When it comes to building school spirit, raising funds, or creating memorable event days, school merch is one of the most effective tools available. Whether you’re organizing a fundraiser, planning a spirit day, outfitting a sports team, or creating apparel for staff and volunteers, the right merchandise can bring your school community together while generating excitement and support.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the best types of custom merch for schools, how to choose what works for different events, and how to make the ordering process as smooth as possible.
What to Consider Before Ordering School Merch
Before diving into product options, take a step back and clarify your goals. Are you trying to raise money, reward students, promote school spirit, or all of the above? Different goals will call for different products and price points. A t-shirt for a spirit event is different from a premium hoodie meant as a grad gift.
Also consider your audience. Elementary students may want something bright and fun, while high schoolers typically prefer more neutral colors and stylish designs. Parents and teachers might appreciate practical items like tote bags or notebooks. Think about who will be using the merch and where they’ll be using it.
Budget and timelines matter too. Try to plan at least a month ahead, especially if you’re ordering during the busy back-to-school or graduation seasons. Use a simple spreadsheet to track sizes, quantities, and deadlines. For tips on managing bulk orders smoothly, check out our promotional products guide.
Why School Merch Works for Fundraisers
School merch is an easy win for fundraising because people want to buy items that represent something they belong to or support. High-quality designs and practical products make it even more appealing.
Benefits of school merch fundraisers:
- Builds school pride
- Encourages participation
- Provides long-lasting brand visibility
- Raises money without door-to-door selling
- Works for all age groups — students, parents, teachers, alumni
When you combine the right products with strong branding and timing, school merch becomes a high-impact fundraising tool.
Best School Merch Ideas Students & Parents Actually Keep
Below are top school merch options proven to be popular, useful, and perfect for fundraisers or spirit days.
1. T-Shirts & Long Sleeves
Still the #1 school merch item. They work for every grade and every event, especially spirit days or field trips.
2. Hoodies & Crewnecks
Premium items that sell extremely well during fall/winter fundraisers.
Offer multiple colors or a limited-edition design to boost interest.
3. Hats, Toques & Caps
Perfect for outdoor events, sports teams, and parent volunteers.
4. School Jerseys & Team Apparel
Great for spirit days, game days, and club activities.
Students love matching team gear — it’s high-impact and highly visible.
5. Water Bottles & Tumblers
Practical, affordable, and ideal for fundraising.
Bonus: they reduce waste and support sustainability.
6. Backpacks, Cinch Bags & Tote Bags
Useful for gym classes, lunches, spirit days, and after-school programs.
7. Stickers, Decals & Car Window Graphics
Low-cost items with HUGE participation.
Parents especially love car decals for supporting school teams.
8. Lanyards & ID Accessories
Functional and always needed — great for both students and staff.
How to Use School Merch for Fundraising Success
1. Offer Preorder Campaigns
Take orders in advance so you know exactly how much to print.
This eliminates guesswork and avoids leftover stock.
2. Bundle Items for Higher Sales
Examples:
- Hoodie + T-shirt set
- Water bottle + decal pack
- Team jersey + cap combo
Bundling increases average order value.
3. Use Online Stores
A digital store makes it easy for parents to order — even if they can’t attend events.
(Drive Sportswear Calgary can set this up if needed.)
4. Launch Seasonal Merch
Custom merch like fall hoodies, holiday sweaters, tournament shirts… seasonal designs sell extremely well.
5. Promote Through Social Media & Newsletters
The more visibility you create, the more successful your fundraiser will be.
If you’re wondering whether merch really works for school fundraising, our post on why promotional products are worth it dives into how branded gear continues to deliver real value.
What Works for Spirit Days and School Events
School-wide events are the perfect opportunity to build unity through custom apparel. Coordinating t-shirts by grade, team, or house color creates visual energy and makes everyone feel included. Keep designs fun but simple—a bold slogan, mascot, or one-color print often looks better (and costs less) than a complicated graphic.
Accessories can also play a role. Items like branded headbands, bandanas, or even socks help students get into the theme without needing a full outfit. For seasonal events, tailor the products to the weather. Lightweight tees work well in spring; long sleeves and toques are better suited to fall and winter.
Popular spirit event items include:
- Color-specific shirts or hoodies for house/team days
- Mascot-themed bandanas or face decals
- Seasonal accessories like beanies or scarves
Spirit-day merch boosts school pride and gives every student something fun to wear.
Thoughtful Grad Gifts That Stick
Graduation is a major milestone, and students want keepsakes that feel special. Custom hoodies or crewnecks with the school name and graduating year are always a hit. Many schools also choose to include all student names on the back of the hoodie—a small touch that adds huge sentimental value.
If you want to go beyond apparel, leatherette notebooks, embroidered toques, or cozy blankets with the school crest make excellent grad gifts. You can even add a thank-you card or motivational quote inside each gift package for a personal touch.
Offering personalization—like adding a student’s name—can elevate the item even further. It may increase the price slightly, but it turns a good gift into a keepsake.
Design Tips for Student-Approved Merch
A clean, stylish design makes all the difference in whether your merch gets worn. Stick to bold type, limited colors, and straightforward slogans. Avoid overly busy designs or ones that feel too juvenile for older students.
To increase adoption:
- Offer a few design mockups and let students vote.
- Stick to neutral tones with school-colored accents.
- Keep logo placement subtle and well-integrated into the design.
Curious how different print methods affect look and feel? Our printing guide explains the difference between screen printing, embroidery, and other techniques.
Simplify the Ordering Process
The biggest hurdle for most schools isn’t picking the merch—it’s managing the logistics. To avoid chaos, use digital order forms with sizing charts and clear deadlines. If you’re handling payment, offer options like e-transfers or a cash collection day.
Assigning the task to a student council or parent committee can also make things easier. Keep a master list to track who ordered what and whether they’ve paid. If possible, order a few extra items in common sizes to accommodate late orders or exchanges.
Tips for smoother fulfillment:
- Package items by class or homeroom
- Use name labels or tags for easy distribution
- Keep extras on hand for sizing swaps
Final Thoughts
When done right, school merch becomes more than a shirt or hoodie—it becomes part of the experience. Whether you’re raising money, building school pride, or celebrating grads, custom gear should be easy to order, fun to wear, and designed with your audience in mind.
At Drive Sportswear, we make it simple for schools to design and order custom apparel and accessories. From spirit days to graduation, we’ll help you create products that students and staff will be excited to wear—and remember long after the school year ends.
For more ideas on how schools can boost participation and fundraising success, this resource from PTO Today offers helpful guidance for educators and parent groups:
👉 https://www.ptotoday.com/fundraising
