Which textile for which use? A guide for HR, marketers and associations

Introduction

A T-shirt distributed at a trade show, a hoodie in the colours of a promotion, a softshell to dress a field team... Personalised textiles are not just objects. They are media in their own right, capable of reinforcing a brand's image, creating a bond or marking a moment.

But for this to work, you need to choose the right product for the context, the audience and the objectives. Not all textiles have the same impact. And a mistake in casting can quickly turn a useful investment into a mere expense.

👉🏼  This guide will help you make the right choices: depending on your target audience (employees, customers, students), your message and the intended use. The idea is to associate each textile with its best use, so that your communication is visible, consistent and long-lasting.

The most useful personalised textiles

Personalised t-shirts

Versatile, economical, easy to produce — T-shirts are still a safe bet

Ideal for :

• One-off events (trade fairs, awareness campaigns)
• Volume distribution (open days, festivals)
• Raising brand awareness or visibility

What you need to know :

• Cotton = breathable, natural, comfortable to wear
• Polyester = hard-wearing, quick-drying, perfect for sports use
• Grammage: under 150 g/m², the fabric may be too light; over 150 g/m², better hold
• Finish: seams and weave quality affect durability

Worth noting:

• Screen printing: economical for large runs
• Digital printing: for more complex visuals or small quantities

👉🏼  The right choice if you're looking for a low-budget personalised textile for event communication.

Hoodie / personalised sweatshirt

More engaging, more durable, more widely used. It's the ultimate identity textile.

Perfect for :

• Rallying a team or a promotion
• Giving a rewarding textile as an HR or association gift
• Reinforcing a sense of belonging to a group or a brand.

What you need to know :

• Cotton ensures comfort and softness
• Polyester reinforces the fit and limits creasing
• The cut (zip, round neck, hood...) should be chosen according to use and audience
• Raglan sleeves provide greater mobility for active wear

👉🏼  Hoodies are ideals for personalised corporate clothing for employees or personalised clothing for student groups.

Customised tote bag

A mobile, useful and visible medium. Perfect for taking your message everywhere.

Ideal for:

• Trade shows
• Student welcome packs
• Distributions with reuse in mind

What you need to know:

• Large format offers a generous branding surface
• Silk-screen printing for volume, digital printing for design, embroidery for a top-of-the-range finish
• Really useful if well thought out: clear visual, meticulous design, colour adapted to your charter

👉🏼  Tote bags are very suitable for field campaigns, or as an eco-responsible promotional textile for companies.

Custom softshell

When your image needs to remain professional, even outdoors. If you don't know what is softshell fabric ?

Use for :

• Teams travelling or at events
• Logistics or technical staff
• Corporate outdoor clothing (mid-season, mild winter)

What you need to know:

• Waterproof, breathable, lightweight
• More protective than a simple windbreaker, without the ‘heavy coat’ effect
• Ideal for combining comfort and brand visibility

👉🏼  Add discreet embroidery for a professional, long-lasting look.

👉🏼  Perfect for softshell flocking.

👉🏼  See softshell models.

Sleeveless waistcoat or lightweight down jacket

The right compromise between thermal comfort and mobility.

Recommended for :

• Outdoor supervisors
• Logistics or delivery staff
• Student associations (BDE, WEI, campaigns)

What you need to know :

• Waistcoat = ideal for mid-season
• down jacket = warmer
• Embroidery, patching or flocking possible, depending on the desired effect
• Can easily be combined with a t-shirt or polo shirt for a complete outfit
  
  

👉🏼 Perfect for corporate flocked clothing or to create a modular look in cool weather.

Which textiles for which objectives?

Every project has its own constraints: budget, context, image, logistics. Here's how to choose the right personalised textiles for your main objective.

Event objective

Visibility, responsiveness, volume.

Recommended materials :

• T-shirts (classic or technical)
• Tote bags
• Lightweight waistcoats

What to look for :

• Items that are easy to produce in volume
• A design that can be read from a distance (logos, slogans, strong colours)
• Good impact/cost ratio

Examples of use :

• Festivals
• Student fairs
• Open days

Tip: Plan to keep a little more stock than expected. Too much is better than too little, especially if you're distributing them en masse.

👉🏼  Target an effective advertising textile for a marketing campaign or event communication. 

Corporate objectives (HR, marketing, internal branding)

Image, consistency, quality.

Recommended media :

• Hoodies and premium sweatshirts
• Softshell jackets
• Quality polo shirts

What to look for :

• Comfortable, stylish cuts
• Durable finishes: embroidery, patches, reinforced zips
• Textiles in line with your visual identity

Examples of uses :

• Welcome or onboarding gifts
• Clothing for events or trade fairs
• Clothing for internal ambassadors

Tip: Plan a choice of sizes and cuts (men/women, unisex), with colours close to your corporate identity.

👉🏼  It's a good time to invest in personalised corporate clothing for employees that's durable and rewarding.

👉🏼  See our corporate gift ideas. 

Student association objective

Style, belonging, controlled budget.

Recommended materials :

• Stylish hoodies
• T-shirts with a message
• Creative tote bags

What to aim for :

• Impactful, well-placed visuals
• A good balance between style and price
• An immediate ‘community’ effect

Examples of uses :

• Promotional sweatshirts
• BDE / BDS outfits
• Student campaign items

👉🏼  Ideal for creating personalised clothing for clubs and student associations without blowing the budget.

Criteria not to be forgotten

A good textile is much more than a logo on a garment. Here are the key points to check before taking the plunge.

✅ Durability

Solid seams, hard-wearing fabric, good weight: your fabric needs to stand the test of time, especially if it's worn a lot.

✅ Comfort

Soft to the touch, the right fit, breathability: a comfortable garment is a garment that is worn. Otherwise, it ends up at the bottom of a drawer.

✅ Style

Adapt the look to your audience. Students, volunteers and employees all expect different things. And the visual effect counts just as much as the message.

✅ Responsible image

Opt for eco-responsible textiles (organic cotton, certified production) to highlight your CSR commitments.

✅ Marking technique

• Embroidery: for top-of-the-range, long-lasting results
• Screen printing: economical for large volumes
• Digital printing: complex visuals, gradients

👉🏼  To find out more: see our guide to personalisation techniques

In short

Personalised textiles are an excellent communication tool - as long as you choose them strategically. Whether you're an HR manager, a marketer or a member of an association, you have a wide range of products at your disposal to :

• convey a message
• reinforce a sense of belonging
• mark an event or enhance your brand.

👉🏼  At INKOO, we help you choose the right items, at the right time, to maximise your impact.

Great stories are for everyone even when only written for just one person. If you try to write with a wide, general audience in mind, your story will sound fake and lack emotion. No one will be interested. Write for one person. If it’s genuine for the one, it’s genuine for the rest.