When it comes to celebrating the important people and animals in your life, custom gifts are some of the best ones you can give. Not only do they commemorate special memories, but they keep the memories alive every time you see them. Best of all, they’re gifts that last a lifetime.

One of the best custom gifts I’ve seen for pet lovers is The Custom Embroidered Pet Portrait Sweatshirt from Pupsentials. With this sweatshirt, a realistic portrait of your furry friend’s face is embroidered on the upper left side so you can have your four-legged soulmate close to your heart every time you wear it. The embroidery is done by hand with over 25,000 stitches, and the team at Pupsentials chooses from over 15 thread colors to get your furbaby’s coloring just right.

I ordered a custom sweatshirt of my Goldendoodle, Micah, and absolutely love it. The artwork is lifelike, the colors are perfect, and the sweatshirt itself is super comfortable. If you’re looking for the ultimate pet lover’s gift or want a heartwarming keepsake of your own, this sweatshirt is the one to get.

Overview

Our Experience

I love finding custom creations that I can personalize with my furry family members, especially when they’re items I can use and wear. So when I heard about Pupsentials, I immediately fell in love with their Custom Embroidered Pet Portrait Sweatshirt. I mean, who doesn’t want their dog’s face embroidered on a sweatshirt?

After browsing their site and looking through their example photos, I decided on the clay-colored shirt. Next, I uploaded a photo of Micah. Choosing a straightforward image is super important, so I looked for the most forward-facing, well-lit photo I could find. A few days after placing the order, Pupsentials emailed me a proof. I didn’t have any revision requests, so I gave them the green light to start working on the design.

The sweatshirt took a while to arrive, but once it did, I was super impressed. The sweatshirt was packaged in a cute mailer and wrapped in Pupsentials-branded tissue, which was equally adorable. What really caught my eye though, was the sweatshirt itself. From Micah’s embroidered face to his name on the sleeve, this might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! Not only that, but the fit is exactly how you’d want a feel-good sweatshirt to fit. It’s cozy and roomy without being too big, and the inside has a soft, fuzzy texture. It also has a classy look. It’s comfy enough to cozy up on the couch in and stylish enough to wear out of the house.

Given the oversized fit and unisex sizing, I went with a size small (my usual size). I’m 5’1 and like having a relaxed fit, so this was perfect. Pupsentials doesn’t currently offer an extra small, but even if they did, I wouldn’t size down.

Despite seeing a ton of amazing reviews (it has over 800 five-star reviews), I wasn’t sure how Micah’s face would turn out embroidered on a shirt. But after seeing the final product, I think it’s safe to say these guys nailed it. They captured Micah’s personality so perfectly, which I honestly didn’t expect with embroidery, and they created a perfect rendition of Micah’s doodle fluff, which I can imagine is not the easiest to replicate in a drawing, let alone stitching.

While the price is high, when you factor in the time it takes to make each shirt (3+ hours) and the attention to detail (which is off the charts!), it’s understandable why the sweatshirt is on the expensive side. Micah’s proof alone had 10 different thread colors that were carefully chosen to match his coat coloring.

At the time I placed this order, the estimated delivery was 4 weeks, but it could take as long as 8 weeks for your order to arrive. I didn’t order the sweatshirt for any special occasion (other than celebrating Micah!), so the wait time wasn’t an issue for me. But if you need the sweatshirt by a certain date, this is something you’ll want to keep in mind, especially if you’re ordering during the holiday season.

Pros & Cons

Key Features

How it Works

Ordering a sweatshirt is pretty easy. After choosing a color and a size, you’ll select the number of pets you want embroidered on the shirt. If you want more than two pets, you’ll need to click the “3-5 Pets” link in the navigation bar. Next, you’ll upload a photo of your furry friend. Be sure the photo is forward-facing, close up, and in natural light. If you can’t decide which photo is best, you can upload more than one, and the Pupsentials team will choose one for you. Once you upload a photo and check out, you’re all set!

The team at Pupsentials will process your order within 24-48 business hours and get started on the artwork. Before your order ships, they’ll send you a proof via email. You’ll have 7 days to approve the artwork or request revisions, and once you approve the proof, it’ll be sent for production. It’s important to keep in mind that the turnaround time is long, so be sure to plan ahead!

Custom Embroidery

This company is all about high-quality embroidery, so it’s no surprise that their embroidered artwork is top-notch. They use over 25,000 stitches and choose from a variety of thread colors to ensure your embroidered pet portrait looks exactly like your pup. They also create each portrait by hand, so you get the most lifelike image of your furry friend.

For an additional cost, you can add custom-embroidered text to the sweatshirt. This is a really neat feature that gives your shirt a little extra love by adding text under your pet’s embroidered portrait or along the shirt’s sleeve cuff. The text can be either a name or a short message, and you can choose from a variety of icons (heart, dog bone, paw print, etc.) to go with it. You can also choose the thread color and font.

I received custom text of Micah’s name with a heart icon on the sleeve, and it looks amazing! I absolutely recommend going the extra mile and adding text to your sweatshirt.

Stylish and Comfortable

Pupsentials created their own blank sweatshirt to ensure you have a shirt you’ll love wearing.. It’s a heavyweight unisex sweatshirt that was improved in the spring of 2024 to include hand-drawn artwork and premium fabrics (450 GSM 80% cotton 20% poly blend). Pupsentials also began embroidering directly into the sweatshirt to make sure it lasts a lifetime.

As far as comfort goes, this is a really comfortable shirt. The material is soft and cozy without being heavy, and the inside has a fuzzy, pillowy texture that’s soft enough to sleep in. The sweatshirt is also designed with a relaxed fit to maximize comfort. Since the shirt is oversized, Pupsentials recommends sizing down if you want it to fit true to size.

About Pupsentials

Is the Sweatshirt a Good Value?

There’s no denying this is an expensive shirt, but when it comes to commemorating your furry friend and giving an awesome gift, Pupsentials knocks it out of the park. This is a high-quality sweatshirt, and Pupsentials gives you the VIP experience with hand-drawn art, premium fabric, and life-like embroidery. After considering the time and expertise it takes to make each design, I’d say this sweatshirt is a great value, and I would highly recommend ordering one if it’s in your budget. The finished product is well worth the wait!

How We Tested

Before placing an order, I read through the instructions and guidelines on Pupsentials’ website. Since the sweatshirt is a custom item, there were a few things I wanted to know before placing an order, like what kind of photo to submit, how many revisions I could request, and how long delivery would take. After I read through the information, I chose a sweatshirt color and size and uploaded a photo of Micah.

Once the sweatshirt arrived, I tried it on to see how it fit. I ordered a size small, and it fits exactly how I expected it to–oversized with plenty of room. The shirt is designed to have a relaxed fit, so if you want it to fit true to size, it’s best to size down.

I also threw it in the wash (inside out with gentle detergent and cold water) and let it air dry to see how it would turn out. It’s always a bummer when sweatshirts shrink or change after one wash, but this one held up great and still looks new.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What colors are available?

The sweatshirt comes in the following colors:

Can I include more than one pet?

You can include up to 5 pets on one sweatshirt.

Does Pupsentials embroider pets other than dogs?

Yes! Pupsentials embroiders pets of all kinds.

What are the care instructions for the sweatshirt?

Hand wash with cold water or machine wash inside out on low with cold water and sensitive detergent. Since heat can affect the embroidery, let the shirt air dry and do not put the shirt in the dryer. Do not use stain removers or Woolite on the sweatshirt, and do not iron the design.

Are there additional guidelines I should know before placing an order?

Since the sweatshirt is custom-made, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind when placing an order, including:

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a personalized gift for yourself or a loved one, Pupsentials’ Custom Embroidered Sweatshirt is the perfect one to give. All you need to do is upload a photo of your four-legged friend, and the team at Pupsentials will embroider a 1-to-1 custom portrait of your pet on the sweatshirt. Along with being the perfect gift for any occasion, it’s a shirt that’ll last a lifetime and never go out of style.