Apparel Decoration Services in Rhode Island

Q: Is there a digitizing fee for new logos?

A one-time setup fee applies to new embroidery artwork. Repeat orders skip this fee entirely.

Q: What is your turnaround time?

Two weeks or less from proof approval. Rush production available on request.

Six decoration methods, one East Providence shop. Whichever method fits your logo, garment, and budget, it's proofed, produced, and quality-checked in-house — not farmed out to a third-party facility.

Which Decoration Method Is Right for Your Order?

Most businesses land on embroidery or screen printing. The right call depends on your garment, your logo's level of detail, your order size, and how the piece will get used day to day. Here's the short version — full detail on each method is below.

Method	Best For	Durability	Typical Minimum
Embroidery	Polos, jackets, hats, uniforms — anywhere a logo needs to look premium and last for years	Highest — stitched thread survives hundreds of washes	6 pieces
Screen Printing	T-shirts, event apparel, large bold graphics, bigger quantities	High — ink is cured into the fabric	6 pieces
Laser Etching	Technical/performance fabrics, leather patches, tumblers and hard-good promo items	High — permanent, no thread or ink to crack	6 pieces
Heat Press Transfers	Small runs, single items, full-color photo-style graphics, names & numbers	Good — holds up well with proper care instructions	6 pieces

Not sure which fits your order? Tell us the garment and how it'll be used — reach out and we'll recommend a method before you commit to anything, or see our full decoration method decision guide for a deeper comparison.

Custom Embroidery

Embroidery is thread stitched directly into the garment — the most durable decoration method we offer, and the one East Coast Embroidery was founded on in 1986. It's the standard for polos, quarter-zips, jackets, and uniforms where a logo needs to survive daily wear and years of washing.

New logos require a one-time digitizing fee; every reorder after that skips it. Every new embroidery file gets a physical stitch sample on test fabric before we run your order.

Read the full embroidery guide → — process, thread & Pantone matching, digitizing economics, care instructions, and embroidery-specific FAQs.

Screen Printing

Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil directly onto fabric — the most efficient method for bold, large-area graphics on t-shirts and event apparel, especially as quantities climb.

Read the full screen printing guide → — process, color-count economics, and screen-printing-specific FAQs.

Laser Etching

Laser etching burns your logo directly into technical fabrics, faux leather patches, and hard-good promotional items — no thread bulk, no ink to crack or fade.

Read the full laser etching guide → — what materials work, process, and FAQs.

Heat Press Transfers

Heat press (transfer) decoration applies a pre-printed design using heat and pressure — the fastest way to get full-color, photo-quality graphics onto apparel in small runs.

Read the full heat press guide → — process, when to choose it over screen printing, and FAQs.

Hat & Cap Decoration

Hats get their own process because curved, structured surfaces need different equipment than flat goods — flat or 3D puff embroidery on structured and unstructured caps.

Read the full hat decoration guide → — placement options, puff embroidery, and FAQs.

Stitch-Only & Contract Embroidery

If you're a screen printer, promotional products distributor, or another decorator who needs embroidery capacity without building it in-house, we run contract and stitch-only work at trade pricing.

Read the full contract embroidery guide → — how it works, trade pricing, and FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix decoration methods on one order?

Yes — it's common to embroider polos and jackets while screen printing t-shirts within the same brand order. We'll quote each piece by the method that fits it best.

Do you offer 3D puff embroidery?

Yes, on hats and select flat goods — it gives logos a raised, dimensional look. Ask for it specifically when requesting your quote.

I only need this for a one-time event — screen print or heat press?

For a single design in one or two colors at higher quantity, screen printing is usually more economical. For photo-quality full-color graphics, individual names/numbers, or very small quantities, heat press transfer is typically the better fit. Tell us your quantity and design and we'll recommend one.

What is the minimum order size?

6-piece minimum on all custom apparel — embroidery, screen print, laser, or heat press. This applies per design placement per run.

Is there a digitizing fee for new logos?

Yes — a one-time setup fee applies to new embroidery artwork. Once your logo is digitized and saved, all repeat orders skip this fee entirely.

What is your turnaround time?

Two weeks or less from proof approval, across all decoration methods. Rush production is available — call 401-434-9224 to check availability.

Not sure which service fits your order?

Tell us the garment, the logo, and the quantity — we'll recommend the right method and get you a straight answer.

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