The Ultimate Guide to Ordering Custom School Spirit Wear (Stress-Free in 5 Steps!)

Custom School Apparel
Written By Hayley Wagner

Are you the parent, teacher, or team organizer tasked with getting the custom school spirit wear ordered this year? It can feel like a daunting task. Between chasing down sizes, getting the design approved by the principal, and hitting the production deadline, the process often feels more stressful than spirited! At Everything Custom Designs, we believe ordering personalized school mascot shirts and custom hoodies for teachers, and students should be exciting—not overwhelming. This guide breaks down the entire process into five simple, stress-free steps, ensuring you get high-quality custom school apparel on time and on budget. Let's make this year's spirit wear the best ever!

white tshirts with a green and yellow cheer pom pom, arched text above the pom pom in green that says blackhawk then the word cheer in green under the pom pom

Make it stand out

Quality DTF printing for school mascots and team personalized gear!

Step 1: Define Your Design & Budget

The very first step is locking down what you want to order. This is where most groups run into delays, so decide on these items upfront:

  • Design Focus: Is your design a detailed school mascot logo, a simple school name and motto, or a fun phrase? Make sure you have the highest quality file of your school's official logo, or a clear sketch of the new design you want us to create.

  • Apparel Type: Will it be T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, or a mix? Think about when the items will be worn (e.g., lightweight tees for fall pep rallies, or warm hoodies for winter games).

  • Budget & Quantity:

• Quantity Flexibility: Thanks to our advanced DTF printing, there is no minimum order size, allowing you to order exactly what you need—from a single shirt for a grandparent to fifty shirts for the whole band!

• Cost Transparency: While we have no minimums, the cost per shirt becomes more affordable as your order volume increases. We provide clear, tiered pricing so you can easily see the cost difference between ordering 10 shirts versus 50. Decide on your approximate total quantity now to lock in the best rate!

Step 2: Benefit from Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing Technology

You might be used to having to choose between screen printing (good for bulk, but limited on color) or heat transfer (good for small orders, but usually peels). At Everything Custom Designs, we have streamlined the process by exclusively using Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing—and here is why that is great news for your school order:

  • Vibrant, Full-Color Designs: DTF printing allows us to produce your school's logo or mascot in any color combination, no matter how complex the artwork or color gradients. You get retail-quality results.

  • No Minimum Order Size: Since DTF doesn't require the extensive setup of screen printing, we can handle everything from a single "Cheer Mom" shirt to a large order of 100 custom hoodies without the high costs or wasted inventory.

  • Superior Durability and Feel: DTF prints are soft to the touch, highly flexible, and incredibly resistant to cracking and fading after washing, ensuring your school spirit wear lasts all season long.

Step 3: Collect Sizes and Finalize the Order

Organization is key! If you are collecting orders yourself, use a simple online spreadsheet or form to track:

1. Customer Name

2. Apparel Item (e.g., Adult Hoodie, Youth T-Shirt)

3. Size and Color

4. Payment Confirmation

Once you have your final counts, contact us at Everything Custom Designs with the complete list. We'll confirm the final price based on the quantity and printing method you chose.

Step 4: Approval and Production

Once your order is confirmed:

• Review the Proof: We will send you a digital mockup (a proof) of the final design on the actual apparel item. This is your chance to verify colors, spelling, size, and placement. Do not approve until you are 100% sure!

• Production Begins: After your approval, we get to work! We'll start the process of printing your custom school apparel. We'll give you a firm production timeline so you can communicate the estimated delivery date to your group.

Step 5: Receive and Distribute

Your order is ready!

• Check the Order: When the box arrives, do a quick check to make sure the quantity is correct.

• Distribution Tip: To make handing out the shirts easy, we recommend organizing the shirts by size or placing them into individual bundles with the customer name attached

See? Ordering high-quality custom school spirit wear doesn't have to be a headache. By following these five simple steps, you can ensure a smooth process from design concept to final delivery. Ready to get started on your next team or school order? Click here to contact Everything Custom Designs and get a free quote today!

Hayley Wagner