How to Get the Right Custom Jerseys for Your Team
By: YouApparel Posted on: Jun 19, 2025A lot of thought should go into choosing the right custom jerseys for your team, as the outfit subtly influences the team’s external appearance, internal performance, and individual focus. This blog explores the psychological aspects behind choosing the right custom jerseys, the best jersey types for a sports team depending on the sport, and tips to keep in mind when designing custom jerseys.
Seeing a sports team walking onto the court wearing generic, bland jerseys just sticks out like a sore thumb. The impression shouldn’t be “we ordered these five minutes ago”. The scene, regardless of the environment itself, should have a sharply dressed team wearing personalized uniforms that make them appear united and focused. Even if it’s just custom jersey tank tops for practice sessions.
Be it athletic clubs or office sports, team morale matters. And custom jerseys can deliver that psychological edge every squad needs.
Once luxury items, customized jerseys are now effective team-building tools. They are being used by schools, corporate leagues, youth sports organizations, and professional teams due to the influence of quality sportswear in building team unity and aiding team performance.
At YouApparel, we've helped hundreds of teams across America discover how the right custom jerseys, jersey tanks, performance-focused uniforms, and even blank sportswear can make a difference. So we prepared this blog covering the key factors to consider when ordering custom jerseys and sportswear for your team.
But first…
Why Custom Jerseys Are Better Than Regular Team Outfits
Brand Recognition: Blank jerseys, when branded, become a tool that delivers instant recognition for the brand. These custom jerseys make it easier for fans of the team or other onlookers to identify the team and how it’s organized. For local businesses, custom jerseys offer a more professional presentation where the sponsors also get some visibility and the team gets a little performance aid.
Performance Enhancement: Anyone who feels comfortable can focus and perform better in whatever they do. This extends to what they are wearing. Well-fitting jerseys can keep the wearer comfortable, sometimes even with moisture-wicking and odor resistance. This prevents any distractions while they perform. Additionally, team jerseys also contribute to making each member feel valued and recognized. All of this combined enhances the team’s performance in more ways than one.
Budget-Friendly Value: Bulk jersey orders cost significantly less, especially when you get the jerseys from a wholesale supplier or distributor. Many teams assume custom means expensive, but wholesale pricing makes personalized sportswear accessible for tight budgets. Small teams can go for sources with no minimum orders to get what they need without overbuying, and at the best value.
What to Know When Designing Custom Jerseys
Adding a logo is just one way to design a custom jersey. We always advise our customers that blank jerseys, or any uniform, are meant to give a brand a visual identity. This identity is how a team can stand out in various environments. There are a few important aspects here to understand before designing custom jerseys.
Customizing with Templates: Jersey templates provide quick solutions for teams needing fast turnaround. When you see a custom basketball jersey, you instantly know which sport it belongs to no matter where you see it. Modern football jerseys are distinctive in their own way, attributing themselves to the popular sport. You can customize based on such templates that already exist. The templates work great for recreational leagues and corporate teams.
Total Creative Customizations: Taking full creative control in customizing jerseys can make them truly unique. You can add logos at places you want, choose unique color combinations, and even create layouts on the jerseys that nobody else has. However, jersey customization requires a good level of expertise. Professional customization services can make rough sketches a reality by decorating jerseys with precise customizations.
YouApparel not only offers a curated collection of blank jersey tank tops and team outfit apparel but also professional customization, where your creative input gets realized on your apparel of choice. You can choose copyright-free design artworks from our free artwork library or upload your design and determine your design placements for the project. Our Customization team will take care of the decorations.
Now let’s get to the types of customization you can choose.
Sublimation: It’s seen on custom basketball and soccer jerseys, delivering vibrant decorations and fade-resistant designs. If you have 100% polyester jerseys or jerseys made of polyester blends, sublimation works. However, we don’t recommend sublimating jerseys with more cotton than polyester or on 100% cotton.
Screen Printing: If the design is simple and the order quantity is big, screen printing is a great choice. Screen printing suits a lot of fabric materials.
Direct-to-Garment (DTG): There’s always been a big following for DTG in America. But times are changing. DTG is not very common on sports jerseys these days. They are best suited for full-color graphics and intricate designs.
Heat Transfer: When sports jerseys are to be customized in small batches and quick turnaround is expected, heat transfer is the way to go. You can have complex designs on jerseys with heat transfer. However, it may not be as durable as the rest. Because sports jerseys are periodically replaced, heat transfer can be a viable approach, which also minimizes decoration investments for small orders.
Embroidery: Embroidery can cost more depending on the design complexity as more threads will be required. But it gives a premium, stand-out look for the logo on a jersey. Not very common on sports team jerseys, and mostly preferred by corporate offices on their team uniforms.
A few pointers worth considering:
- You can have the logo placed on the left chest or the back area, depending on the preference, though the latter is uncommon
- Vet the customization agency by reviewing their portfolio and past jersey customization projects before placing orders
- Use jersey templates to ensure uniformity of decorations across all jerseys for the teams
- Player names primarily go on the back, while numbers can go on the front and on the back
- Before placing customization orders, make sure to get decorated samples in various sizes
- Always place bulk customization orders as some wholesale sources like YouApparel waive customization setup charges for higher order volumes.
- Always opt for wholesale jersey sources with no order minimums. YouApparel is one such source.
If you're a small business, starting a sports league, or need jerseys for just a few members, ordering no minimum jerseys gives you the flexibility to customize on a smaller scale without committing to high quantities from the get-go.
The Best Jerseys for Your Team: Basketball, Football, and More
Basketball Jerseys: These jerseys are typically sleeveless with a looser fit to allow for movement during the game. Look for 100% polyester jerseys for reasonable breathability and moisture-wicking.
Football Jerseys: Typically made from performance athletic jerseys that offer durability and comfort. These jerseys are heavier and more structured to withstand the physical demands of the sport.
Baseball Jerseys: often made with mesh jerseys that allow breathability and range of motion. These are perfect for summer games and outdoor events.
Casual Jerseys: Made of cotton or cotton-poly blends for excellent comfort, breathability, and durability. These jersey-knit tees and polo shirts can make great corporate team outfits.
What to Know When Choosing the Fabric for Team Jerseys
100% Polyester vs Blends: 100% polyester jerseys are the top choice for custom sportswear, offering moisture-wicking properties. If you're looking for something more breathable, consider a poly-cotton blend for added comfort.
Mesh Jerseys: Mesh is right for athletes who need ventilation during intense activities. These jerseys are great for teams that need light, breathable outfits. You can also go for jerseys with side vents.
Moisture-Wicking Options: For high-performance teams, moisture-wicking fabrics help keep wearers dry and focused.
Cotton Jerseys: Cotton jerseys are made of 100% cotton with jersey knits that deliver all the softness and stretchability. Though naturally moisture-wicking, these jerseys can get damp faster compared to polyester jerseys and poly-cotton jerseys.
Stretch Jerseys: Stretch jerseys are made of fabric blends - typically cotton or polyester with spandex for enhanced stretch and recovery.
The weight, texture and stretchability of jerseys depend on the fabric composition as well as the knitting process.
Conclusion
YouApparel partners with leading wholesale brands like Tultex, Next Level Apparel, Threadfast, American Apparel, and Bella + Canvas to provide the lowest wholesale prices on blank jersey tank tops. Our direct wholesale pricing eliminates middleman markups, so you can outfit your team without hefty investments.
Custom jerseys build team identity, boost performance, and create lasting impact. We understand both athletic needs and budget constraints, and we offer custom jerseys for your players at exceptional value.
Experience the YouApparel difference. Explore our wholesale jersey tank tops collection today, and customize your picks to perfection with our professional customization services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I design a custom jersey?
You can use jersey templates to suit your preferences and then add designs, logos or names over it. Or you can completely decorate one from scratch choosing the placements and sizing of the artworks. YouApparel offers an easy-to-use Design Creator tool on-site to decorate your jersey, adjust the placements, and see virtual previews before placing your customization order.
Can I order jerseys in bulk?
You can and you should if you wish to maximize the value of your purchase. Ordering blank or custom jerseys in bulk from wholesale sources can get you better per-piece prices on top of bulk discounts, and even free shipping to sweeten the pot; all of which are offered in YouApparel.
What materials are best for sports jerseys?
If you want durable jerseys that wick moisture, you can choose 100% polyester jerseys. If the preference is breathability, mesh jerseys. For comfort and breathability, go for cotton jerseys. And stretch jerseys if you want more flexibility. The best material depends on the team’s sport and/or needs.
Do you offer no-minimum orders?
Yes. YouApparel allows you to order as few as one jersey at the lowest wholesale price, for small teams or businesses. Or as much as you want to outfit large teams, at even lower prices.
Do custom jerseys shrink?
Jerseys made from 50/50 cotton/polyester blends or 100% polyester typically experience very little or no shrinkage at all, especially if the cotton component is pre-shrunk.
How can we avoid jersey sizing issues for the team?
We recommend conducting fitting sessions for the team. Take measurements using professional measuring tools and keep the records. For comfortable fits, you can allow 1-2 inches more than the wearer’s measurements.
How do I make custom jerseys for my team or event?
Choose a suitable blank jersey style first. Then determine customizations and customization methods. Request the decorator to send a customized sample before bulk order. Review the mockups, sizing and pricing before placing the order. Or you can just make it totally hassle-free with YouApparel’s free Customization tool, where you can just upload & position the artworks and place the order. We also offer samples on request. Additionally, customization setup charges are waived on larger orders. And with our low per-unit pricing on blank jerseys, you get maximum value on your custom jersey orders.