Back to School doesn’t have to mean another batch of plain logo T-shirts. See how to create school merch that lives in the school community: practical, in line with clothing trends and made with students, not just for students.
Why think about merch differently?
Until a few years ago, apparel and gadgets for schools were mainly associated with technical T-shirts for sports competitions or mass, average-quality gadgets handed out at the start of the year. The problem is that such products often quickly end up at the bottom of the closet – because they are neither practical nor aesthetically pleasing.
Today, young people expect more. School merch is not only a souvenir, but also a tool for building identity, distinction and a sense of community. If designed well, it can become a natural part of the closet of male and female students – worn every day, not just for required occasions.
School merch as a tool for identity building and integration
Well-thought-out school logo apparel and accessories can make a real difference to the atmosphere in an institution. Pupils from different years then have something in common – a sense of belonging. For teachers and parents, in turn, it’s a signal that the school is moving with the times, is committed to image consistency and can build ties.
School merch is also a storytelling space. Instead of giving away hundreds of the same pens wholesale, you can create a limited collection of sweatshirts or T-shirts with graphics from students – then each product carries a story and emotion.
How to combine different needs: students, parents, teachers?
For merch for schools to be truly useful, the perspective of three groups must be taken into account:
- Male and female students – they expect style, comfort and functionality. They want to wear school clothes with logos that look as good as their favorite brands.
- Parents – pay attention to the ratio of quality, price and durability. For them, what matters is that the printed school clothing should serve more than one season, and at the same time be timeless so that it does not land at the bottom of the drawer next season.
- Teachers and school – they look at visual consistency and practicality. It’s good if personalized clothing is easy to adapt to different occasions, such as field trips, competitions or open days.
“Less stuff – more story”.
One of the most important trends in merchandise is the abandonment of overproduction. It’s better to create smaller, well-designed series than to order generic gadgets in bulk, which quickly lose their value. This makes each sweatshirt, T-shirt or bottle something special – and students really want to use them.
Trends that will bolster the appeal of school merchandise
1. personalized prints
Not just a logo! A great idea is printed school clothing and accessories that relate to inside jokes of the class, favorite slogans or events from school life. Such personalized garments always evoke more excitement.
2. sustainable materials
Young people are increasingly paying attention to ecology. Student clothes made of organic cotton, recycled rPET or refillable accessories are a hit with current values.
3. modern cuts
Oversized, boxy or shorter tops – these are the cuts that have dominated the clothing market among young people continuously for years. Incorporating them into the school’s logo apparel will make the merch look fashionable and a viable competitor to clothing from popular chain stores.
4. clean aesthetics
Minimalist designs, small embroideries, patches or micro-graphics are a trend that makes company logo clothing for students fresh and can be combined with everyday styles. What’s more, it guarantees that the clothes will be attractive many seasons ahead, not just in the coming ones. 🙂
5 custom school sweatshirt ideas
How to stand out from the classic school shirts or sweatshirts? Here are suggestions for slogans and designs that can add uniqueness to your collection:
Good energy club
Use our newest cut of classic oversized MerchUp here. Inscription in a non-obvious form, embroidered on the front – larger, heavily exposed.
The slogan conveys good energy and evokes pleasant associations with time spent at school. Ideal for students who want to identify with the good atmosphere and climate of their school. “Good energy club” sounds like something everyone wants to belong to.
Best school & Best people
Here you can see in action our oversize cut, which is one of our bestsellers. Here we used the signet inscription, which is a smaller embellishment on the front of the sweatshirt.
The slogan has a strong community message. It’s not just about the school building – it’s about the people who make it up. This slogan gives a sense of pride and belonging.
Making memories – not just grades
Here we have a kangaroo sweatshirt with a large inscription on the back – with the “Making memories” piece highlighted through the use of 3D embroidery, while “not just grades” is already done in classic satin embroidery. As a result, the whole thing looks dynamic and stands out with its texture.
The slogan is based on balance – school is not only about grades, but also about memories, friendships and experiences. It’s a message that resonates especially among high school students, for whom these are their last years of schooling.
Future Me Says Thanks
It’s time for MerchUp’s classic boxy sweatshirt in action! This time the design is minimalist – a black sweatshirt with white lettering placed on the front. The typography is instead stylized on a typewriter.
The minimalist, motivational slogan is a reminder that the effort put in today will pay off in the future. Very consistent with the “clean” aesthetic that is trending today.
Progress > Perfection
A classic crewneck cut with a stripped sleeve! It is on it that we propose to put another slogan – subtle, but very effective!
The chosen slogan is a mantra for anyone who feels the pressure to “be perfect”-and while in school, young people can tend to do just that. Progress beyond perfection is a message that reaches both students and teachers. Stylish, but also very life-like.
How to involve students and teachers in projects?
For school merch to be authentic, it should be created with community participation. How worthwhile is it to engage it?
- Graphics contest – students prepare designs, and the whole school votes online.
- Student council = creative council – a short workshop with mood boards and joint selection of a color palette or slogans.
- Ambassador Program – selected people test samples, give feedback and promote the collection to school friends.
Such activities make school clothes with logos not only a product, but also a joint project. And this will definitely increase their value in the eyes of the entire community!
Checklist for implementing school merchandise
To organize the process, it is useful to follow a simple plan:
- Determine the goal – integration, image or a keepsake for years to come?
- Explore needs – a quick survey of students and parents.
- Choose 3-5 products as the base of the collection.
- Decide on the color palette and fonts used – visual consistency is key.
- Plan pre-sales and deadlines – the online store with your school merchandise will help collect orders.
- Gather feedback and prepare another series – in a smaller, limited edition.
Remember, the MerchUp team helps you with each step – because with us it’s always comprehensive! Also take a look at our Case Studies to get inspired by past implementations.
Modern school merch is a community-building tool, a part of students’ everyday style and a vehicle for the values the school wants to promote. By combining personalized clothing, modern cuts and sustainable materials with student involvement, it is possible to create designs that will be realistically worn – and not just at school assemblies.