Custom & White Label
Custom sports apparel, made to your spec.
For teams, schools, clubs, and brands that need branded apparel — custom fan merch, team store programs, white-label production, decorated caps, and made-to-order corporate apparel — at order quantities that make sense for your group.
What we make
Custom apparel for organizations that need branded gear under their own name — not game-day uniforms (those route to our performance site above).
- Branded apparel programsCustom-decorated apparel for team stores, school stores, club merch programs, retail capsules, corporate gifting, and event swag — under your name or ours.
- White label productionDomestic manufacturing partner for apparel brands and organizations that need product made under their own name, no Royal Retros markings.
The lead program
One production network, many ways to use it.
For groups that need quality branded apparel without standing up their own factory.
- Custom-decorated apparel produced under your brand or ours — your logos, your colors, your tags.
- White-label production for apparel brands that need a domestic supplier who can move on small to mid-scale runs.
- Free design consultation — we'll work from a sketch, a screenshot, or just a description of what you want.
- US and Canadian production — no overseas lead times.
- Reorders pull from your artwork file we keep on record. Faster the second time.
- Your designs are yours. Anything we produce specifically for your organization is yours to sell however you want — your storefront, retail floor, online, marketplaces. The no-marketplace clause on our wholesale program is for RR catalog product, not your custom designs.
Program terms
Standard opening terms — we'll quote per project. Volume discounts apply.
- Minimum per design24 piecesOne full design / colorway. Below 24, our Recreate a Jersey service does one-offs at consumer pricing.
- PricingQuote-basedDepends on garment, decoration method, and quantity. We'll quote within 2–3 business days of approved artwork.
- Lead time4–6 weeksProduction from approved proof to shipped order. Caps, tees, and simpler items often faster. Rush production available — we'll quote it.
- Sample / proofDigital proof freePhysical pre-production sample at cost, credited back against the production run if you proceed.
- PaymentPaid in fullBefore production starts. Wire / ACH / check required for orders over $1,500. Card accepted under $1,500. Custom apparel is non-refundable once produced. Repeat accounts may negotiate after 3 successful orders.
- ProductionUS & CanadaAll production stays in North America — no overseas freight risk.
Why these terms: Custom apparel has no resale value once it's been made for your organization. We've had orders cancelled after production, cards charged back after delivery, and uncollectible invoices over our history. Paying in full before we cut fabric is the only sustainable way to run a custom program. The bar comes down for repeat customers — these are first-time-account terms, not forever-terms.
Decoration methods
Pick the method that fits the garment and the design. We'll recommend one if you're unsure.
- Dye sublimationFull-coverage, color-locked artwork on polyester athletic fabrics. Practice tops, custom branded apparel, capsule drops.
- Screen printingSharp, durable prints on cotton tees and hoodies. Best for medium-to-large runs of fewer colors.
- EmbroideryStitched logos on caps, polos, fleece, jackets. Best for smaller logos and premium feel.
- Tackle twillSewn-on letters and numbers — the classic look on heritage-style varsity gear and retro jackets.
- Heat transferDetailed artwork and short runs where dye-sub isn't a fit. Custom graphics, photo-real prints, small-run decoration.
- Multi-methodMost jobs use a mix — sublimated body with twill graphics, embroidered cap with sublimated underbill, etc.
Who we work with
If you need branded apparel under your name with real construction standards, you're probably one of these.
- Schools & athletic departments — sideline gear, coaches' apparel, fan merch, school-store branded apparel.
- Youth, recreational, and amateur leagues — league-branded merch, club store apparel, parent and supporter apparel.
- Semi-pro and independent teams — team store programs, branded retail apparel, fan merch (game uniforms route to our performance site).
- Clubs and associations — alumni groups, supporter clubs, hobby leagues, masters circuits.
- Apparel brands (white label) — domestic production partner for vintage-aesthetic sports brands that don't want to manage their own factory.
- Corporate & events — branded apparel for company offsites, conferences, sports-adjacent corporate events, and gifting programs.
Looking for team uniforms? Game jerseys, on-field gear, and team kits ship through our sister brand: royalretrosperformance.com. Looking for something else? Individuals wanting a one-off custom retro jersey should use the consumer Recreate a Jersey service. Sanctioned leagues and rights holders should start at /pages/league-partnerships. Retailers wanting to carry stock product see /pages/wholesale.
How it works
Typical custom project lands shipped within 6–8 weeks of first inquiry. Simpler runs ship faster.
- Submit inquiryTell us what you need, who it's for, and your timeline.
- Design consultationFree. We'll work from your existing assets, a sketch, or a description. Whatever you have.
- Digital proof & quote2–3 business days after we have your direction. Includes mock-ups, garment spec, and pricing.
- Approve & payProof approval is final. Payment in full clears (wire, ACH, check, or card under $1,500). Production starts when funds land.
- Production4–6 weeks to ship for most custom orders; faster for caps and simpler items. You'll get a production-status update at the halfway mark.
- Ship & reorderShipped with signature on delivery. Tracking provided. Your artwork and spec stay on file — reorders skip steps 2–3.
Start a custom inquiry
More detail = faster quote. Don't have answers to everything? Tell us what you do know. (Team uniform inquiries go to royalretrosperformance.com.)
Common questions
Looking for team uniforms? Where do I go?
Team uniforms — game jerseys, on-field gear, and full team kits — ship through our sister brand: royalretrosperformance.com. That's the right door for game-day apparel built to performance spec. This page (Custom Apparel & White Label) handles everything else custom: fan merch, team store programs, school-store apparel, white-label production for apparel brands, and corporate / event apparel.
I only need one custom jersey — can you do it?
Yes, but not through this program. Single-piece custom retro jerseys go through our consumer service: Recreate a Jersey. That route is faster, simpler, and priced for individuals. The 24-piece minimum on this page is for team and program orders where setup and design time get amortized across the run.
Why do you require payment in full before production starts?
Custom apparel has no resale value if the order is cancelled or refused — it's made specifically for your organization, with your logos and colors. We've had real losses on this: orders cancelled after production, balances refused after delivery, and chargebacks on completed work. Paying in full before we cut fabric is the only way to run a custom program sustainably. This has become the industry standard for custom team apparel over the last several years for the same reason. Repeat customers earn flexibility over time.
Can we cancel after production starts?
Cancellation after production has begun is not refundable — materials are committed and labor is in motion. If something on your end changes, contact us immediately and we'll do what we can to help, but we can't undo production already underway. This is part of why we lock approval before we start — to make sure we and you are aligned before anything is irreversible.
Why no credit card payments on orders over $1,500?
Card transactions can be charged back up to 180 days after the original charge. For a custom apparel shop, a successful chargeback on a delivered, custom-decorated order means we lose the product, the money, and the production capacity that order occupied. For orders over $1,500 we use wire transfer, ACH, or a cleared check — payment methods that aren't reversible after the fact. Card payments are fine for smaller orders where the risk is bounded.
Can you match an existing brand look or uniform?
Usually yes. If you can send us a sample (or even good photos), we'll match colors, decoration placement, and construction. Sublimation gives us pretty close color accuracy; tackle twill and embroidery can match heritage looks precisely.
What file formats do you need for our logos?
Vector files (AI, EPS, or vector PDF) are best — they scale cleanly to any size. We can work from high-resolution PNG or JPG if that's all you have, but we'll re-draw the logo as part of the process for cleaner production. If you don't have any usable logo file, we can design one for you as part of the project.
Do you keep our artwork on file for reorders?
Yes. Once we've produced for you, your artwork, garment spec, and production notes stay on file. Reorders skip the design and proof steps — just tell us quantity and ship-to.
What if our order is way bigger than 24?
That's a good problem. Volume discounts apply across the board, and at higher quantities (100+) we can also discuss extras like custom packaging, individual fulfillment, and staged delivery against a season schedule.
Can you produce under our own brand, with no Royal Retros markings?
Yes — that's white-label. We produce under your name, with your logos, your tags, and no visible RR branding on the product. Common for apparel brands that need a domestic production partner, and for larger programs that prefer a clean white-label feel.
Can we sell what you make for us online or on marketplaces?
Yes. Custom designs and white-label product we make specifically for your organization are yours to sell however you want — your storefront, online, marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, all fair game. The no-marketplace clause that applies to our wholesale program is specifically about RR catalog product, not your custom designs.