If your crew works on a job site, a warehouse floor, a roadway, or anywhere near moving equipment, high-visibility apparel isn’t optional — it’s safety equipment. But it’s also some of the most valuable branded real estate you own: a hi-vis vest with your company name on the back gets seen by every driver, client, and passerby all day long. Done right, custom safety apparel keeps your team compliant and puts your brand in front of the public at the same time.
Here’s what we walk Connecticut businesses through when they come to us for branded hi-vis gear and workwear.
The Short Version
Choose garments that meet the hi-vis class your work requires, pick fabrics built for the conditions your crew faces, and decorate them so your logo shows without covering the reflective striping. Match the ANSI class to the job, keep the branding clean and durable, and order early enough to have the right sizes on hand before your team needs them.
Types of Safety Apparel to Consider
“Safety apparel” covers a lot more than a single vest. The most-ordered pieces include:
- Hi-vis vests — the everyday standard; lightweight, breathable, and the easiest piece to brand for a whole crew.
- Hi-vis T-shirts & polos — safety-colored shirts for warmer weather and customer-facing field teams.
- Hi-vis jackets & sweatshirts — layered outerwear for cold-weather and all-season outdoor work.
- Flame-resistant (FR) clothing — for electrical, utility, and oil-and-gas crews with arc-flash requirements.
- Hard hats, safety glasses & accessories — the finishing pieces that can also carry your logo.
Understanding Hi-Vis Classes
High-visibility clothing in the U.S. is rated under the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard, which sorts garments into classes based on how much reflective and background material they carry. Class 1 suits low-risk environments like parking lots and warehouses. Class 2 is the workhorse for roadway, construction, and utility crews working near traffic. Class 3 offers the highest visibility for high-speed roads, low-light conditions, and emergency response. Before you order, confirm which class your job site, contract, or state DOT requires — it drives which garments you can brand.
Decorating Safety Gear the Right Way
Branding hi-vis apparel takes a little more care than a standard tee. The reflective striping is what keeps the garment compliant, so your logo has to work around it, not over it. We place decoration in the open background areas — the upper chest, the back yoke above the striping — and keep it sized so it never breaks up the reflective tape. Screen printing is durable and cost-effective for big runs of vests and shirts, while embroidery gives jackets and polos a sharp, professional finish that holds up to repeated washing. For flame-resistant garments, decoration has to be FR-compatible so it doesn’t compromise the rating — something we spec out before we print.
Choosing Fabric and Fit for the Job
Comfortable gear gets worn correctly; uncomfortable gear ends up unzipped or left in the truck. For hot-weather crews, look for breathable, moisture-wicking mesh and lighter-weight polos. For cold or wet conditions, insulated and water-resistant outerwear keeps the team protected and productive. Fabric choice matters as much on safety wear as on any other custom apparel order — our guide to fabric types walks through the trade-offs. And because job sites run every size, order a full size range so nobody is stuck in gear that doesn’t fit.
Built for Teams in Every Industry
Custom safety apparel isn’t just for construction. Landscaping and paving crews, warehouse and logistics staff, utility and electrical workers, tow operators, airport ground teams, and event and parking staff all rely on branded hi-vis to stay safe and look organized. It pairs naturally with the rest of a company’s uniform program, too — the same way we outfit healthcare teams with coordinated staff wear, we can build a head-to-toe branded kit for your field crews.
Final Thoughts
Safety apparel is one of the few branded items your team is required to wear — which makes it one of the smartest places to put your logo. Choose the right hi-vis class, spec fabrics for the conditions, and decorate cleanly around the reflective striping, and you get gear that keeps your crew safe and your brand visible on every job.
Ready to outfit your team? Contact Screen Tek and we’ll help you choose compliant hi-vis apparel and get it decorated to look its best.
