Your 4-Step Guide to Designing Your Own Varsity-Inspired Jacket
By LogoSportswear | Updated on November 24, 2023
Varsity-inspired jackets, also often referred to as "varsity jackets" or "letterman jackets", hold a special place in everyday street fashion and culture. These iconic jackets carry the prestige of academia and inspire team camaraderie, making them a timeless staple apparel for students, alumni, and their families. Even business organizations incorporate their own version of "school spirit" by making their sports team members don custom versions of a varsity-inspired jacket.
Whether you're an alumnus nostalgic for your youth, an aspiring student touring dream campuses, or a small business owner prepping sports team merch, varsity jackets help promote team pride and give a sense of belongingness. Learn how to design a varsity-inspired jacket your team will be proud to wear on game days and beyond.
1. Match the School Name or Team Logo With the Organization's Colors
Unsure where to begin? Start with your company logo or your team's name. This element easily identifies your team with the organization or university you're playing for. Be sure to match the logo or name with your organization's colors, too. If you need a color reference, check existing uniforms worn by current sports teams for inspiration. Take a gander at the university jacket that's being sold on campus or a different sports team's colors if you have one. To keep the design stylish yet simple, stick to a maximum of two colors - anything more and your jacket won't have the consistency required of university designs.
When choosing which colors to combine and which ones take a bigger slice of the pie, remember that contrast is key. Go for a light, vivid background as canvas for the team's logo or emblem. Use a dark color for the team's name or players' names and then have it printed or embroidered on the light background. This stark contrast makes the text pop and ensures readability from a distance. Consider complementary colors as well. A harmonious blend of contrasting and complementary colors ensures an easily recognizable jacket design and still captures the essence of your team's identity.
2. Strike a Balance Between Visual Elements and Placement
Use of university seals such as logos and emblems often require permission prior to use, so secure permission first before you proceed with your design. Once ready, place main design elements like the school's insignia or team name on the back or chest area. This guarantees better visibility so do it for the school logo, an artwork of the mascot, or the team's name. The same principle applies if you're designing a varsity-inspired jacket for your organization's events or giving them away as gifts. Establishing a key element as the jacket central design saves you from a busy and cluttered look.
If you want to add other subtle accents, visual elements, or words, ensure they align with the team's values, culture, and history. Try shapes, objects, or phrases that other students, alumni, or employees can easily associate with the team. If you need help determining where to begin with the overall design, collaborate with the official university department that handles these affairs when putting elements together.
3. Select the Right Fonts for Team Name and Jersey Numbers
Typography, the art of arranging text and letters legibly and clearly, helps maintain the balance of a varsity jacket's overall design. This involves choosing the right font to convey the personality of your varsity team. It's recommended to go with readable font styles, but you can also be bold and try various types that will match your jacket's overall design, the team's personality, or the school's theme. You can preview how the team or player's name looks like in your chosen font if the printing company has an online design tool.
School, organization, or player's names are usually spelled out in slab serif fonts, the block-like, thick letters and numbers you typically see on sports gear. Other examples of varsity fonts to consider are Graduate, Fine College, and Team Jersey. You can download these and use them on your preferred editing tool before uploading the file to the printing site. Once you've selected an appropriate font for your varsity jacket design, see how the text will read using bold strokes, angular designs, or capital letters. These typography methods help emphasize your team's names or any text you want to highlight on the jacket.
4. Add a Personalized Touch Unique to Your Team
Are you creating a personalized varsity jacket to celebrate the team's anniversary or a milestone like a championship? Add custom patches or embroider an exclusive design to your jacket. Showcase significant achievements like back-to-back winning seasons or special occasions such as the team's silver anniversary with a commemorative patch or applique.
If you're creating a design exclusive to the team, you could also include the team motto, slogan, or rallying cry that reflects the team's values. Add these distinct touches in the blank areas like the jacket's sleeves. Another option would be to collect all team members' signatures and print them onto the inside lining of the jacket.
Start Creating Your Varsity Jacket Custom Design
Once you have finalized the best design style for your team, order your varsity jackets from a reliable company like LogoSportswear. We offer several types of varsity-inspired jackets you can design accordingly to your team's spirits and colors. Our friendly and helpful sales representative will walk you through the customization process if needed. If you need more help with varsity jacket design ideas, check out our site's different varsity-themed looks and embroidery design templates. Find the best option for your organization and see how your design comes to life with us today.