Inkdnylon Custom Apparel Blog

  Custom Logo Embroidery in Chicago for Schools & Universities Schools and universities across Chicago and the United States rely on custom logo embroidery to showcase pride, create unity, and maintain professionalism. From polos and sweatshirts to tote bags and scrubs, embroidery has become the foundation of modern school branding. In Chicago, institutions like high schools, colleges, and universities are investing in custom embroidery because it ensures durability, quality, and consistency. Across the United States, educational organizations are also moving toward embroidery as the preferred method of branding for uniforms, athletic teams, staff gear, and alumni merchandise. Unlike other decoration methods, embroidery lasts for years, retains its professional appearance, and offers schools a way to strengthen their brand identity. Whether it’s for daily uniforms, event apparel, or fundraising merchandis...

  Chicago Embroidery: Why Stitch Counts No Longer Make Sense For years, embroidery buyers in Chicago were stuck with confusing stitch-count pricing. Today, Inkdnylon Custom Apparel proves there’s a faster, clearer way to order embroidery that works for schools, hospitals, and businesses across the Midwest. The Old Problem: Counting Stitches Walk into a traditional embroidery shop and you might hear, “$1 per 1,000 stitches.” At first, that sounds fair. But who can guess how many stitches are in a logo? A school crest could run 12,000 stitches, while a simple hospital emblem could push past 20,000. Suddenly a $3 expectation turns into a $15 invoice, not including setup fees. This system creates stress for customers and headaches for shops. Quotes drag on, approvals stall, and projects often miss deadlines. For organizations that rely on fast turnaround—like clinics ordering scrubs or ...

Why Stitch-Count Pricing is Foolish & How Flat-Rate Up to 4×2 In Saves Your Shop Many embroidery shops are stuck in a time warp. They’re using the old stitch-count pricing model , built for single-needle desktop machines like the Brother SE700. But in today’s fast-paced, high-volume market, that method is a liability—not a competitive advantage. The Brother SE700 vs Industrial Machines The Brother SE700 is a single-needle desktop embroidery machine. It has a small hoop, slow production, and costs around $500-$600 . It works fine for hobbyists or small one-offs. But when your shop grows, when orders increase, or when faster delivery is expected, that one-needle SE700 just can’t keep up. Contrast that with industrial machines like 15-needle, single-head units from brands such as Tajima, Barudan, SWF, or Ricoma. These machines cost in the range of $8,000-$15,000+ each. Then you have multi-head (2-, 4-, or 8-head) machines—priced $15,000-$35,000+. These let shops run larg...

  Custom Printing Solutions for Chicago, the Midwest, and Nationwide If your business, team, or event needs high-quality custom apparel, finding the right printing partner is crucial. At Inkdnylon Custom Apparel , we work with clients across Chicago , throughout the Midwest , and across the United States , delivering results that make your brand stand out. Whether you need screen printing , DTG printing , DTF transfers , or embroidery , we help you choose the best solution based on your timeline, budget, and design needs. Why Businesses Across the Midwest Trust Us Brand visibility matters more than ever. Chicago businesses, Midwest schools, and national event organizers come to us for custom printing because they know we deliver consistent quality at scale. Our production process is designed for speed and accuracy, so whether you need 25 shirts for a family reunion or 5,000 pieces for a nationwide campaign, we can...

  Have you ever wondered why it feels expensive to embroider just one polo or jacket? At first glance, it seems simple: one shirt, one logo. But behind the scenes, every order goes through a process that is closer to manufacturing than retail. That’s why a custom project isn’t priced like grabbing a polo from a store rack. One-Offs vs. Mass Production Retail brands like Ralph Lauren or Nike produce in the tens of thousands. The embroidery file, machine setup, and thread colors are prepared once and then repeated on bulk runs. Their production cost per item drops dramatically because the setup expense is divided across thousands of garments. That’s how they can sell one retail polo at a “reasonable” price. Custom orders work differently. When you place a single order through a decorator, your artwork is digitized, machines are threaded, and placement is tested exclusively for your logo. The labor involved is nearly the same whether you’re ordering one...

  Skip the RFP: How Smart Teams Get Custom Apparel Done Right Do you really need an RFP to order apparel? For many teams, the answer is no. A Request for Proposal process might make sense for multi-million-dollar construction projects, but when it comes to custom uniforms, embroidered polos, or branded event merch , speed and reliability matter more than a 20-page bid packet. At Inkdnylon Custom Apparel , we’ve built a direct award approach that eliminates wasted time and paperwork. Instead of chasing bids and waiting weeks for committee approvals, you can send artwork, confirm quantities, and lock production in days—not months. Crystal clear: Inkdnylon is not going to lose money or reduce quality just to win a low-ball bid. Please don’t send us an RFP. Want the full breakdown on how to handle RFPs the smart way? Read our in-depth guide here: How to Handle RFPs Without Racing to the Bottom . Why the RFP Slows You Down Traditional RFPs are designed to create...