How to Create a Varsity Jacket

Varsity sports jackets are popular in grade schools, high schools and colleges. Male and female athletes of all sports from archery to wrestling, and including cheerleading, twirlers, the rifle team and the band, are proud to display their participation in school activities while walking the school halls and in their neighborhoods. Creating a jacket is similar to creating a team jersey or full uniform. Locate a vendor, design the jacket and get them delivered in time for the students to wear during the school year.

Things You'll Need

  • School uniform standards and colors
  • Jacket styles
  • Graphics
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Instructions

  1. Creating a Varsity Jacket

    • 1

      Work with the company that manufactures athletic uniforms for the school. If local, meet with them to develop the jacket design. If you are working with a company via long-distance, you can send your designs and graphics by e-mail.

    • 2

      Select the jacket shell, lining and fabric. Varsity jackets can be made from nylon to provide a shiny or satin outer appearance. The lining frequently is the same color as the outer shell or one that closely resembles the outside of the jacket. Other jacket options that are becoming increasing popular have a wool outer shell, or wool bodies with leather sleeves. These last two styles can have the primary team color on the body portion of the jacket and the team's secondary color on the sleeves. Frequently, the collars, cuffs and the bottom of the jacket are made from a knit material.

    • 3

      Personalize the jacket. Follow the school's rules for sports uniforms but also obtain suggestions from the team or group on how to personalize the jacket. This will include their first or last names, the addition of designs that identify the sport/activity, the decision to add numbers that identify the school year, logos or school mascots. They can also decide if the jackets should have hoods, snaps or a zipper.

    • 4

      Select jacket sizes. Ask the supplier for several samples that will allow the students to try them for a better fit. Also select the size of lettering for the team name, students' names and any other words, numbers or designs that will appear on the jacket.

    • 5

      Choose embroidery or chenille for the lettering and designs. Embroidery usually is used for the team or school name that is placed across the front of the jacket. Embroidery can be used on the back too, but chenille sometimes is used for names and other lettering. It has a felt texture. Choose a double felt material. It will cost a bit more but it will be more durable. For the nylon jacket, silk screening is used for lettering and designs on the front and back.

    • 6

      Choose trim and border colors for the wool jacket. Usually the team's secondary colors are used for borders around the neck and pockets, and around lettering and logos. Another option is to shadow the lettering and logos with another color. The nylon jacket, however, usually has one option--all lettering is applied in one color, the team's secondary color or white. Decide if you want the snaps/zipper to blend with the jacket, appear in the team's secondary color, or in a neutral color.