How to order your chef jackets with logo
- Choose cut and model — JM-9 (classic, men's), JM-13 (women's cut with taper), JM-12 (stand-up collar, upscale kitchen), BJM-1 (bistro variant with shorter sleeves)
- Choose colour — white (classic), black (Michelin-star kitchens), anthracite (modern kitchen), burgundy or indigo (bistro look)
- Choose finishing — embroidery left chest (standard, boil-proof), DTF print for multicolour logos, transfer print for removable name tags
- Define logo position and size — chest top left 7 × 5 cm (standard), sleeve embroidery for dual branding, back print for catering and food truck orders
- Specify quantity — configurator shows live pricing including volume discount tiers
- Print approval and production — embroidery takes 8–12 working days of production from print approval as standard, plus shipping (1–2 working days within Germany); bulk orders from 50 pieces with 5 working days additional lead time
Which chef jacket models for which brigade?
The right chef jacket depends on brigade size, kitchen style and service concept. An overview of the cuts in the ShirtStore range:
- Karlowsky JM-9 (basic long-sleeve, men's) — the classic for restaurant and hotel kitchens. Long sleeves are HACCP-recommended, full button placket with concealed press studs. Material blend 65/35 (polyester/cotton), shape-stable and boil-proof to 90 °C. Ideal for brigades of 5 to 30 cooks.
- Karlowsky JM-12 (stand-up collar) — upscale variant with stand-up collar for Michelin-star gastronomy and hotel restaurants. Refined look, higher wearing comfort at the neck. Concealed press-stud placket for a clean brand look.
- Karlowsky JM-13 (women's cut) — tapered with adapted shoulder seams and a more feminine silhouette. Important for mixed brigades and hotel kitchens with female staff. Same material as JM-9.
- Karlowsky BJM-1 (bistro variant) — shorter sleeves (3/4 or short), lighter weight. For bistro kitchens, food trucks, catering crews in summer operations. Less formal than JM-9/JM-12.
For a fully matched hospitality uniform (chef jackets combined with bistro and bib aprons, service polos and chef trousers) see our full hospitality uniform set — the volume discount scale applies to the goods, counted per model.
Material specifications and HACCP suitability
| Model | Material | Weight | HACCP-compliant | Boil-proof 90 °C | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karlowsky JM-9 | 65% polyester / 35% cotton | approx. 215 g/m² | yes | yes | restaurant kitchen, hotel brigade |
| Karlowsky JM-12 | 65/35 blend | approx. 215 g/m² | yes | yes | Michelin-star gastronomy, hotel restaurant |
| Karlowsky JM-13 | 65/35 blend (women's cut) | approx. 215 g/m² | yes | yes | mixed brigade, female staff |
| Karlowsky BJM-1 bistro | 65/35 blend lightweight | approx. 195 g/m² | yes | yes (60-90 °C) | bistro, food truck, catering |
65/35 blend is the industry standard for commercial kitchens: shape-stable under frequent industrial laundry, low wrinkle build-up in the dryer, fast-drying. Pure cotton is available on request for sustainability-oriented concepts, but with limitations on shape stability after 200+ wash cycles.
Print method comparison for chef jackets
| Method | Suitability | Minimum order | Cost per jacket (net) | 90 °C industrial laundry | Logo detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery (Madeira thread) | logos up to 12 × 12 cm, refined look | from 1 piece | chest logo 7 × 5 cm: €11.18 (1–9 pieces) down to €3.22 (500+ pieces) + digitising €33.00 per order | yes, 150+ washes | excellent for compact logos |
| DTF print | multicolour logos, photo designs | from 1 piece | as digital print: chest logo up to 15 × 10 cm €3.32 (1–24 pieces) down to €1.30 (1,000+ pieces), no set-up | yes, 60 °C recommended | excellent for detail designs |
| Transfer print | name tags, function labels | from 1 piece | on request | limited (removable) | good for single-colour text |
| Screen print | large advertising logos on back | from 50 pieces | €0.72–6.38 depending on quantity and number of screens + set-up €20 per screen | limited | good for poster prints |
Embroidery recommendation: For the classic gastronomy application, embroidery with Madeira thread is the no. 1 choice. It withstands 90 °C HACCP-compliant industrial laundry, looks refined and is the standard in Michelin-star gastronomy. Chest logo left 7 × 5 cm (35 cm², tier up to 40 cm²) with digitising at €33.00 net per order is the typical configuration.
DTF print recommendation: For multicolour bistro logos on BJM-1 or photo designs for food truck crews, DTF print is more economical than embroidery. Wash resistance up to 60 °C without visible quality loss — sufficient for bistro and catering, not for 90 °C sterile-area work.
Transfer print recommendation: For name tags or function labels („Chef de Partie", „Sous Chef", „Pâtissier") that should remain removable on staff change. Often combined with embroidery: fixed logo chest left, removable transfer chest right with name.
Volume discount scale for chef jackets
Chef jacket orders vary widely — a bistro with 3 cooks, a hotel brigade with 12, a catering large event with 80 pieces, a hotel chain with 200 pieces across 5 locations. Our volume discount scale applies to the jackets, counted per model (all sizes and colours of one model together); embroidery, print and digitising are excluded:
| Quantity | Discount | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| from 3 pieces | 3% | bistro crew, small café kitchen, pilot order |
| from 20 pieces | 10% | restaurant kitchen, medium hotel brigade, cooking school |
| from 50 pieces | 15% | large restaurant, small hotel with cooking school, catering initial order |
| from 100 pieces | 25% | hotel chain, large catering event, festival concession |
| from 200 pieces | 30% | restaurant group, food truck festival bulk order, group catering |
| from 500 pieces | 32% | corporate rollout, hospitality group bulk order |
Counted per model: You combine JM-9, JM-12, JM-13 and BJM-1 in one order; the discount tier depends on the quantity per model. Example: 15 JM-9 for the male brigade + 8 JM-13 for the female brigade + 5 BJM-1 for summer bistro service = 3% off the jackets for each model (the 10% tier starts at 20 pieces of one model). Aprons and service polos are each counted separately.
Bulk lead time: From 50 pieces we plan an additional 5 working days lead time for embroidery batching and HACCP-compliant final inspection. Hotel chains and catering groups receive multi-address shipping with packing list per location on request.
Pricing — what becomes economical at what quantity?
- Karlowsky JM-9 / JM-12 / JM-13: article price as on the product page or in the configurator, less volume discount on the jacket
- Karlowsky BJM-1 bistro: article price as on the product page or in the configurator (lighter weight, shorter sleeves)
- Embroidery chest logo left 7 × 5 cm (35 cm²): €11.18 (1–9 pieces), €9.09 (10–19 pieces), €6.99 (20–49 pieces), €5.07 (50–99 pieces) net per jacket + digitising €33.00 net — charged on every order, including reorders (we keep your embroidery file on file)
- DTF chest logo (priced as digital print, up to 15 × 10 cm): €3.32 net per jacket at 1–24 pieces, no set-up
- Transfer print name tag: price on request
Live pricing including volume discount scale is shown by the configurator — gross or net display. For orders from 50 pieces we recommend our bulk-order inquiry with individual calculation and multi-address options.
Three real-world experience cases from hospitality
Case 1 — Hotel brigade with 18 cooks (4-star hotel, southern Germany)
Order: 12 × Karlowsky JM-9 in white (male brigade) + 6 × JM-13 in white (female brigade) with embroidery hotel logo chest left 8 × 4 cm. Madeira thread in hotel red (Pantone reference). Digitising €33.00 net (32 cm², tier up to 40 cm²); we keep the embroidery file on file for reorders. 3% volume discount on the jackets (12 JM-9 and 6 JM-13, counted per model; the 10% tier starts at 20 pieces of one model). Additionally per cook a transfer name tag right chest („Chef de Partie", „Sous Chef", „Commis") — price on request. Delivery in 9 working days. Reorder after 8 months: 6 additional JM-9 using the stored embroidery file; digitising (€33.00 net) is charged as on every order, lead time as for any embroidery: 8–12 working days of production plus shipping.
Case 2 — Catering bulk order food truck festival (NRW)
Order: 50 × Karlowsky BJM-1 bistro in black with DTF chest print food truck logo large 18 × 14 cm + back print with festival name 25 × 20 cm. Multicolour photo design of the food truck brand mascot. Embroidery would be impractical due to multicolour detail (the 252 cm² chest motif exceeds the largest embroidery area of 250 cm², price on request; no detail visible). DTF print (priced as digital print) more economical: at 50 pieces chest €3.32 (252 cm²) + back €4.16 (500 cm²) = €7.48 net per jacket, no set-up. 15% discount on the jackets at 50 pieces. Delivery in 8 working days. Washing at 60 °C recommended — summer festival use not in HACCP sterile area.
Case 3 — Michelin-star restaurant opening (Berlin)
Order: 8 × Karlowsky JM-12 stand-up collar in anthracite with embroidery restaurant initials chest left 6 × 4 cm in gold thread (Madeira Classic 40 #1156). Plus 2 × JM-12 in black for the head chef and sous chef with additional sleeve embroidery „Chef" / „Sous". Small order but high-value due to sleeve embroidery and special colour. Digitising for the initials €33.00 net (24 cm², tier up to 30 cm²), plus a separate digitising fee by embroidery area for „Chef" and „Sous" on the sleeves. Delivery in 10 working days due to special colour. On reorder of 2 additional JM-12 for new staff we use the stored embroidery file; digitising is charged as on every order, and the lead time follows embroidery production (8–12 working days plus shipping).
How reorder works
Chef jackets are wear items — sauce stains, fat splashes and daily industrial laundry shorten lifespan to 18-24 months. We have a lean reorder process:
- You report demand with quantity, model, size, colour (Pantone reference already stored)
- We access stored embroidery data — same stitch-out, no new mockup; digitising is charged as on every order
- Delivery as for any embroidery — 8–12 working days of production from approval plus shipping; expedited shipping on request for special colours or rare cuts
- Invoice referencing initial order — continuity for accounting
For hotel chains and catering groups we offer an automatic reorder rhythm every 12 months with a pre-defined quantity corridor on request.
Frequently asked questions about embroidered chef jackets (FAQ)
Does embroidery on Karlowsky JM-9 survive HACCP-compliant 90 °C industrial laundry?
Yes. Madeira Classic 40 threads withstand 90 °C in the commercial industrial washing machine with heavy-duty detergents over at least 150 washes without visible colour or sheen loss. Prerequisite: the carrier textile is also boil-proof (Karlowsky 65/35 is industry standard). For pure sterile areas (food research, food production), we recommend an additional validated thread batch on request.
Which Karlowsky models exist for women?
Karlowsky JM-13 is the explicit women's cut: tapered with adapted shoulder seams and more feminine silhouette. For mixed brigades we recommend the combination JM-9 (male brigade) + JM-13 (female brigade) — identical material, identical embroidery position, visually consistent. JM-12 (stand-up collar) is also available in tapered women's cut on request.
What does an embroidered chef jacket cost at 10 pieces?
Karlowsky JM-9 in white at 10 pieces: article price as on the product page, less 3% volume discount on the jacket. Embroidery chest logo left 7 × 5 cm (35 cm², tier up to 40 cm²) costs €9.09 net per jacket at 10–19 pieces, plus digitising of €33.00 net for the order (€3.30 per jacket at 10 pieces) — together €12.39 net embroidery per jacket. At 10 pieces the 20-piece tier does not yet apply; from 20 pieces of one model you save 10% on the jacket, and embroidery then costs €6.99 net per piece.
Which print method suits the BJM-1 bistro variant?
For BJM-1 in bistro and food truck use we recommend DTF print. Advantage: multicolour photo designs and large back prints (food truck brand, festival logo) are possible, no setup overhead, producible from 1 piece. Embroidery is also possible on BJM-1 but is primarily worthwhile for discreet chest logos. Transfer print only for name tags (removable).
What delivery time applies to bulk orders 50-100 pieces?
For bulk orders 50-100 pieces the embroidery production time of 8–12 working days from print approval applies, plus 5 working days lead time for embroidery batching and HACCP-compliant final inspection, plus shipping (1–2 working days within Germany). For orders with special colours (Pantone special), dual branding (chest + sleeve) or multi-address shipping we plan additional time. Expedited shipping on request against surcharge (express embroidery production 5–7 working days).
Can you combine chef jackets with aprons and polos in one order?
Yes. We combine Karlowsky chef jackets (JM-9 / JM-12 / JM-13 / BJM-1), Karlowsky aprons, service polos and t-shirts in one order. The volume discount scale applies to the goods per product: example 12 JM-9 + 15 bistro aprons + 10 service polos = 3% off each, because every product is counted separately (10% from 20 pieces of one product). Multi-address shipping with packing list per location also possible.
Are Karlowsky chef jackets suitable for industrial laundry?
Yes, all Karlowsky models (JM-9, JM-12, JM-13, BJM-1) are explicitly approved for commercial industrial laundry. 65/35 blend (polyester/cotton) is shape-stable at 90 °C washing, mangle-ironable and fast-drying. For daily industrial laundry we recommend 2-3 jackets per employee in a rotation system to increase lifespan.
Are there organic chef jackets in organic cotton?
Karlowsky standard line is 65/35 blend. For pure organic cotton the selection is limited — on request we offer organic cotton alternatives from the B&C Inspire or Stanley/Stella range. However with limitations on shape stability after 200+ industrial washes. For pure organic concepts (vegan restaurant, sustainability-oriented gastronomy) a run of 30 pieces or more is sensible.
What makes ShirtStore different
- HACCP-compliant material — all Karlowsky models (JM-9/JM-12/JM-13/BJM-1) are approved for food-adjacent areas
- Embroidery boil-proof 90 °C — Madeira thread stays colour- and shape-stable over 150 industrial washes
- Volume discount scale on the goods — counted per model, from 3 pieces 3% up to 32% from 500 pieces
- 5 working days bulk-order lead time for orders from 50 pieces
- Pantone colour reference stored for colour-matched reorder
- Multi-address shipping for hotel chains and catering groups with packing list per location
- Women's and men's cuts in parallel in the same order
Ready for your embroidered chef jackets?
Open configurator → · Request bulk order →