How is it that a shirt can make you feel something just because of what’s on it? As the athletes we are here at Withers & Co, this is something near and dear to us.
Ever wondered why some of our favorite sports uniforms stick out to us? Aside from the fact that you want them to keep top score in the game, it’s deeper than that. The style and finish of the apparel set the tone in how it makes you and your recipients feel; there truly is magic in a well-designed piece of decorated apparel.
Team sports are known to bring people together, providing common ground and a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Team apparel, whether for sports or business, does the same thing. Below are a few of the latest decoration trends we are seeing as we design custom sublimated apparel here in NZ.
Old Money, Vintage-Inspired Branded Athletic Wear
It started with classic jerseys, where teams were identified by simply wearing the same color, then we added logos and eventually numbers for team players. As social sports and old-money styles are enjoying a renaissance, so too is custom apparel in the more nostalgic traditional styles.
I guess it’s true that things always come back in style, if you wait long enough 😉
Whether it’s a vintage-inspired jersey with their classic logos, or old-school striping, we are seeing many teams bringing the traditional look but applying it to performance fabrics via decoration techniques to give their team the best look, feel, and performance. With sublimated decoration, uniforms are no longer confined to the limits of left chest and back, they are transformed into wearable art pieces.
Throwback trends in uniforming connect generations. Infusing belonging and pride into a singlet for a running club, or a custom jersey for your sports team, you’re not just giving them a shirt; you’re giving them a commemorative gift that will long outlast the event and keep those feelings alive. Check out this Withers-branded jersey, we got inspo from ‘90s Utah Jazz jerseys! It was cool to pull from that nostalgic vibe.
Regionally-Inspired Team Apparel with Flair
Above are how a few MLB teams are showing off their sublimated apparel with a regional feel thanks to the greater surface coverage that allows for more creativity. These City Connect jerseys from the USA, allowed the teams to create a new line of branded athletic wear while leaning into local culture. The Astros are showing off their Space travel theme, the Nationals’ with the cherry blossoms that Washington is known for, and the San Francisco Giants’ leaned into their Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood hippie vibe with their lava lamp-inspired artwork.
Sublimation Explodes with Colour on Promotional Sports Apparel
Sublimation is allowing teams to go outside the everyday available colours and lean into the bright, contrasting colors, panels, and geometric patterns in their promotional sports apparel. These statement-making designs help teams make a statement and are attracting team gear collectors over solid one-colour apparel from yesteryear.
When everyone else is blending in, bold lines stand out. For branded apparel, this translates to creating pieces that are instantly recognizable and visually exciting. Imagine a company t-shirt or jacket with dynamic colour blocks – it says I’m proudly a member of the team.
Source: Jerseys are from the NFL and Fanatics “Football x Football” Collection launch.
Fanatics just created a buzz in the sports community, paying homage to football jerseys for every NFL team with this line of Ts. Ever seen a cool design from your favourite retail brand and thought, “I wish we could do that for our brand?” Organisations are taking inspiration from others. Take a look at their exclusive release here.
Bottom line – Apparel decoration is no longer a typical left chest or back imprint, but is limited only by the imagination. Whether for sports or your corporate teams, sublimated decoration is changing the game in custom apparel. Subtle or bold, modern or retro, designing apparel that is wanted by your audience is what defines success in branded clothing.
Whether it’s singlets for a Movember run club, jerseys for a Pickleball competition, polos for a golf tournament, or custom caps for your entire team, branding goes far beyond just adding a logo to stock products. Let us help you design and create custom apparel that teams want to proudly wear, and maybe even choose to swap; unique pieces that tell a story, create memories, and ensure people are proud to wear.