8 Brands Creating Incredible Embroidered Jackets

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi to the embroidered jacket. A garment which seems never to go out of style, its beginnings are said to lie with an American serviceman stationed in Japan during WWII. On the hunt for a special memento, he took his regulation bomber to a local tailor, asking them to embellish it with some traditional embroidery. They obliged and, voila, the “souvenir jacket” was born.

It comes as no surprise that embroidered jackets have remained a design classic for decades. Whether it’s a subtle embroidered logo or intricate artwork covering the back of a bomber, embroidery adds texture, craftsmanship and personality that printing simply can’t replicate.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your own custom jackets, here are eight brands showing just how versatile embroidered outerwear can be.

8 Embroidered Jackets Worth Taking Inspiration From

Embroidery gives jackets a level of texture, depth and craftsmanship that’s difficult to achieve with print alone. From subtle branding to intricate back designs, these eight brands showcase different ways to use embroidery to create jackets people genuinely want to wear.

Kenzo

Kenzo are known for their heavily embellished clothing, with recurring motifs that frequently feature richly coloured tigers, leaves and flowers in the vein of a traditional souvenir jacket. For this shell jacket however, they have opted for something simpler. A light shape modeled on a classic parka, this piece features simple white embroidery on the back, tracing the outline of graffiti style lettering.

Gucci

Under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, Gucci has leaned even more heavily into the outre Italian style the brand is known for. Michele draws his inspiration from a dizzying pool of influences, and that means his pieces often feel like an explosion of references. Embroidery has been a key feature for the past few seasons, and this decadent denim jacket exemplifies the new Gucci sensibility.

Balenciaga

Neatly embroidered logos are often found on t shirts or jackets, but a recent trend has been taking that small detail and blowing it up for maximum effect. Rather than sitting across the breast as a small nod to the label, the embroidery on this Balenciaga jacket is scaled up and expanded across shoulders, making a very bold statement.

doublet

Japanese brand doublet are known for their playful approach to design, using innovative techniques to play with our perceptions of clothing construction. Embroidery is a key component of their collections, and they often heavily layer dense stitching for a 3D effect that feels totally unique. Another technique they have pioneered is carefully printing onto embroidery after it has been stitched, as with this track jacket, giving a collage effect to the pieces. It’s a great reminder that embroidery doesn’t always have to be subtle: it can become the centrepiece of the entire garment.

Stella McCartney

After the Beatles’ iconic Yellow Submarine film was remastered and re-released, Stella McCartney was inspired to create a collection featuring the iconic imagery that her dad’s band created. The collection features a number of embroidered pieces, including this sumptuous velvet bomber that is perfectly accented by the vibrant colours of its Yellow Submarine scenes.

Saint Laurent

This Saint Laurent jacket embodies the Parisian blend of style and rebellion that the ultra-cool brand is known for. Rendered in a silk-like acetate for a luxurious feel, the embroidery on this bomber references the brand’s 1971 couture show, with rose detailing that is a nod to the intricacy of that collection, and lettering on the back stitched to look like the scrawl of graffiti on a left bank wall.

Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten use embroidery in a more traditional way, creating opulent patterns that are more dynamic than any printed fabric could be. This piece was inspired by 50’s couture, and the large scale embroidery elevates an already elegant evening jacket to new levels of sophistication. 

Maharishi

Maharishi is another brand known for their love of embroidered detailing, and this classic souvenir jacket features their signature dragon symbol, which crawls up the back and snakes its tail around the ribs. This kind of embroidery is unmistakably luxurious, and takes a simple bomber jacket and turns it into a statement piece that customers will feel happy to invest in.

Although every brand takes a different approach, they all demonstrate the same principle: quality embroidery instantly elevates a garment and gives it a premium feel that lasts for years. If you’re not quite sure on what garment you want to have your embroidered design on, explore our blogs “8 Embroidered Hoodies That Show Great Design in Action” and “Embroidery for Caps: 4 Tips for Creating Professional Cap Embroidery” for some further inspiration.

Create Your Own Embroidered Jackets

Whether you’re creating staff uniforms, fashion merchandise or branded outerwear, embroidered jackets are a timeless way to add premium detail to your collection. ICON Printing helps brands create high-quality embroidered garments built to last.

Get a Quick Quote online or speak to our team at sales@iconprinting.com about your next embroidery project.