Custom Printing for Events and Merch
By The Velocity Wear Team
Event merch does two jobs at once: it makes your team or attendees feel part of something, and it turns every wearer into a walking advert long after the event ends. But great event apparel is rarely an afterthought — it takes planning around garments, print methods, quantities and deadlines. This guide walks through how to get custom printing for events and merch right the first time.
Start with the job the merch has to do
Before choosing a garment, decide what the merch is for. Staff and volunteer kit needs to be identifiable and comfortable for a long day. Giveaway items need broad appeal and a forgiving size range. Sellable festival or tour merch needs to look good enough that people genuinely want to wear it. Each goal points to different garments, print methods and budgets.
Choosing the right garments
T-shirts remain the workhorse of event merch — affordable, universally sized and quick to print. But mixing in a few options lifts the whole offer and gives attendees a reason to spend or engage.
- T-shirts — the budget-friendly default for staff kit and giveaways.
- Hoodies and sweatshirts — premium sellers for cooler events and tours.
- Caps and beanies — easy add-ons that suit nearly everyone.
- Tote bags and towels — practical keepsakes that travel well.
- Polos — a smarter look for corporate and conference staff.
Picking the print method for the volume
The right method depends on quantity, colours and budget. Screen printing is the most cost-effective for large runs of one design with few colours, making it ideal for a thousand identical festival tees. DTF handles full-colour and photographic artwork brilliantly at any quantity, perfect for smaller, detailed runs. Embroidery suits polos, caps and premium staff kit where a refined, durable finish matters more than a low unit price.
Quantities and sizing for crowds
Ordering the right size spread is as important as the total quantity. A typical adult run skews toward medium and large, with smaller numbers of XS and the largest sizes. For mixed audiences, order a realistic curve rather than equal amounts of each size, and always build in a small buffer for last-minute staff, replacements and VIPs.
“The best event merch outlives the event. Long after the lanyards are binned, a great hoodie is still being worn — and still doing your marketing.”
Plan your lead times backwards
- 1Fix your event date, then work backwards to set the artwork deadline.
- 2Allow time for digital proofs and one round of revisions.
- 3Add production time, which scales with quantity and method.
- 4Factor in shipping, especially for international or bulk delivery.
- 5Build in a buffer week so a delay never becomes a disaster.
Whether you need fifty staff tees or a thousand pieces of sellable merch, Velocity Wear handles event printing end to end — garments, methods, sizing curves and tracked delivery to the UK, USA, Europe and worldwide, with a low 20-piece minimum. Send your event details and artwork for a free, itemised quote.