Custom Hoodies Saskatoon: Guide for Schools, Teams and Clubs

Custom hoodies are the piece most groups in Saskatoon want once the weather turns. A school, team or club hoodie gets worn to practice, to class and on the bus home.

We are XUSI, an Indigenous-owned clothing and screen printing company in Saskatoon. This guide covers the choices that matter for warm layers: timing, style, fabric, sizing, print placement and budget.

If you want the step-by-step ordering process, read our guide on how to order custom shirts for a school, team or event. This article picks up where that one leaves off.

When to order custom hoodies for winter

Work backwards from the day you want people wearing them. A tournament, a winter concert or the first cold snap are all common targets.

Time goes to more than printing. Most of the wait is usually on the group side:

• Agreeing on a design and getting it approved.
• Collecting sizes from every member.
• Collecting money, if members pay for their own.
• Reviewing and approving the quote.

On our side, timing depends on order size and time of year. We confirm it in your quote, before anything is printed. The simple rule: start the conversation as soon as you know you want hoodies.

Hoodie vs crewneck vs quarter-zip

All three work for groups. The right one depends on how people will wear it.

Pullover hoodie

• Pros: the warmest of the three, thanks to the hood. It is the most familiar style for students and athletes. The back offers a large print area.
• Cons: bulkier under a jacket. The hood can cover part of a back print when it is down.

Crewneck sweatshirt

• Pros: a cleaner look that suits staff, alumni and club events. It layers well under a coat. A back print is fully visible.
• Cons: less warmth around the neck and head. Some students see it as less casual.

Quarter-zip

• Pros: the zip lets people adjust warmth. It reads as dressier, so it suits coaches, staff and boards.
• Cons: can cost more per garment. The zip limits where a front print can go.

Some groups mix styles. Players get hoodies, and coaches or staff get crewnecks with the same design. If you want a style we do not list, ask. We print on Gildan, ALSTYLE, Independent and Bella+Canvas, and more brands are available on request.

Fabric blends explained: what 80/20 and 50/50 mean

Most fleece hoodies and crewnecks are a blend of cotton and polyester. The numbers on the label tell you how much of each.

In Canada, the Competition Bureau requires fibres on a label to be listed from most to least, by mass. So 80/20 cotton-poly means 80% cotton and 20% polyester. For blends, the Bureau generally allows a 5% tolerance on the stated amounts.

What each fibre brings

FabricLink describes cotton as comfortable, absorbent and soft, and notes that it prints well. Polyester is described as strong, quick drying, wrinkle resistant and resistant to shrinkage. It also lists static and pilling as problems with polyester.

A University of Idaho extension bulletin puts it simply: blends combine a manmade fibre for strength with a fibre like cotton for absorbency.

How that plays out in a group hoodie

• Higher cotton (80/20, 70/30): a softer, more natural feel. A good fit for everyday wear and for designs where print feel matters.
• Even blend (50/50): more of polyester's traits, like quick drying and holding shape. Useful for athletes who sweat in their layers.
• Higher polyester: leans further toward performance. Ask us about print options for these fabrics.

For reference, our own Prosperity Saddle hoodie is 80/20 and our Revitalize Culture crewneck is 70/30. If you want to feel a blend before you commit to a group order, those are two examples.

Sizing a whole group

Sizing is where group orders go sideways. A hoodie that does not fit does not get worn.

Ask each person

The most reliable method is to ask every person for their size. Use a simple form or sign-up sheet with their name, size and style if you are offering more than one.

Do not guess sizes for a group, even a small one. Guessing tends to leave you with extras in one size and none in another.

Use a size run if you can

A size run is a set of sample garments in each size that people try on. Ask your supplier whether samples are available for the garment you choose. Trying one on beats reading a chart.

If samples are not possible, share the garment's size chart. Ask people to compare it to a hoodie they already own by measuring across the chest.

Youth vs adult sizes

School and minor sports groups often need both youth and adult sizes. They are separate size ranges, and not every garment comes in both.

• Check that your chosen garment comes in youth sizes before you promise them.
• Put youth and adult sizes in separate columns on your form so they do not get mixed up.
• If a garment only comes in adult sizes, the smallest adult size may still be large for younger kids.

Set a deadline

Give members a firm date to submit sizes. Late additions after printing may mean a second, smaller order.

Print placement ideas

Hoodies and crewnecks give you more space than a tee. Here are the common spots and what suits each one.

• Left chest: a small logo or crest. Clean and works for any group, from staff to students.
• Full front: a bold school or team name. On a pullover hoodie, keep it above the front pocket.
• Full back: a large graphic, a team name, or a list of names and years. Our screens go up to 23 x 31 inches, which leaves room for big back designs.
• Sleeve: a year, a number, a short word or a small secondary logo. Good for grad years and seasons.
• Hood: a small mark on the side of the hood. It is eye-catching but is not visible from every angle.

Each design can use up to four colours. We include design help, so we can suggest where your artwork will sit best on the garment you pick.

A good group combination is a left chest logo with a full back print. It looks finished from the front and the back.

Budgeting for group hoodies

Our screen printing pricing has two parts: the print and the garment. The print price depends on quantity, and garments are priced on top of that. Our minimum is 10 garments.

Plan each print location as its own print. A hoodie with a chest logo and a back print uses two prints.

A sample calculation

Say your team orders 30 hoodies with a chest print and a back print. That is 60 prints, not 30, so count every print location when you plan.

Your quote shows the printing and the hoodies separately for that exact order, and nothing is printed until you have seen it.

Ways to manage the cost

• Start with one print location and add a second only if the budget allows.
• Pick one garment style for the whole group rather than several.
• Combine orders across teams or classes to raise the quantity.
• Collect payment with sizes, so the order is funded when it is placed.

We have printed for groups like the University of Saskatchewan, SIIT and the University of Regina, and for a local drum group in Saskatoon. Learn more on our screen printing page or see how we serve groups across the province on our Saskatchewan screen printing page.

Related reading: How screen printing cost per shirt works · Screen printing artwork requirements

Questions people ask

What is the minimum for custom hoodies?

Our minimum is 10 garments. Pricing depends on quantity and the hoodies you choose, and you get a full quote before anything is printed.

Is 80/20 or 50/50 better for a team hoodie?

Higher cotton feels softer. More polyester dries faster and resists shrinking. Choose based on how the group will wear it.

Can we mix youth and adult sizes in one order?

Check that the garment comes in youth sizes first. If it does, list youth and adult sizes separately on your size form.

How long will our order take?

It depends on order size and time of year. We confirm timing in your quote. To get started, contact us.

Sources

• Competition Bureau Canada: Textile labelling requirements, fibre, down and feather content
• FabricLink: Cotton fibre characteristics
• FabricLink: Polyester fibre characteristics
• University of Idaho Cooperative Extension: Fabric Finishes (Bulletin 661)