Become the Best Apparel Chair for Your Sorority with These 12 Tips
The Apparel Chair is famously regarded as an easy position to hold in a sorority. But you, a fellow Apparel Chair, and I, a fellow article on the internet, both know how tricky it can get.
When designing apparel for your sorority, you want to get a memorable design for the event, make sure it fits your sorority’s aesthetic, work with Nationals, make the merch fit the budget, get everyone’s sizes, make sure everyone likes it and oh my God why did you ever agree to fill this position?
When what many think is easy peasy lemon squeezy turns out to be difficult difficult lemon difficult, what can you do? I am a mere article on the internet but I’ve been written by people who know apparel better than they know their own self.
We’ve been in the business of creating collegiate custom apparel for 10+ years now. With this article, we’re revealing 10 tips from our decade of experience in campus trends so that you can create the cutest custom apparel for your sorority.
Establish a brand for your chapter
Every sorority has a look they’re going for. What’s your sorority’s look? Is it street? Girly? Do you go with trends?
When you know the aesthetic of your chapter, you’ll know exactly what kind of art style and products you should be picking for your upcoming events! It’ll become your guiding light.
If your sorority hasn’t discussed this, survey them! Use pictures of each aesthetic as options so it’s easier for your sisters to visualize what you’re talking about and pick what they like.
Ask your Campus Manager what other schools are working on
A little inspiration never hurt anybody! Our Campus Managers help other students on campus design custom apparel for school orgs like sororities, fraternities, and other clubs.
The Campus Manager at your school is connected with Campus Managers at other schools and can easily give you this information so you can get inspired.
If you don’t know who your Campus Manager is, follow these steps:
- Go to https://www.freshprints.com/about
- Scroll down to the ‘Our Campus Managers’ section
- Search your university’s name
- Click the picture of the CM to get in touch.
Send us your sorority’s social calendar
Our data reveals that most successful orders are placed weeks before the event they’re needed for.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? The earlier you figure out what you need, the faster you can get it. If you ever change your mind about what you want, you can make the changes without worrying about the timeline.
One easy way to make sure you’re that Apparel Chair is by sending your org’s social calendar to your Campus Manager as soon as it’s ready. They can make sure you get a head start on all your events for the rest of the semester.
When in doubt, ask for a sample
Maybe you’re thinking of customizing products from a brand you’ve never heard of. Maybe you can’t figure out the sizing of an item, or maybe you just want to see what something looks like in real life. The answer is simple: ask for a sample.
We do plenty of samples for free. So it costs you nothing and can save you time and money!
Go beyond the basic custom shirt
Our data backs it up: shirts are the most common collegiate apparel. Students love customizing them for all kinds of events. But if you want to be that Apparel Chair, you should consider customizing items beyond that.
We can make custom sweats, decals, hats, bags, stickers, pens, notebooks and so many more. We also do custom graduation stoles for your graduating members and banners for any event you want.
When you go beyond shirts, it shows that you’re not here to play and you’re doing everything you can to make your sorority stand out.
Create group order links for new pledges
Nothing says, ‘We’re so excited to have you!’ like fresh merch.
Group order links are small online shops you can set up with your Campus Manager’s help. Your new pledges can go on the link and select the merch they like in their size. When enough people show interest, it places an official order with us and we send you the welcome merch to celebrate your new sisters!
Rep your sorority with PR merch
Custom apparel does not have to be tied to events! Your sisters can rep your sorority around campus with general PR merch too.
Maybe your sorority has a running joke that would look cute on a shirt. Maybe you have a design in mind that you think will look great on a pair of shorts. Maybe you just want a hoodie with your chapter’s logo on it! PR merch is the way to go.
Set up a group order link and let your sisters pick their items. If the link gets enough people showing interest, we will place the order.
Use free resources
Having issues with multiple people telling you to do different things? Tools like Google Forms, GroupMe, and even your private Instagram story can help you survey every one and come to a conclusion.
Need art inspiration? Browse through our art gallery to see what other orgs have created and get inspired.
Want to order merch but aren’t sure how many people would be interested? Create a group order link with your Campus Manager’s help. The link will only place an order if enough people in your chapter show interest. If you don’t hit the minimum number, no order is placed so there’s no waste of budget.
Free online resources make life easier! Use them as needed.
Get as many mockups as you need
When people compliment your merch, 9 out of 10 times they’re complimenting the design.
The art process can be long but it’s important to get it right. Don’t be afraid to explore all your creative ideas. They may get crazy but our art team is crazier! We do free unlimited mockups.
You want a lighter shade of blue? You want 2 versions of the same design? You want to add elements? Remove elements? Let’s mock it all up and see what you like.
Don’t limit your audience
Gifting custom apparel to your sisters’ partners and parents is a great way to spread the love beyond your Sorority.
These can be event-tied for Parents Weekend and Valentine's Day or general feel-good PR merch for your members’ loved ones. If you’re not sure enough people will be interested, you can play it safe and set up a group order link (can you tell we love group order links, yet?) with the help of your Campus Manager.
The link will open a small temporary online shop for your members to choose the merch they like in their loved ones’ sizes. When enough members show interest, it places an official order with us. If not enough people show interest, the order isn’t placed and you lose nothing.
Fundraise for your Philo with great merch
You can also use the group order link to fundraise. Yeah. Along with designing kick-ass apparel, you are now also helping out your Philanthropy Chair. You’re the best.
Simply ask your Campus Manager to upcharge the merch on the link and share it with as many people as you can. After the link closes, people get great Philo merch and Fresh Prints will donate the extra profit to your fundraiser.
Don’t put the final decision to a group-wide vote
You can’t make everyone happy! When making important decisions, don’t get swayed by every opinion you hear. It’s better to have a general idea of what everyone wants. Let those opinions guide you, not hold you back.
Ultimately, you’re the Apparel Chair. The final decision is on you.
Bonus tip
Make sure you’re having fun! It can get overwhelming at times but being an Apparel Chair is a creative position. Let the pure joy you feel when you see everyone wearing what you made around campus fuel you! You got this!