Conor Smart, Apparel Expert at Arklavo
Custom apparel for 1,000+ U.S. businesses since 2023
I run Arklavo's in-house production operation, where our embroidery machines run across polos, jackets, caps, and workwear daily. We built the no-minimum model specifically for small businesses that needed professional branded gear without the volume commitments promo suppliers require.
"Small businesses have been locked out of quality embroidered apparel for too long because of bulk minimums. We built Arklavo so a 5-person team can order exactly 5 polos, get a free digital proof, and have stitched, branded gear on their doorstep in two days." Conor Smart, Apparel Expert at Arklavo
WILMINGTON, Del., June 27, 2026. Arklavo, a US custom-apparel studio founded in 2023, today announced the continued expansion of its in-house embroidery operation to serve small-business teams across every major apparel category, from corporate polos and staff jackets to branded workwear and hospitality uniforms. The announcement marks a production milestone: more than 1,000 US businesses have now ordered embroidered apparel through Arklavo since the company launched, all without a single order minimum.
The milestone underscores a gap the company set out to close. Most embroidery suppliers require businesses to order 12, 24, or 48 pieces at a time to make production economics work. For a restaurant with an 8-person floor team, a medical practice outfitting 6 front-desk staff, or a landscaping company kitting out a 4-person crew, that minimum means paying for inventory they do not need. Arklavo's in-house embroidery capability removes that barrier entirely: orders start at 1 piece.
In-house embroidery across garment types, not just one product
Most branded-apparel providers specialize in one garment format, typically hats or polos, and send everything else to a third-party decorator. Arklavo runs embroidery in-house on a full range of garment types: polos and button-downs for corporate and reception teams, softshell and fleece jackets for outdoor and trades staff, caps and beanies for hospitality and sports programs, aprons for food-service businesses, and workwear shirts for field crews. The same thread, the same machines, and the same quality control process applies across the catalog.
That consistency matters for a business ordering across garment types in a single run. A cafe that wants staff polos, manager jackets, and server aprons all carrying the same logo does not have to split the order between three vendors and hope the color matches. Arklavo stitches the same thread specification on every garment in the same production run.
"We stitch the same logo across polos, jackets, caps, and aprons in a single order. A business does not have to manage three vendors to get one consistent look on its whole team." Conor Smart, Apparel Expert at Arklavo
Why embroidery holds up in working environments where print does not
The production choice between embroidery and other decoration methods matters more for business apparel than it does for a one-time promotional item. Staff uniforms get washed weekly, sometimes daily in food-service and healthcare settings. Embroidered logos survive more than 100 wash cycles without cracking or peeling, while screen-printed alternatives typically begin to degrade after 40 to 60 washes.1 Over a two-year garment life, that is the difference between a logo that still looks new and one that has flaked off at the corners.
Beyond durability, research consistently shows that uniforms drive practical value for businesses. Around 97 percent of people say uniforms make staff easier to identify.2 That identification function only works if the logo is still legible after months of washing, which is why Arklavo defaults to embroidery across its entire catalog for any order where the apparel will be used in a working environment.
"A printed logo on a restaurant uniform looks good on day one. Six months and 50 washes later, it looks tired. We default to embroidery precisely because business apparel gets treated like workwear, because it is workwear." Conor Smart, Apparel Expert at Arklavo
Free digital proof before production, shipping in 2 days
Every Arklavo order includes a free digital proof before a single stitch goes down. The proof shows the logo placed at scale on the garment, with thread color, stitch direction, and dimensions visible, so the business owner can confirm the look before production starts. There are no setup fees attached to the proof and no charge if edits are needed at the proof stage.
Once the proof is approved, the order moves to production and ships within two business days. Orders over $150 ship free. The process is designed around how small businesses actually work: decisions happen fast, the person placing the order is usually the owner or office manager, and they do not have a procurement department or a 6-week lead time built into their planning.
"The proof step is not a courtesy. It is the point where a business owner can see their logo on their garment before any money changes hands on production. That one step removes the biggest anxiety in the whole process." Conor Smart, Apparel Expert at Arklavo
About Arklavo
Arklavo is a US custom-apparel studio founded in 2023 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. The company provides embroidered apparel for business, including polos, jackets, caps, workwear, and hospitality uniforms, with no order minimum, no setup fees, and a free digital proof before production. In-house embroidery, DTG, and heat press capabilities cover the full range of garment types in a single production facility. Orders ship within 2 business days, with free shipping on orders over $150. Arklavo holds a 4.8 verified buyer rating and has served more than 1,000 US businesses since launch. Learn more at arklavo.com.
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Sources
- NW Custom Apparel: Embroidery vs Screen Printing for Uniforms (embroidery survives 100+ wash cycles vs 40-60 for screen print).
- Cintas: Your Uniform's Branding Power (97% of people say uniforms make staff easier to identify).