Work Gilets and Personalised Bodywarmers

What Is the Difference Between a Gilet and a Bodywarmer?

In everyday UK workwear, the names gilet and bodywarmer are often used for the same type of sleeveless outer layer. There isn't a strict technical dividing line, and different clothing brands use the terms in different ways.

Both are designed to add warmth around the body while leaving the arms free. That's useful for people who spend much of the day moving, lifting, driving or working with tools and don't necessarily want the extra bulk of jacket sleeves.

You'll find everything from lightweight workwear gilets and softshells to padded and fleece bodywarmers in the range. Rather than getting too hung up on the name, look at what the garment is made from, how warm it is and how it'll be worn.

Which Type of Work Gilet Is Best for Different Working Conditions?

A gilet that works well in a warehouse isn't automatically the one you'd pick for somebody outside in January. Start with the conditions and work backwards.

Softshell is a good place to start when movement matters. Current styles include two-layer and three-layer constructions, while some higher-spec garments combine stretch with waterproof and breathable membranes. Padded options put more emphasis on core warmth, and fleece bodywarmers make a straightforward layer when heavy weather protection isn't the priority.

Hybrid styles split the difference. For example, the Regatta Navigate Hybrid Bodywarmer combines insulated panels with stretch sections, giving warmth through the body without making the whole garment feel bulky.

Why Are Gilets Useful for Layered Workwear?

Gilets warm the torso without covering the arms, which makes them useful for jobs where people are constantly moving.

They're easy to wear over personalised polo shirts, personalised T-shirts, sweatshirts or hoodies. In colder weather, a slimmer gilet can also sit underneath a custom jacket, provided the fit leaves enough room.

That flexibility is particularly handy for teams whose working conditions change during the day. Warehouse staff might move between loading areas and indoor spaces, while engineers and field teams may spend only part of a shift outside.

You can add or remove a sleeveless layer without changing the rest of the uniform every time the temperature moves a few degrees.

Is Embroidery or Printing Better for Personalised Bodywarmers?

The best decoration depends on the personalised bodywarmer, your artwork and where you want the logo to sit.

An embroidered gilet can look particularly smart with a smaller chest logo, but padded and baffled garments need more thought. The decoration team needs suitable access behind the fabric, and stitching straight through insulation isn't always the right answer.

Some bodywarmers are designed with access specifically for decoration. Others, including printable softshell and hybrid styles, can support print as well as embroidery depending on the garment and artwork. The Funky Peach checks that before production rather than taking a one-method-fits-all approach.

Where Can a Company Logo Be Placed on a Branded Gilet?

The chest is a popular position for a company logo because it's easy to see without dominating the garment. Left and right chest placements can both work, while larger back designs may be possible on suitable branded gilets.

The complication is that bodywarmers aren't flat pieces of fabric. Full-length zips cut straight through the centre, pockets take up useful space and padded baffles or seams can limit where decorations sit cleanly.

That's especially important with insulated garments. A logo might technically fit in a certain spot, but that doesn't necessarily make it the best-looking or most practical place for it.

Send over your artwork and The Funky Peach can advise on a sensible position for the garment you've chosen.

How Do You Choose Workwear Gilets for a Team?

Ordering for ten, fifty or a few hundred people changes the job slightly. You're not only choosing a nice-looking gilet, you're trying to find something that works across different roles and body shapes.

Before filling the basket, check:

• Working environment: Indoors, outdoors or a bit of both?
• Warmth: Decide how much insulation the team realistically needs
• Weather exposure: Look for confirmed wind, shower or waterproof protection where required
• Style and fabric: Softshell, fleece, padded and hybrid designs all behave differently
• Pockets: Think about what staff actually carry during the day
• Fit: Leave room for the clothing worn underneath
• Size range: Check that one style covers the team before committing to it
• Decoration: Make sure the fabric and construction suit your preferred branding
• Logo position: Zips, seams and baffles can narrow the options
• Colour: Match existing uniform colours where consistency matters
• Quantity and budget: Compare the garment and decoration costs together

If you're looking for personalised gilets for a whole team and the size split is giving you a headache, ask us. The Funky Peach can help with sizing and product selection before the order goes into production.

It's worth thinking about future orders too. Choosing a well-established garment can make life easier when somebody joins the company later and needs the same uniform.

Why Choose Corporate-Branded Gilets for Staff Uniforms?

A gilet sits in a useful middle ground. It looks more uniform than everybody turning up in their own coat, but it still gives staff plenty of freedom to move.

For trades and construction teams, that can mean extra core warmth without sleeves getting in the way. Logistics and facilities staff may use them as an easy layer for moving between temperatures. In hospitality, retail and events, a smarter corporate branded gilet gives customer-facing staff another uniform option when it's too cool for a polo alone.

They're also useful for mobile and field teams because the company branding stays visible when the temperature changes.

The important bit is matching the garment to the role. A padded bodywarmer may be ideal for somebody spending hours outside, while a lighter softshell or fleece style can make more sense for a team that's mostly indoors.

Which Gilet Features Matter Most for Everyday Workwear?

Specifications only matter when they make somebody's working day easier.

Zipped pockets are useful when staff carry keys or small tools and don't want them disappearing halfway across a site. A full front zip makes temperature control simple, while a chin guard can stop the top of the zip becoming irritating when it's fully closed.

Softshell fabrics bring flexibility into the equation. The Stormtech Cascades Bodywarmer, for example, uses a two-layer stretch softshell with a recycled fleece backing and has three zipped external pockets. The garment is listed at 320 gsm and uses a waterproof, breathable membrane.

For a fleece option, the SOL'S Norway Bodywarmer uses 320 gsm polyester fleece with a full zip and three zipped pockets. That's a very different proposition from a padded style such as the Tee Jays Zepelin, which uses polyester padding, has a showerproof outer and includes zip access for decoration.

There's plenty of brand choice too. The live range includes names such as Tee Jays, Regatta Professional, Russell Athletic, Result Recycled, Stormtech and SOL'S. The Funky Peach also stocks workwear gilets and bodywarmers from Portwest and Orn. Options include Portwest softshell and hybrid styles, alongside Orn's Eider Bodywarmer and Lapwing Softshell Gilet.

What Is the Process of Ordering Personalised Gilets From The Funky Peach?

1. Choose Your Garment

Pick the gilet or bodywarmer that suits the job and working conditions.

2. Select Sizes, Colours and Quantities

Order one garment or put together a mixed-size order for a larger team.

3. Send Us Your Artwork

Upload your logo, text or design. If the file needs some attention before production, the team can help.

4. Confirm the Decoration and Position

We'll agree whether print or embroidery is suitable and find a position that works with the garment construction.

5. Approve Your Artwork

You'll receive a proof to check before anything is decorated.

6. Production

Standard turnaround for printed and embroidered garments is 10 working days from payment. Express production is available on suitable orders at 7 working days, so contact us if you're up against a tighter deadline.

7. Collection or Delivery

Once your order has been decorated and checked, it's dispatched or made ready for collection.

Stock availability, artwork approval, quantities and the chosen decoration can all affect timing. Larger team orders aren't a problem, and we can help with product choice and sizing before you commit.

Why Order Work Gilets and Bodywarmers From The Funky Peach?

The Funky Peach has been personalising clothing since 2010. The idea is still internet prices, high street service.

You get the convenience of ordering online with an actual team available when you need help with sizing, garments, artwork or decorations. Printing and embroidery are handled in-house, and support doesn't stop once the first order leaves the building.

Orders start from one garment where applicable, while larger quantities can bring more competitive garment and decoration pricing. Free delivery is available when you spend over £149.

Putting together the rest of the uniform? Browse our custom workwear, workwear bundles, personalised polo shirts, hoodies, personalised T-shirts, personalised joggers and work trousers, custom jackets and personalised fleeces.

If visibility is part of the job, you can also browse our wider hi-vis workwear and custom hi-vis gilets.

FAQs: Gilets and Bodywarmers

Are work gilets suitable for outdoor jobs?

Yes, provided the individual garment suits the conditions.

Some work gilets offer insulation, wind resistance or protection from light rain, while others are mainly intended as an extra layer. Check the product specification rather than assuming every bodywarmer is waterproof.

What is the best gilet for working in cold weather?

A padded or insulated bodywarmer is usually the place to start when warmth is the priority. Fleece-lined styles can also provide a useful extra layer.

The right choice still depends on temperature, weather exposure, activity level and what will be worn underneath or over the top.

Can you embroider a logo onto a padded bodywarmer?

Yes, suitable padded bodywarmers can be embroidered.

Construction matters, though. Baffles, insulation and access behind the outer fabric can affect both placement and whether embroidery is appropriate. Some current padded products include dedicated decoration access for this reason.

Can bodywarmers be printed?

Yes, some bodywarmers can be printed.

Softshell and hybrid garments in the current range include products specifically suitable for print, although fabric, coatings and construction still need to be checked before choosing a method.

Can I order corporate-branded gilets in bulk?

Yes. The Funky Peach supplies both individual garments and larger team orders.

Decoration and garment pricing can become more competitive as quantities increase, without forcing you into a large minimum order. The range includes brands such as Tee Jays, Regatta Professional, Russell Athletic, Result Recycled, Stormtech, Portwest and Orn, giving businesses plenty of choice for repeat uniform orders.

Is there a minimum order quantity for personalised gilets?

Orders start from one garment where the chosen product supports personalisation.

That works for replacements and new starters as well as businesses that want to try a garment before placing a bigger order.

How long do personalised bodywarmers take to produce?

Standard turnaround for printed and embroidered garments is 10 working days from payment.

Express production is available on suitable orders at 7 working days. Stock, artwork approval, quantity and decoration method can all affect timing.

What other personalised workwear can I order with branded gilets?

You can match branded gilets with personalised polo shirts, hoodies, personalised T-shirts, personalised joggers and work trousers, custom jackets and personalised fleeces.

For a wider uniform order, head to our full custom workwear range or take a look at the workwear bundles.