Custom Apparel for Churches & Youth Sports: A Buyer's Guide Before You Order

If you're ordering custom apparel for churches and youth sports in Cumming, GA, the decisions that matter most before you pay are: screen-print vs embroidery for your quantity, how to collect sizes without a headache, whether your artwork is print-ready, and how much turnaround time you actually have before the event. Branding Zombie Designs, a graphic + web design studio in Cumming, GA, handles the design and the apparel together — so your shirts, hoodies, and jerseys match your group's logo instead of looking like a clip-art afterthought.

Most groups order custom shirts in a panic the week before, with a blurry logo and no size count. This guide keeps you out of that ditch. Here's what to sort out before you place a bulk apparel order in Forsyth County.

Screen-print vs embroidery: which is right for bulk?

This is the first and biggest decision, and it comes down to quantity, the garment, and the look you want. Both are great — for different jobs.

Screen printing is best for:

• Higher quantities of the same design — the more shirts, the cheaper per piece.
• T-shirts and hoodies — VBS shirts, team tees, fundraiser runs, event giveaways.
• Bold, multi-color graphics printed flat and large (front, back, sleeve).

Embroidery is best for:

• Polos, hats, jackets, and bags — it looks premium and lasts.
• Logos and names rather than big full-color art.
• Coaches, staff, and "nicer" pieces where durability and polish matter.

A common smart combo: screen-printed tees for the kids and crowd, embroidered polos and hats for coaches, staff, and leadership. Apparel decoration lives in print & apparel.

How do you handle sizing and ordering for a group?

Sizing is where group orders fall apart. The fix is collecting sizes before you order, not guessing — especially with youth sizes, which vary wildly.

• Send one size sheet or form and set a hard deadline.
• Use a size chart so parents and players pick by measurement, not vibes.
• Order a few extras in the most common sizes for late additions and replacements.
• Confirm youth vs adult cuts— "youth large" and "adult small" are not the same.
• Lock the count before art goes to production.

For youth sports, build the roster-and-number list at the same time you collect sizes so jerseys go to production once, correctly.

Is your artwork ready to print?

A logo that looks fine on a phone often falls apart on a shirt. Screen printing and embroidery both need clean, properly prepared artwork — this is the step that quietly ruins rush orders.

• Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) for sharp, scalable prints — not a screenshot.
• High-contrast, simple shapes that hold up on fabric, especially for embroidery.
• Defined colors so every shirt matches across the batch.
• Right size and placement for the garment and decoration method.

If your group only has a low-res logo or none at all, that's fixable. We can clean up or vectorize an existing church or team logo, or design a proper one first — and a clean vector logo pays off on every shirt, banner, and sign after. See logo design.

How long does custom apparel take? (Turnaround)

Turnaround is the thing groups underestimate most. Custom apparel isn't same-day — art approval, size collection, and production all take time, and rush orders cost more (when they're possible at all).

• Art and approval — finalize the design and get a sign-off.
• Size collection — give parents/players a real deadline.
• Production — screen printing and embroidery both need lead time, more in busy seasons.
• Buffer — leave a cushion for reprints or late sizes.

The single best move: start early. A VBS, tournament, or fundraiser date is known months out — order on that timeline, not the panic timeline. Turnaround varies by run size and decoration method, so request a quote with your event date and we'll confirm timing.

What does custom apparel cost in bulk?

Per-shirt cost depends on quantity, garment, number of print colors or stitch count, and decoration method — so apparel is quoted per order. The good news: bulk pricing works in your favor, and the per-piece price drops as the count goes up.

• Quantity — more pieces, lower cost each.
• Garment — basic tee vs. premium hoodie vs. embroidered polo.
• Decoration — number of screen-print colors or embroidery stitch count.
• Placements — front only vs. front, back, and sleeve.

Send your quantity, garment, and design and we'll quote it. Request a quote with your event date so we can confirm turnaround too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use screen printing or embroidery for church and team shirts?

Use screen printing for higher quantities of t-shirts and hoodies with bold graphics — it gets cheaper per piece in bulk. Use embroidery for polos, hats, and jackets where logos look premium and last. Many groups do both: printed tees for everyone, embroidered polos for coaches and staff.

How much do custom shirts cost in bulk in Cumming, GA?

Per-shirt cost drops as quantity rises and depends on the garment, decoration method, and number of colors or stitch count, so we quote per order. Send your quantity, garment, and design for a price. Bulk pricing works in your favor — the bigger the order, the lower the cost each.

How do I collect sizes for a group order?

Send one size form with a hard deadline and a size chart so people pick by measurement, especially for youth sizes. Order a few extras in common sizes for late additions, confirm youth vs adult cuts, and lock the count before art goes to production. Guessing sizes is where orders go wrong.

What kind of logo file do I need for custom shirts?

A vector file (AI, EPS, SVG) prints sharp at any size for screen printing and embroidery — a phone screenshot or low-res image won't. If your church or team only has a low-res logo, we can clean it up or design a proper one first, which then works on every shirt, banner, and sign after.

How far in advance should I order custom apparel?

Start as early as you can. Art approval, size collection, and production each take time, and rush orders cost more when they're possible at all. Work backward from your event date — VBS, tournaments, and fundraisers are known months out — and build in a buffer for reprints or late sizes.

Written by Gerry Betancourt, owner of Branding Zombie Designs. Based in Cumming, GA. Logos, screen printing, embroidery, banners, and signage for groups across Forsyth County and North Metro Atlanta since 2015.