Branding waterproof jackets, without ruining the waterproofing
Stitching a logo onto a waterproof means putting a needle through the very membrane keeping the wearer dry. It's a fair worry — and a solved problem. Here's exactly how we protect it.
Won't stitching let the water in?
Putting a logo on a waterproof jacket makes a lot of people nervous — for a sensible reason. To embroider a jacket, a needle passes through the fabric, and on a waterproof that fabric includes the membrane keeping the wearer dry.
The honest answer: left untreated, stitching would compromise the waterproofing — but only in that exact spot, and it's a solved problem. The key word is localised. Branding a chest logo doesn't undo the waterproofing of the whole jacket; it affects only the small area that's been stitched — which is exactly why that area can be protected.
Stitching and the membrane
A waterproof jacket keeps water out with a membrane — a thin layer bonded into the fabric that blocks water while letting the garment breathe. It's the part doing the real work.
When we embroider a logo, the needle drives thread through the whole construction, membrane included. Each stitch is, in effect, a tiny hole. On an ordinary garment that's no issue at all. On a waterproof, those holes sit right where the jacket is meant to be sealed — and if nothing is done, water can find its way through there, with the cotton backing behind the stitching soaking it up and letting it seep inward.
That's the genuine risk behind the worry — and the reason a waterproof gets an extra step a polo never needs.
We reseal it — from the inside
This is the part most people don't realise is even possible. We don't just accept the holes; we seal them back up, as part of the job.
Embroider the logo
Your logo is stitched onto the jacket as normal, framed and finished by the team.
A membrane patch, cut to size
A piece of waterproof membrane is cut to cover the back of the stitched area on the inside.
Heat-sealed in place
The patch is heat-sealed over the stitching, locking the threads and re-covering where the needle went through.
The result: the outer fabric may still get wet — that's just the surface — but water can't seep through the stitched area to the layers underneath. The waterproofing is restored exactly where it was broken.
It's a proper, permanent fix — not a bodge or a disclaimer. It's also why a waterproof takes a little more care and time than a standard fleece or polo: there's a step built in specifically to protect what you're paying for.
Stitch-and-reseal, or print
There's a second route worth knowing about — because it avoids the needle entirely.
The premium, hard-wearing finish
Thread gives depth and durability, and we protect the waterproofing with the membrane reseal above. The classic choice for a quality branded jacket.
No needle, no holes
DTF print (direct-to-film, bonded on with heat) doesn't pierce the fabric, so it never makes holes in the membrane. But some technical fabrics don't take kindly to the heat of the process — so it isn't guaranteed on every jacket. The garment decides.
As ever — it depends, and we'll tell you honestly
The right method comes down to the jacket, the logo and how it'll be used. Embroidery gives that premium finish and we protect the waterproofing; print avoids piercing the membrane but needs the fabric to be heat-compatible. Placement matters too, and so does the construction of the specific jacket.
That's exactly the kind of call we're happy to make with you. Tell us the jacket — or let us recommend one — show us the logo, and we'll tell you the right way to brand it so it looks the part and stays waterproof.
The craft you don't see
The reseal is the headline, but it's not the only thing going on. Branding technical garments well involves a lot of quiet craft — the right backing, the right framing, choices our team makes to get a clean finish on an awkward fabric without stressing it. You'll never see most of it. You'll just get a jacket that's branded properly and still does its job.
Brand it properly, keep it dry
Thinking of branding waterproofs for your team? Tell us the jacket and the logo, and we'll recommend the right method — and protect the waterproofing either way.
Keep deciding with confidence
Embroidery or Print?
Which finish suits your garment and logo.
Choosing the Right Garment
Pick the right jacket for the job.
Making Your Workwear Last
Care that keeps outerwear going for years.
Getting Your Logo Ready
Send a logo that brands cleanly.
The Penguin Academy
Advice-first guides to help you decide before you order.
Contact Our Team
Tell us the jacket and we'll talk it through.