The Ultimate Jacket Buying Guide for First-Time Shoppers
Ordering your first custom jacket can feel like a lot of decisions at once: style, material, colours, sizing, customisation. Here's a straightforward walkthrough of what actually matters, so you order the right jacket the first time.
Step 1: Pick Your Style
Start with what you're actually going to wear it for. A varsity jacket is the classic choice for school spirit, team pride, or a statement piece — heavier, warmer, and built around personalisation. A bomber jacket is lighter and more versatile for everyday wear. A coach jacket is practical for outdoor events and staff uniforms. A fleece hoodie works well as a softer, casual layer.
Step 2: Choose a Material
Material affects warmth, weight, and price more than almost anything else. Melton wool is the classic varsity choice — warm, structured, and holds embroidery well. Genuine or faux leather sleeves add a premium finish. Cotton twill and satin are lighter, more casual options for warmer climates or everyday wear.
Step 3: Get Your Sizing Right
This is where most first orders go wrong. Don't rely on the size you wear in another brand — every jacket construction sizes a little differently. Measure your chest and compare it against the actual chart before you order, especially if you plan to layer a hoodie underneath.
Step 4: Decide on Customisation
Names, numbers, chenille patches, embroidery, and logos are all available — and this is genuinely the part that makes a jacket feel like yours rather than something off a rack.
Step 5: Know What to Expect Before You Order
There's usually no minimum order — you can design one jacket for yourself or a full batch for a team. A free digital mockup before production starts lets you approve the exact colours, placement, and text before anything gets made. Most single orders ship in about two to three weeks.
Common First-Time Mistakes
Guessing your size instead of measuring it. Choosing a heavier fabric than your climate actually needs. Skipping the mockup review and assuming it'll "probably be fine." Not asking about bulk pricing if you might end up needing more than one.
