From the Sidelines to Spirit Week: Versatile Apparel for Clubs, Teams, and Beyond
When you hear "custom apparel," you probably picture Friday night lights: a stadium full of fans in matching tees. And yes, we love that too. But around schools, some of the best apparel moments happen far from the field - at the spelling bee, the robotics meet, the book fair, the staff lounge, and yes, Spirit Week.
The truth is, versatile apparel works hardest when it works everywhere. One well-planned order can cover your clubs, your teams, your staff and volunteers, and your biggest events of the year - with less work for you and a look that ties it all together.
One Order, Many Moments
Schools and the groups around them are busier — and more varied — than ever. The same custom apparel that rallies a fan section can also:
- Club and academic teams — robotics, debate, theater, student council, honor societies
- Music and performance groups — band, choir, orchestra, theater, dance, and color guard
- Sports teams and their fans — from winter basketball to spring track, plus family spirit wear
- Staff and volunteers — polos and fleeces that make your team easy to spot and proud to belong
- Events and milestones — graduations, fundraisers, field days, festivals, and celebrations
- Parent groups and booster clubs — a professional look for meetings, events, and membership drives
When every group wears the same quality bar (even with different designs), your school community looks unified and your ordering gets simpler.
The Real Problem EPI Solves
Not every group needs the same thing. A quick way to think about it:
Bold and celebratory → Imprinted apparel. Screen printing shines on t-shirts and hoodies - big designs, school colors, event dates, fundraiser logos. It's the go-to for spirit weeks, clubs, and fan sections.
Polished and professional → Embroidered apparel. Embroidery brings a crisp, upscale look to polos, caps, fleece, and bags. It's ideal for staff, volunteers, uniforms, and gifts people keep wearing long after the event.
A mix works too. Many schools do both: printed tees for students and fans, embroidered pieces for staff and coaches. Your EPI representative will guide you through the styles and colors to fit each group and your budget.
Free Design Help, Built In
Staring at a blank canvas? Don't. Our in-house design team creates custom artwork for your group at no cost, and our Design Gallery is full of ideas you can borrow, remix, or start from. Send us your logo or just a rough idea, we'll bring the vision to life and you approve everything before we print.
Turn Your Order into a Fundraiser
Apparel doesn't just build spirit, it can fund your next project. With EPI's free online apparel fundraiser website, your community shops online, you set the selling price, and the more you sell, the greater your profit per item. No order forms or no cash collection. It's one of the easiest fundraisers a parent group can run.
Winter Timing: Why Fall Planning Matters
Here’s the planner’s secret: Winter break will be here before you know it and January and February fill up fast. Holiday gifts should be ordered by Thanksgiving to arrive in time for year-end parties and events. Winter sports playoffs, spring club kickoffs, Catholic Schools Week, staff appreciation events, and those mid-year spirit weeks sneak up quickly – and apparel planned before winter break arrives with room to spare.
Request your quote now for events and themes you need in the next three months. Free artwork means you can see your designs before your commit.
How Ordering Works (It's Three Steps)
We designed the whole process to be stress-free:
- Request a quote and free artwork. Tell us about your group, your event, and your timeline.
- Review and approve. You approve the design and order details - nothing prints without your sign-off.
- We print and ship your order. All-inclusive pricing means no surprise fees, and our team supports you from start to finish.
With 45+ years of expertise, a product guarantee, and a partnership mindset (we earn your business with service, not contracts), you can count on your order arriving right, whether it's 36 shirts or a school-wide program.
Ready When You Are
From the sidelines to Spirit Week and every club meeting in between - one versatile apparel program can carry your whole community through the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of groups can order custom apparel from EPI? Schools, clubs, sports teams, parent groups, churches, nonprofits, and businesses all order from EPI. If your group wants to show pride - from a handful of staff polos to a school-wide spirit program - we can help.
What's the difference between imprinted and embroidered apparel? Imprinted apparel is screen printed - great for bold, colorful designs on t-shirts and hoodies for clubs, teams, and events. Embroidered apparel uses stitched thread for a polished look on polos, caps, fleece, and bags - ideal for staff, uniforms, and gifts. Both are all-inclusive priced with no hidden fees.
Can small clubs or groups order custom apparel, or is there a large minimum? Yes, small groups can order. Club tees, staff polos, and volunteer shirts are everyday orders for us. Tell us your group size and we'll recommend items and decoration styles that fit. There is a minimum order of 36 items for imprinted and 12 for embroidered apparel. This is based on design not garment type.
How does the free apparel fundraiser website work? We set up a free online store for your group. Your supporters order online, you determine the selling price, and the more you sell, the greater your profit per item. There's no cost for the website, and no order forms to manage.
Will you help us create the design? Absolutely. Free custom artwork from our in-house design team is part of every order, and you approve the final design before anything is printed.
When should we order apparel for a winter or spring event? For January and February events, request your quote in October or November - it leaves time for design approval, production, and delivery. For later events, we recommend requesting your quote as soon as your date is set. Try to have your artwork and order details finalized before you go on winter break. EPI will then print and ship right at the start of January.
Ready to Begin?
Our team at EPI will help support you through every step. Contact us to get started today.