We started as Northwest Embroidery back in 1977 by Jim Mickelson almost by accident. At the time, Jim was traveling from Washington to Alaska every other week to work as an administration manager for the Alaska Pipeline when came up with the idea to sell embroidered caps to fellow pipeline employees. Originally he sewed all the patches onto the caps himself while back home in Washington. When his trial run of 300 sold out in three days, he knew he was on to something.” he says. “I had all this room on the plane, so I filled it with hats. I just kept hauling hats up there and selling them until I started making more money selling hats than working for Atlantic Richfield.”
We originally occupied a rented location in downtown Tacoma with just a single 11 head embroidery machine. Within just a few years, we moved to our current facility in Milton, with two buildings and almost ten times the manufacturing capability. Today, we even manage a branch office in China to handle large specialty orders. Jim is now joined by his two sons Erik and Scott, bringing the company into its second generation.
Three decades in the business have given us a greater appreciation for the art that goes into creating an embroidered garment. Technology may have helped make things faster, but every item we produce is still manufactured with the same strict attention to detail as it was three decades ago. Throughout the years, technology has changed and trends have come and gone. Through it all, we continue to pride ourselves on the same principles on which the company was founded – top-notch customer service and high-quality products.
Technology in our industry has changed dramatically since the early days, and Northwest Custom Apparel has kept on the cutting edge with every improvement. In the old days, the artwork was digitized all by hand, stitch by stitch, into files that could be read my the embroidery machines. The files were saved on large paper rolls with holes punched in them, taking up a large section of our warehouse just to store them. Now designs are digitized directly on our computer screens and are sent immediately through our network to our factory’s embroidery machines. Our entire library which used to take up shelves of space now can fit on a memory chip smaller than your fingernail.
Northwest Custom Apparel is committed to delivering happiness and creating WOW moments for every customer.
For nearly 50 years, our approach to custom apparel has been guided by a simple, unwavering philosophy: quality over quantity. In an industry with thousands of brands and endless options, we’ve dedicated ourselves to doing the hard work for you. We don’t just put up a massive wholesale catalog and let you guess which garment is best for your project. Instead, we have spent decades testing, wearing, and decorating hundreds of styles to find the ones that consistently deliver on quality.
Every brand and every style in our curated collection has earned its place through proven performance. We know which fabrics hold up after dozens of washes, which materials are best for intricate embroidery, and which garments offer the perfect blend of comfort and durability. As a family-owned and operated business since 1977, we stand by every product we offer. When you choose Northwest Custom Apparel, you’re not just getting a decorated garment; you’re getting a piece of our history and a product backed by our hands-on expertise, all printed right here in Milton, WA.
We’ve chosen to focus our expertise on serving the construction industry. From safety vests and work shirts to caps and hoodies, we create custom apparel that meets the unique needs of construction professionals.
Our latest innovation? Using Direct-to-Film (DTF) transfers on safety vests. This technique allows for durable, high-quality designs that keep you visible and looking professional, even in the toughest conditions.
Northwest Custom Apparel is staffed by experienced embroidery operators and management that will guarantee your order is completed to your satisfaction. You can rest assure with our years of experience and training that your order be delivered on time and correct.
Jim Mickelson, after a successful career with a major oil company, founded Northwest Embroidery in 1977…
Erik Mickelson’s position as Manager is more than a job, it’s a passion. It’s always fun and exciting because he enjoys marketing…
Ruth Nhoung is our Production Manager and Northwest Custom Apparel is lucky to have her. Thanks to her…
Northwest Custom Apparel believes in old fashion customer service, that has been instilled into the culture by owner, Jim Mickelson, since 1977. We strive to provide the “WOW” factor each and every interaction with the customer. Many employees have over 10 years experience and the most senior employee has 25 years of producing quality and on time embroidery. We invite you into our remodeled showroom to see all our samples and new ideas to promote your company. We make ordering easy and a fun experience.
We are continually thinking outside of the box to provide new services, products and ideas to our customers. We believe direct-to-garment printing will be the future of t-shirt decorating and is already replacing traditional screen printing. We invested in Kornit printers, which print unlimited ink colors, using water-based inks that are environmentally friendly. Embroidery will always be our staple and we are continually investing in newer and faster embroidery machines. Owner, Jim Mickelson, always reminds us as we grow in technology, we can’t forget our “Old Fashion” customer service of 40 years.
-Jim and Erik Mickelson
We’re excited about the future, including plans to add laser engraving on leather patches for caps. It’s just one more way we’re working to provide you with the best in custom apparel.
At Northwest Custom Apparel, we’re not just stitching logos – we’re crafting solutions that help you build your brand while keeping your team safe and looking sharp. Experience the Northwest Custom Apparel difference today, and let us create a WOW moment for you!
Jim Mickelson, after a successful career with a major oil company, founded Northwest Embroidery in 1977. This was the first commercial embroidery in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, Jim has become the guru of embroidery never refusing to answer a question or offer advice to his fellow embroiders. Jim and his wife Leeanna raised four wonderful children who went on to successful business careers.
Erik Mickelson’s position as Manager is more than a job, it’s a passion. It’s always fun and exciting because he enjoys marketing, computers, and coming up with innovative ideas to help NWCA grow. He majored in accounting and finance at Washington State University, graduating in 1996, and returned to school to obtain his Master of Business from WGU, graduating in 2016. Erik continually strives to advance his education through podcasts, audiobooks, and industry tradeshows. He is married to a remarkable and caring wife named Wendy, a Registered Nurse, with whom he shares his many hobbies and a love for the outdoors.
Ruth Nhoung is our Production Manager and Northwest Custom Apparel is lucky to have her. Thanks to her vast knowledge of machine embroidery and dedication to creating a comfortable and supportive work environment, the production plant runs smoothly and customers are pleased with our work. She is a loving mother and grandmother and enjoys spending quality time with her siblings. She says, “I love everything about Northwest Custom Apparel: the people, the atmosphere, the work, and the customers. I love what I do and I embrace all of NWCA’s core values”.
