Both are standard branding methods in Kenya, and the right choice depends on the garment, the wash frequency, and your budget per piece — not on which looks better in a sample.
The logo is stitched into the fabric, so it doesn’t crack, peel or fade the way a printed logo can after repeated industrial washing. It costs more per piece and takes slightly longer to set up (digitising the logo the first time), but for daily workwear, school blazers and anything washed weekly for years, it’s the better long-run cost per wear.
Ink is pressed through a screen onto the fabric — fast, and the cheapest option at high volumes. It suits large single-run orders like event t-shirts, campaign wear or PE kits that don’t need to survive years of washing. On dark or textured industrial fabric, prints can crack sooner than on cotton.
If the garment will be worn and washed weekly for more than a year — corporate shirts, school blazers, security uniforms — we recommend embroidery. If it’s a one-off run for an event, campaign or single school term, screen printing is the more economical choice.
Most buyers in Kenya begin by asking which method looks better. A more useful first question is what the garment will go through. A polo shirt worn five days a week and washed twice a week has a very different life from a campaign t-shirt worn at three events. The method that suits one can disappoint on the other.
This guide adds practical detail to our short comparison above. It is written for school bursars, procurement officers and business owners in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Mombasa and beyond who are choosing branding for uniforms, and it avoids prices on purpose: the cost depends on your quantity, garment and artwork, so we quote each job on its own.
An embroidery machine stitches thread into the fabric following a digitised version of your logo. Digitising turns the artwork into a stitch plan: direction, density and sequence of stitches. It is a one-time setup, and at MoveBrands the file is kept for re-orders. Standard bulk embroidery is ready 5-7 working days after you approve the artwork.
A mesh screen is prepared for each colour in the design, and ink is pressed through it onto the fabric. Once the screens are ready, many garments can be printed quickly, which is why it suits large, single-run orders. Designs with several colours need more screens and careful alignment.
| Question | Embroidery | Screen printing |
|---|---|---|
| Feel on the garment | Raised, textured, slightly firm | Flat or soft, depending on ink and area |
| Fine detail and tiny text | Limited by thread thickness | Handles small detail better |
| Large solid areas | Heavy and can pucker thin fabric | Handles large areas easily |
| Repeated washing | Holds up very well | Can fade or crack over time |
| Many colours or gradients | Each colour needs a thread change | Photographic gradients are better served by other methods |
| Typical use | Polo shirts, blazers, caps, jackets, scrubs | T-shirts, bibs, tote bags, event and campaign wear |
| Setup | Digitising once | Screens per colour for each design |
Other methods exist too. For all-over colours and sports shirts, see sublimation printing.
MoveBrands is a Nairobi Kasarani-based manufacturer with in-house embroidery and printing. You can visit the shop in Kasarani, Nairobi, to compare finished samples side by side, which is the easiest way to decide. Otherwise, send your logo and garment list on WhatsApp (+254 720 149 329), and we reply with an itemised quotation within the same working day. We deliver across Kenya, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Thika, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Machakos and Kakamega.
To understand what shapes your quotation, read what affects the cost of uniforms. If you are ordering for a school, use the procurement checklist. Our embroidery page has more on stitched branding.
Yes. A common combination is an embroidered chest logo with a printed back design for events. Tell us the garment and we will advise on placement.
No. Digitising is a one-time setup and the file is kept on file for re-orders.
A vector file such as PDF, AI or SVG is ideal. A large, clear PNG or JPG also works for a start, and we can check it before production.
Heavy stitching can pucker thin fabric. For lightweight t-shirts, printing is usually the better choice.
Standard bulk embroidery is ready 5-7 working days after you approve the artwork.
