Contract Embroidery
Wholesale embroidery for screen printers, promotional products distributors, uniform companies, and apparel brands. More than 40 embroidery heads, in-house digitizing, blind shipping, and free inbound freight on your blanks through SanMar PSST.
A Contract Embroiderer With the Heads to Keep Up
Contract embroidery is production-only stitching for businesses that resell decorated apparel. You keep the customer and the margin; we run the machines. Sportswear Express has been decorating apparel in Mesa, Arizona since 1991, and our contract department embroiders for screen printers who don't own a machine, embroidery shops that are out of capacity, promotional products distributors, uniform companies, and apparel brands.
With more than 40 embroidery heads on the floor, a 300-piece polo order or a 1,000-cap program runs across multiple machines at once instead of tying up a single head for days. Every new design gets a sew-out for approval before production, so what your customer signs off on is what ships.
We are a contract embroiderer for the Phoenix area, Arizona, and the Southwest, and we ship finished orders nationwide — blind, under your name. Local shops can drop off garments and pick up finished goods at our Mesa facility.
Embroidery Capacity
Enough heads to run your large orders in parallel and still turn the small ones.
Multi-head machines running simultaneously for fast, consistent stitching on polos, caps, jackets, bags, and more.
From a 3,000-stitch left-chest logo to a 15,000-stitch jacket back, in a single location.
Room for full jacket backs and oversized designs as well as standard chest, sleeve, and cap placements.
Getting Your Garments to Us
Stitch on the garments you choose. Send them however is cheapest for you.
SanMar PSST: Free Freight
We are a SanMar PSST (Pack Separately, Ship Together) decorator. Order polos, caps, and outerwear on your own SanMar account, select Sportswear Express as the PSST decorator, and SanMar delivers them to our dock with free freight.
Each purchase order is packed separately, so your goods arrive sorted by job and go straight into production.
Ship or Drop Off Your Own
Customer-supplied garments are welcome from any wholesaler or from your own inventory. Ship to 624 W. Broadway Ste 220, Mesa, AZ 85210, or drop off Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Mark each carton with your company name and PO number so we can match the goods to your order.
Or Let Us Supply Them
Rather not handle blanks at all? Pick styles from our apparel catalog and we bring the garments in with your order, ready to embroider.
How Contract Embroidery Works
One application, then ordering is as simple as sending a PO.
Apply for an Account
Fill out the contract application. We verify your reseller credentials and set up your wholesale account.
Get Your Price List
Approved accounts receive our contract embroidery price list, with pricing by stitch count and quantity.
Send Files & Garments
Email your PO with a stitch file or artwork to digitize, and ship your garments to us — free through SanMar PSST.
Sew-Out, Stitch & Ship
You approve the sew-out, we run the order, then blind ship it with your packing slip or hold it for pickup.
Digitizing In-House, or Send Your Own Files
Already have a production-ready stitch file? Send the .DST or .EMB and we load it as is. If all you have is a logo, our embroidery digitizing team builds the file here, with pathing, density, and underlay set for the fabric it will actually run on — a pique polo, a structured cap, and a fleece jacket each need something different. Your digitized design stays on file for reorders.
We embroider polos, caps and hats, jackets, hoodies and sweatshirts, bags and totes, beanies, and more. For headwear programs, see our custom hat patches. If you sell one piece at a time online rather than in bulk, our POD embroidery program is built for that instead.
Contract Embroidery FAQ
What shops and distributors ask before sending their first job.
What is contract embroidery?
Contract embroidery is wholesale, production-only embroidery for businesses that resell decorated apparel. You sell the job and supply the design and garments; we stitch it and ship it under your name. It lets a screen printer, distributor, or brand offer embroidery without buying machines, and gives embroidery shops extra heads when they are out of capacity.
Who qualifies for contract embroidery pricing?
Contract accounts are for businesses that resell decorated apparel: screen printers, embroidery shops, promotional products distributors, ad specialty and uniform companies, apparel brands, and fulfillment companies. Apply online and we verify your reseller credentials before opening the account. There are no signup fees or monthly minimums.
How do I get your contract embroidery price list?
Our contract price list is sent once your account is approved. It covers pricing by stitch count and quantity. Submit the contract application and our contract team will be in touch within 1 business day.
Can I supply my own garments?
Yes. Customer-supplied garments are welcome. Ship them from any wholesaler, send them from your own stock, or drop them off at our Mesa facility. If you buy from SanMar, use PSST and the freight to us is free.
What is SanMar PSST and how do I use it?
PSST stands for Pack Separately, Ship Together. It is SanMar's program for shipping blanks directly to a contract decorator. Place the order on your SanMar account, choose Sportswear Express as the PSST decorator, and SanMar consolidates it with that day's other shipments to our dock. Each PO is packed separately, and you pay no freight to get the goods to us.
Can I send my own digitized file?
Yes. Send a production-ready .DST or .EMB file and we run it as supplied. If you need the design digitized, our in-house digitizers build the stitch file and keep it on file for your reorders.
Do I get a sew-out before production?
Yes. We provide a sew-out sample for approval before full production, so you and your customer can confirm thread colors, stitching, and placement before the order runs.
What is the turnaround on contract embroidery?
Standard production is 7 to 10 business days once the sew-out is approved and your garments are in house. Rush production is available; ask about rush availability when you send the PO.
Do you blind ship, and do you work with shops outside Arizona?
Yes to both. Finished orders ship directly to your customer with your packing slip, not ours. We are based in Mesa and serve the Phoenix area, Arizona, and the Southwest, and we embroider and ship for shops and distributors nationwide.