribution, and brand guidelines. Collected logo files and Pantone colour references.
Size Grading & Fit Samples
Produced fit samples in sizes S through 3XL for both styles. The HR team organised a fitting session with 20 employees across different body types. Adjusted shoulder width on the polo and sleeve length on the oxford based on feedback.
Embroidery Digitisation
Digitised the company logo at 8,000 stitches optimised for pique knit and oxford weave. Ran wash tests — 50 cycles at 40°C — to verify thread durability and colour fastness on both fabrics.
Bulk Production
Produced 1,000 units — 600 polos (3 colours) and 400 oxfords (2 colours) — across the full size range. Each unit individually measured against the grading spec before embroidery.
Reorder Protocol Setup
Established a quarterly reorder system with a 3-week turnaround guarantee. Stored fabric rolls, embroidery files, and size specs in our production management system for instant re-runs.
Technical Details
Project Specs
Garments
Polo Pique (220 GSM, regular fit), Cotton Oxford Shirt (200 GSM, slim fit)
Fabrics
Cotton Pique Knit 220 GSM, Cotton Poplin 200 GSM
Techniques
Flat Embroidery (left chest, 8,000 stitches), Custom Woven Labels, Individual Size Labels
Quantity
1,000 units (600 polos + 400 oxford shirts)
Timeline
5 weeks for initial order, 3 weeks for reorders
MOQ
50 per style per colour per size
Outcomes
Results
- •Achieved 100% batch-to-batch consistency across 4 quarterly reorders over 12 months — zero complaints from employees about sizing differences
- •Embroidery durability exceeded expectations: after 50 wash cycles, independent testing showed zero fraying versus the previous supplier's 15% failure rate
- •Per-unit cost was 18% lower than the previous import supplier when accounting for shipping, duties, and defect replacement
- •Lead time reduced from 12 weeks to 3 weeks for reorders, allowing the company to onboard new employees with uniforms ready on day one
Client Testimonial
“We used to dread uniform reorders — every batch from our old supplier was slightly different and the embroidery fell apart. White Cotton treats our polo shirts with the same precision as they treat streetwear brands. Four reorders in and every single shirt is identical to the first.”
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