Need a custom fire uniform program your whole department will wear? We embroider department logos, names, ranks, and station numbers on job shirts, polos, hoodies, jackets, and caps. Every order is stitched in-house at our Milton, Washington shop, run by the same family since 1977.
You send the artwork and garment list. We digitize the design, send a proof, and run a sample before full production. Our 5,000+ business customers reorder at a 95% rate.
A custom fire uniform program starts with the right garment for each job. Station shirts, public event polos, and off-duty hoodies serve different people on different days.
We pull blanks from curated brands, including Carhartt, Port Authority, and Nike. SanMar and Alpha Broder sit within 10 miles of our shop, so blank inventory reaches us the same day.
Department apparel by use
| Garment | Typical use | Common embroidery |
|---|---|---|
| Job shirts and quarter-zips | Daily station wear | Chest logo, name, rank |
| Polos and T-shirts | Training days, public events | Logo, station number |
| Hoodies and jackets | Cold shifts, off-duty | Back logo, name |
| Caps and beanies | Station and community wear | Logo, 3D puff |
| Gear bags | Off-duty carry | Logo, name |
Your department’s uniform policy decides which garments are approved for duty.
Job shirts carry most of your daily branding. Firefighter job shirt embroidery usually puts the department logo on the left chest, with a name and rank below it. Add a station number on the opposite side if your department uses one.
Polos suit open houses, fundraisers, and school visits. Custom fire department hoodies and T-shirts suit training days and off-duty crews. Embroidery fits polos and hoodies. Screen printing fits large T-shirt runs.
Jackets, caps, and beanies carry your mark through the cold months. Ask about 3D puff embroidery on hats for a raised, bold logo. Treat puff hats as station or off-duty headwear. They do not replace protective headgear.
Fire department embroidery starts with approved artwork. We digitize it, which converts your logo into a stitch file the machine reads. Your design, names, and ranks then repeat the same way on every garment.
A Maltese Cross holds fine detail, so digitizing matters. Our art director, Steve Deland, brings 40+ years of experience to our digitizing work. We match thread colors to your Pantone references.
We stitch on Tajima TMAR-KC machines. Each has 8 heads with 15 needles per head and runs at 1,100 RPM. Our custom embroidery services page covers the full process from digitizing to delivery.
Names and ranks make each shirt personal. Send a roster with exact spelling, rank, and size for every person. We stitch what you send, so check it twice.
Station numbers and company numbers follow the same process. For sewn emblems, see our custom embroidered patches page. Looking for fire department embroidery designs? Send us your approved department artwork. We digitize it and send a proof.
Embroidery vs. screen printing
| Factor | Embroidery | Screen printing |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Raised stitches | Flat ink on fabric |
| Best for | Job shirts, polos, jackets, caps | Bulk T-shirts, event shirts |
| Minimum order | 8 garments | 48 pieces |
| Color range | Thread colors | Wide ink range |
Choose embroidery for shirts that represent your department every day. Choose screen printing for large event runs. Read about our screen printing services if you need event shirts.
Ordering for a whole department takes a little prep. Gather these details first and your quote moves faster:
Tell us the garments you want and how many. We confirm styles, colors, and sizes from our curated lineup.
Send your logo and roster. A vector file gives the cleanest result. We review the art and suggest placement for each garment.
We digitize the design and send a digital proof. You approve it before we stitch anything. We then run a free physical sample in 3 to 5 business days, if order qualifies.
Standard turnaround is 10 business days from sample approval. Rush service adds a 25% surcharge. You pick up at our Milton showroom, or we ship.
Plan ahead for repeat orders. Digitizing is free on embroidery reorders, so a new recruit class or a worn-out shirt uses the same stitch file.
We decorate station and department apparel. We do not certify protective equipment. The rules below keep your orders on the right side of that line.
NFPA 1970 (2025 edition) sets requirements for structural and proximity firefighting ensembles, work apparel, SCBA, and PASS devices. It replaces the earlier NFPA 1971, 1975, 1981, and 1982 standards. Read the NFPA standard overview for the full scope.
Embroidery does not make a garment flame resistant. Reflective thread does not make a garment high-visibility PPE either. ANSI/ISEA 107 covers design, testing, and labeling for high-visibility apparel. See the high-visibility standard overview for details.
Roadway work calls for garments certified to that standard. Our construction and safety apparel page covers high-visibility options.
⚠️ SAFETY NOTE: Your department sets the rules for gear worn on the fireground. Check with your safety officer before you decorate any garment used for operations.
Stitching adds holes and material to a garment. Turnout gear manufacturers publish rules for repairs and additions. Ask your gear manufacturer and safety officer first.
Call us before you send any protective gear. We review the request with you before we accept the work.
We price each order by its details, so we do not post flat rates. Several factors set your cost. Each one is in your control.
Cost factors for department orders
| Factor | Effect on your price |
|---|---|
| Garment style | Blank cost varies by brand and style |
| Quantity | Larger runs lower the cost per piece |
| Stitch count | More stitches take more machine time |
| Decoration locations | Each added location adds embroidery |
| Personalization | Names and ranks add work per garment |
| Artwork prep | New designs need digitizing; reorders do not |
Order your core job shirt for the whole roster first. Add hoodies and caps in the same order so every piece shares one proof and one design.
Embroidery starts at 8 garments. Caps start at 8 per style and color. Orders under these minimums carry a $50 charge. See our custom apparel pricing page for current details.
Send quantities, garment preferences, artwork, and your deadline. We reply with an exact quote.
Every step runs under one roof at 2025 Freeman Road East, Milton, WA 98354. We do not outsource. Jim Mickelson founded the shop in 1977, and his son Erik Mickelson manages it today.
We delivered 99.8% of orders on time across 125,000+ projects. We are members of the Fife-Milton-Edgewood Chamber of Commerce.
Teams in Tacoma and Puyallup are a short drive from our shop. Read about custom apparel in Tacoma or custom apparel in Puyallup. Our showroom opens Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
You see a proof before we stitch. If the finished order misses the approved proof, we reprint it at no cost. A real person answers our phone.
“They had the items ready even before the due date. Would highly recommend.”
Jeremy Hanson, Construction Project Manager
Send us your department name, garments, quantities, logo, sizes if you have them, and your deadline. We reply with a quote in one business day.
Prefer to talk it through? Call us at 253-922-5793.
Yes, we embroider department logos on job shirts and quarter-zips. Send your approved artwork. We digitize it, send a proof, and run a sample before production. Left-chest placement is common, and we confirm size and position with you. Embroidery starts at 8 garments. Our custom embroidery services page explains each step.
Yes, we stitch names, ranks, and station numbers on each garment. Send a roster with exact spelling, rank, and size for every person. We copy the roster as written, so check it twice. Names and ranks add work per garment, and we include that in your quote.
Yes, we customize shirts, polos, hoodies, jackets, caps, and beanies. Embroidery suits hoodies, polos, and job shirts. Screen printing suits large T-shirt runs for events. Tell us how your crew uses each item and we recommend a method. We confirm styles and colors from our curated brands.
Yes, we reproduce an existing department design when your department approves the artwork. Send the best file you have. A clear photo works as a starting point. We digitize the design for embroidery on garments. For emblem orders, see our custom embroidered patches page.
Send a vector file if you have one. AI, EPS, and PDF files give the cleanest result. A high-resolution PNG or JPG works as a starting point. We convert the art into a stitch file and send a proof before production. Digitizing is free on embroidery reorders.
Cost depends on garment, quantity, stitch count, decoration locations, and personalization. We do not post flat rates because each department order differs. Send your list and logo, and we reply with a quote in one business day. See our custom apparel pricing page for the cost factors.
Embroidery on garments starts at 8 pieces. Caps start at 8 per style and color. Orders under these minimums carry a $50 charge. Screen printing starts at 48 pieces. Tell us your count and we suggest the best method for your budget.
Not without a review first. Turnout gear is certified protective equipment, and permitted modifications must be verified before work starts. Call us before you send any gear. We check with you and the gear manufacturer whether decoration is allowed. If it is not, we decline the job and suggest station wear instead.
A custom fire uniform program gives your crew matching, accurate station apparel with your logo stitched right. You get a proof, a sample, and a person who answers the phone.
Prefer email? Contact our Washington apparel team.
