Rabbit Skins Custom Apparel Guide for School Staff Shirts

School staff shirts are usually bought by someone whose real job is something else: a business manager, an office administrator or an admissions lead. If that is you, and you are looking at Rabbit Skins custom apparel, this guide gives you the short version. Choose a shirt that suits both a front desk and an outdoor event, keep the logo simple enough to stitch cleanly, and order a few extra so that new hires are covered. It describes no particular school.

What a school actually needs from a staff shirt

A staff shirt at a school does several jobs. It identifies adults to visiting families on tours and at drop-off. It has to look fine in photos. It gets worn by people with very different days: a receptionist indoors, a facilities person outside, a coach on a field. A shirt that works for all three is usually a plain, comfortable style in a color that matches the school palette. Check the listings on arklavo.com for the Rabbit Skins styles currently available.

Start by deciding how many different roles you are dressing. If it is one shirt for everyone, a middle-of-the-road fit and a classic color will please most people. If different departments need different looks, consider a second style or color, and use the same logo across all of them.

Choosing the shirt

Browse the custom long sleeve t-shirts range and compare these points.

Fit. Staff range from young teaching assistants to long-serving administrators. A relaxed, straight fit is the safest. Check the size chart on the product page and compare it with a shirt your people already like.

Neckline and sleeve. A crew neck is the standard. A longer sleeve suits cooler campuses, and a short sleeve suits warm ones. Decide by the climate where your staff stand, not the one in the catalog photos.

Color. School colors are popular for a reason, but not every school color suits a shirt. A deep color shows less wear and carries a light logo well. A very bright color can make thread colors fight. Compare your logo colors against each candidate garment color.

Quantity by role. Count your staff, then count the roles that might need two shirts, such as front desk or grounds. There is no minimum, so you can order precisely and add more later.

Before you order, write down the sizes you need for each role and check them against the size chart on the product page. Because reorders have no minimum, a first order that turns out slightly short is easy to top up later, so there is no need to over-buy out of caution.

Embroidery on a t-shirt

Embroidery on a t-shirt gives a stitched, raised mark. Keep the design small and uncluttered on a t-shirt. A left-chest logo is the standard. Fine text, thin lines and gradients do not stitch well, so simplify a crest or a mascot drawing before you send it. If a design has many colors, ask about DTG printing, heat press or, on select items, DTF. Screen printing is not offered.

Placement and artwork

Left chest is the usual spot for a staff shirt. The right chest or the back are other common choices, and the free digital proof shows each placement before anything is made.

• Send vector artwork (SVG, PDF, AI or EPS) if you have it. PNG and JPG are accepted, so send the largest, clearest version you can find.
• Use the official logo file from your communications office rather than a screenshot of the website.
• Make a one-color version for white or light shirts and a light version for dark shirts.
• Check with your marketing or admissions team that you are using the current mark, so shirts do not carry an outdated logo.

When the free digital proof arrives, show it to a colleague who has not seen the artwork and ask whether the logo is easy to read at a glance. If it is hard to read, decide whether the logo is clear enough before you approve it.

Spirit wear for students and families

Many schools buy for two audiences at once: staff and everyone else. The staff shirt is quiet and professional, and the family-facing items are bigger, louder and meant for game days and events. The spirit shirts and hoodies collection covers the second group. A good approach is to give the two products the same artwork in different sizes, so a staff shirt and a spirit hoodie look like they belong to one school.

Larger designs and smaller designs look different on a garment, so judge the size on the free digital proof. Nothing is made until you approve it.

How ordering works at Arklavo

• No minimum order and no setup fees.
• A free digital proof is sent before production, and you approve it first.
• Production takes about 2 business days after approval.
• US shipping takes 3 to 5 business days, with free shipping over $150.
• Volume discounts of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% apply at 10 to 23, 24 to 49, 50 to 99 and 100 or more pieces.
• Defects reported within 30 days are remade, repaired or refunded.
• Questions are answered within 1 business hour, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm ET.

Sizing and reordering

Plan for turnover. Schools hire before a term starts, and a new teacher needs a shirt that matches everyone else. Because your design is kept on file and reorders have no minimum, you can add one shirt rather than a full run. Keep a simple record of each person's size.

Frequently asked questions

Can a school order only a few shirts?

Yes. There is no minimum order, and reorders have no minimum either.

Is embroidery or printing better on a t-shirt?

Embroidery gives a stitched mark and suits a small, simple left-chest logo. DTG printing, heat press and DTF on select items are also available. Choose the method that suits your logo, and check how it looks on the free digital proof.

Can the same artwork go on staff shirts and spirit wear?

Yes, though the size and the method may differ. The free proof shows each version.

What artwork should I send?

A vector file such as SVG, PDF, AI or EPS is best. A large, clear PNG or JPG also works.

How fast can we get shirts?

Production takes about 2 business days after you approve the proof, then US shipping takes 3 to 5 business days.

Are there bulk discounts?

Yes: 5% from 10 pieces, 10% from 24, 15% from 50 and 20% from 100.

Does Arklavo offer screen printing for school shirts?

No. Decoration options are embroidery, DTG printing, heat press and, on select items, DTF.

Planning staff shirts for your school? Request a quote and get a free digital proof before anything is produced.