A team kit order can look straightforward on a spreadsheet, then become difficult the moment people start wearing it. The shirt that looked smart in a catalogue may feel heavy during training, the printed logo may not suit the fabric, or a good price may come with no route to replace a single item later. Knowing how to choose team kit means balancing appearance with comfort, durability, availability and the practical realities of your team.
For a sports club, school, charity or business team, the best choice is rarely the cheapest garment or the most elaborate design. It is the kit people are happy to wear, that represents the organisation properly and continues to do the job after regular washing, travel and use.
Start with how the kit will actually be used
Before choosing colours, badges or supplier options, be clear about the wearer and the setting. A football team playing through a British winter needs something very different from a summer charity run group, a hospitality team or volunteers staffing an outdoor event.
Consider how often garments will be worn and washed, whether wearers will be active or stationary, and what conditions they will face. Training tops may need breathable, quick-drying fabric. A touchline coat needs warmth and weather protection. Event T-shirts may only be worn once or twice, but still need to fit a varied group comfortably and carry branding clearly in photographs.
It also helps to separate essential kit from optional layers. A core playing shirt, shorts and socks may need strict consistency. Hoodies, jackets, quarter-zips and bags can give team members choice while keeping the overall look coordinated. This approach is often more useful than trying to make one garment suit every season and role.
Match fabric to the job
Fabric affects comfort, appearance and the life of the garment. Polyester is common in performance and teamwear because it is lightweight, durable and manages moisture well. It is a practical option for active teams and for garments that will be washed frequently.
Cotton can give a softer, more traditional feel, making it well suited to leisurewear, casual club clothing and some event apparel. However, it retains moisture more readily than performance fabrics and may be less suitable for demanding training sessions. Blended fabrics can offer a sensible middle ground, combining comfort with greater resilience.
Garment weight matters too. A lightweight tee may be ideal for a fun run in July but inadequate as a year-round training layer. Equally, a heavy sweatshirt is hard-wearing but may not be comfortable for indoor activity. The right choice depends on use, not simply on which option feels most substantial in the hand.
How to choose team kit with the right fit and sizing
Poor sizing creates waste, delays and unhappy wearers. It can also undermine the professional appearance of a squad or staff group, particularly when individuals are expected to meet customers, supporters or the public.
Ask for a clear size guide for every garment style and, where possible, arrange samples or a fitting session before confirming a larger order. Sizes vary between manufacturers, so a medium in one range cannot be assumed to match a medium in another. This is particularly relevant when ordering fitted women’s styles, junior sizes or technical garments with a closer cut.
Give people enough time to confirm their size. For clubs, a simple ordering deadline prevents last-minute changes from holding up the full order. For schools and larger organisations, build in a modest allowance for new starters, late registrations and replacement garments.
Do not overlook accessibility and personal preference. Some wearers may prefer a looser fit, longer sleeves or additional layers. Offering a small selection of approved garments can improve comfort without losing the consistency of the team identity.
Build a kit that looks like one team
A strong team identity does not require every item to look identical. It requires a clear set of visual rules: the right logo, agreed colours, sensible placement and a consistent standard of decoration.
Start with the logo artwork. Supply the best version available, preferably a high-resolution vector file, so it can be reproduced cleanly at different sizes. Fine detail, tiny lettering and subtle colour gradients may need adjustment for embroidery or certain print methods. That is not a compromise in quality – it is part of making sure the finished branding remains legible and professional on fabric.
Think about where the kit will be seen. A small embroidered chest logo works well on polos, jackets and hoodies. A larger printed design may be more effective on a training top or event T-shirt. Sponsor logos, player names and numbers all need enough space to read at a distance, without turning the garment into a crowded noticeboard.
Keep colour contrast in mind. Dark logos can disappear on navy or black garments, while pale prints may be lost against light colours. A supplier should help you check the artwork and advise where an alternative thread or print colour will give better visibility.
Choose the decoration method carefully
The decoration method should suit the garment, the artwork and the expected lifespan. Embroidery gives a durable, premium finish and is particularly effective on polos, sweatshirts, fleeces, jackets and caps. It is less suitable for very large designs or lightweight performance fabrics, where the stitching can add bulk.
Screen printing is a reliable choice for bold designs and larger quantities, especially on cotton tees and event clothing. Transfers can work well for names, numbers and detailed full-colour graphics, including short runs where screen set-up may not be the most economical option. Sublimation is ideal for fully customised performance garments, allowing colour and pattern to become part of the fabric rather than sitting on its surface. Direct-to-garment printing can suit detailed artwork on appropriate garments and quantities.
There is no single best method. The useful question is whether the chosen finish will look right after repeated wear and washing. A practical consultation before ordering avoids choosing a decoration technique solely because it appears cheapest at the outset.
Plan quantities beyond the first order
Team kit is rarely a one-off purchase. Players join, staff move roles, children grow, sponsors change and individual items get lost or damaged. A well-planned order makes replacements far easier.
Choose ranges likely to remain available and confirm whether garments can be reordered individually. Keep a record of garment codes, colours, logo positions, thread or print colours, and any name or number specifications. This protects consistency when another batch is needed months later.
For a new team or campaign, ordering a few spare core garments can be worthwhile, particularly in common sizes. The upfront cost may be slightly higher, but it can prevent a player or volunteer being left without matching kit when stock changes or a deadline is close.
Budgeting should also account for the full kit lifecycle. A lower-cost top that fades, loses shape or cracks after a handful of washes is not good value. Look at the cost per wear, the likelihood of reorders and the impression the clothing gives to members and supporters.
Make ordering easier for the person in charge
The organiser often carries the administrative burden: collecting sizes, checking spelling, approving artwork, managing payments and chasing late responses. A good kit plan reduces that pressure.
Create one approved specification before collecting orders. It should state the exact garments, colours, decoration locations, personalisation rules and ordering deadline. For squads, confirm whether names and numbers are compulsory and who has final approval of spellings. For corporate or charity teams, agree who can authorise brand artwork before production begins.
Allow enough lead time for artwork approval, garment sourcing, decoration and delivery. Rush orders are sometimes possible, but they reduce choice and can introduce avoidable risk. Ordering early also leaves room to resolve sizing questions or make a sample adjustment before the main production run.
At John Roberts Associates, the process starts with the real use of the garment, not just the logo that goes on it. Advice on fabric, garment construction and decoration can help your organisation make a considered choice, whether you need a compact sports order or coordinated clothing across several locations.
The kit people remember is the kit that feels right when they pull it on. Set the brief clearly, check a sample where possible and ask for practical guidance before approving the order. That gives your team clothing they can wear with confidence, match with ease and rely on when it matters.