We live in a world where self-expression matters. You want to bring yourself into your outfit. And what better way to do that than with some unique artwork on your custom logo hats? While there are many aspects of hat design you can customize, there’s nothing that gives you the freedom that making your own logo does. And Hat.Co has the tools you need to make your dream design a reality for Chicago, IL wearers.
You don’t need to be a drawing expert to get started. You just need to tell us your concept, and our experts will help you customize the design for your custom hat. Ready to make your hat? You can talk to a Hat.Co representative at (636) 926-2777, send us a note online, or get to work in our design studio to get to work on your custom logo hats now.
Today, we’ll go over why custom logos are important for hats in Chicago, IL, the different ways you can put your logo onto your hat, pro tips to help you when working on your design, and other things to keep in mind while designing your hat/logo combination. You can jump ahead by using the links below:
- Why Custom Logo Hats are Popular in Chicago, IL
- 3 Custom Logo Design Pro Tips for Chicago, IL, Hats
- Custom Logo Hats — Design Options
- Other Things to Keep In Mind When Designing Your Custom Logo
- Start Designing Custom Logo Hats
Why Custom Logo Hats are Popular in Chicago, IL
Custom logo hats are an excellent way to showcase your branding, whether it’s for your Chicago, IL, business, a family, or just for yourself. Sometimes, there might be an existing design you’re considering using, but your existing logo may not fit as well as you initially hope.
Hats (in contrast to shirts) have unique aspects that are important to consider. You’ll want to put some though into the following:
- The size of the logo on the hat
- Where it will be placed
- The type of hat and the fabric used to make it
- Whether your design is fairly detailed or simpler
In the next section, we’ll go over some advice to make the best custom logo hats, but before you dive in, it’s important to realize that a current design may not be the right fit for a new custom hat. At Hat.Co, we can help either create a new logo from scratch or convert an existing one to fit Chicago, IL, style perfectly.
Bonus: Particularly if you create a variation on an existing logo, custom designs are an excellent way to show off the uniqueness of a special occasion and make a commemorative token for it.
3 Custom Logo Design Pro Tips for Chicago, IL, Hats
Trying to maximize the appeal of your custom logo hats’ design? Keep in mind the following:
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 1: Use a Bold, Straightforward Logo
There’s one thing that every custom logo hat has in common: The medium the logo is going on. Hats are attention-grabbing in Chicago, IL, but don’t give you as much area to work with as a poster or even a custom t-shirt. This is all the more reason to make your design stand out.
Strong designs with large shapes are good fits for hats. Instead of having someone struggle to read your design, you want them to be able to distinguish details of the design.
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 2: Avoid Fine Details
Don’t forget where your logo is going and how big it will be on the fabric. Larger, intricate logos can become messy when reduced in size. This is why it’s worth considering an update on an preexisting logo before putting it on a hat.
This ties back into the advice above — a more straightforward, brilliant logo keeps things understandible and distinguishes your hat from the rest in Chicago, IL.
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 3: Consider Adding a Back Logo
You already know that the front of the hat isn’t the biggest display area. However, by making use of the rear of the hat, you can increase your canvas size while adding some unique flair.
It’s common for designers to don’t give much attention to the back of the hat, which gives you an opportunity to make your design distinct. With a back design element, you can add something that distinguishes your team, create a secondary logo, or add a tagline.
Chicago, IL, Custom Logo Hats — Artwork Options
Either before or after you design the logo, you’ll need to pick a way to put it onto the hats. The main options you want to consider are Embroidery, Patches, Screen Printing, and Direct-to-Film(DTF)/Heat Transfer. Each method has its place, and we’re going over them below to help you pick the right one for your project:
DTF/Heat Transfer:
DTF/Heat transfer is a game-changer for custom logo hats. It gives creators more options than ever before when it comes to finishes and overall designs. Here are the main advantages you get from DTF/Heat Transfer for your custom hat:
- Very affordable method, particularly for lower quantities
- Unlimited color options and unique printing options, such as foil finishes
- Fast turnarounds, if you can’t wait for your custom hat
Screen Printing:
Screen Printing is probably the most popular method for putting a custom logo on your hat. As the name implies, this method consists of applying ink onto your hat in your design, while using screens to prevent it from going anywhere it’s not supposed to. Following are some reasons why you should consider screen printing:
- You logo will last for a while, as long as it is properly cared for
- Vivid colors that stand out strongly on the fabric
- After the initial setup, it’s very affordable to print in large quantities
Embroidery:
Embroidery does away with the inks of DTF and Screen printing, and instead uses colored thread to create your design. This thread is woven into the materials of your hat, creating a unique effect for your logo and giving it texture. Here are the main advantages of embroidery:
- A textured, distinctive effect that makes your logo stand out from the rest in Chicago, IL
- A quintessential look with a lot of history behind it
- Long-lasting logos, because the design is woven into the hat materials
Patches:
Patches, the final artwork option for your custom logo hats, are fundamentally different in that they are their own entity, rather than something created on the hat itself. You could get leather patches, PVC patches, or even special embroidered patches. Below are some of the main reasons why Chicago, IL, orders patches for custom hat logos:
- Many options are available for the patches themselves
- The most durable and long-lasting logo option
- Patches can be put on more than just hats! If you want to order extra, you can save them for other uses
Because different hat designers in Chicago, IL have different needs, there’s no definitive solution for how to put your logo onto your hat. Custom logo hats are intentionally unique. And when picking a logo application method, you want the one that compliments your design the best. If you’re not sure which method to go with, call us, and our team will help you find an answer that works best for you. On top of that, we keep a record of your design so you can reorder the same custom hat later and/or get matching swag.
Other Things to Consider When Creating Custom Logo Hats
You’ve finished designing the logo — that’s great! But it’s just as significant to pick a good hat to put it on. It’s critical to give your design a solid base, and the two main factors you’ll want to consider are the hat’s type and color(s):
Hat Styles:
While many hat styles can be customized in Chicago, IL, you’ll want to pick the right type for both your design and audience. A custom dad hat gives a very different impression than a custom fitted hat. When you’re weighing options, keep in mind the following:
- Baseball Caps: Baseball caps are widely worn, with a long history, and are adequate for nearly any logo.
- Trucker Hats: Trucker hats feature a large, foam front panel which is easy to apply screen printing or DTF to, but the mesh rear doesn’t always provide great structure for extra design elements.
- Snapback Hats: These hats also give you lots of display room in front, but also have lots of space in the rear.
- Dad Hats: Dad hats don’t include a strong internal structure, making embroidery a good fit since it is easy to sew through the material.
- Flexfit Hats: If you’re wearing your hat while running around and being active in the world, it’s hard to go wrong with a flexfit. And a patch can go toe to toe with all the world’s wear and tear.
- Beanie Hats: Beanies are a popular choice to keep warm in winter months. Because of this, patches are frequently used to give added endurance against the elements.
Color Theory:
Looking into color theory can be beneficial for both your logo and the hat it will be on. Regardless of hat style, matching colors together properly will affect how your logo fits. Using the right background color will maximize your logo’s visibility.
You don’t need a full art degree to pick out your colors, though. Complementary color schemes will help your logo pop. Complementary colors stand out more when placed next to each other, giving your logo some extra boldness.
One final color tip — find a color wheel to get an idea of whether colors will work together before you start designing. This can give you an idea of how your logo will look against a given background.
Chicago, IL, Gets Its Custom Logo Hats From Hat.Co
When you want custom logo hats in Chicago, IL, you want to work with the best to get them made. And that’s where Hat.Co comes in. We’ve been in the custom apparel industry for over 50 years, and we offer extensive design and support tools to help you along the way.
If custom logo hats are calling your name, or if you want to explore more of what hat options are out there, we’re ready to help right away. Dial (636) 926-2777 or contact us online at any time to start your creation.