Choosing a jersey for your team is a decision that may seem simple, but actually involves many technical and aesthetic parameters. A bad choice can be costly: outfits that deform, uncomfortable players, fading colours, design that ages badly.
Here is our complete guide, based on our experience equipping clubs and schools, to help you make the right choices.
Criterion 1 — The fabric
The fabric is the most important technical element. It determines comfort, breathability, durability and ease of care. Three major categories to know:
- Technical polyester: the standard for modern jerseys. Light, resistant, quick-drying, ideal for sublimation (digital printing). This is what we use for most of our match jerseys.
- Premium cotton: more comfortable to the touch, ideal for lifestyle polos or light training T-shirts. Less suited to intense sports (absorbs perspiration).
- Blend (poly-cotton): an interesting compromise for daily training outfits.
Our advice: for a match jersey, always go for 140-160g technical polyester. Lighter is too thin; heavier is too hot in our climates.
Criterion 2 — The cut
The cut of a jersey must adapt to the sport practised and the body types of the players. Some rules:
- Slim cut: ideal for basketball, handball, volleyball. Highlights the athletic silhouette.
- Loose cut: classic for football, rugby, where freedom of movement is paramount. Also allows better management of varied body types.
- Relaxed cut: for lifestyle outfits or staff T-shirts. Comfort first.
Our recommendation: always plan a fitting or a prototype before the full order. The same size chart can fit differently depending on your team's body types.
Criterion 3 — The colours
Colours are your team's visual identity. Three crucial points:
- Consistency with your brand: if your club already has an established logo and colours, respect them. Don't reinvent your visual identity with each collection.
- Visibility on the field: colours too close (two teams in navy blue, for example) cause problems in matches. Always plan a contrasting alternative kit.
- Wash resistance: some colours (bright red, fluorescent yellow) are more sensitive to fading. We use high-resistance pigments, but be realistic about long-term expectations.
Our advice: three colours maximum on a jersey. Beyond that, it's visually overloaded.
Criterion 4 — Personalisation
This is what transforms a generic jersey into a team banner. Several personalisation techniques exist:
- Digital sublimation: ink is impregnated into the fibre. Result: durable, doesn't crack, ideal for complex designs. Our preferred method.
- Embroidery: elegant, premium, perfect for logos on polos or caps. More expensive but visually unmatched.
- Heat-applied flocking: fast and economical, ideal for numbers and names. Good durability with a refined finish.
- Screen printing: classic for T-shirts in large quantities. Economical but limited in complexity.
Criterion 5 — The budget
Budget is a real criterion that should not be denied. Here are some benchmarks to position yourself:
- Simple personalised training jersey: accessible entry level, ideal for schools and amateur clubs.
- Match jersey with sublimation: mid-range, significantly higher quality, what we recommend for most projects.
- Premium jersey with matching finishes and accessories: high-end, for organisations wanting to assert their prestige.
At Korvess, we adapt our proposals to your real budget, without ever sacrificing the fundamentals: quality fabric, solid seams, refined finishes. Better to order 20 premium jerseys than 30 mediocre jerseys that deform by the end of the season.
Criterion 6 — The deadline
Plan ahead. A personalised sports textile project takes time: brief, design, validation, production, delivery. Allow between 5 and 8 weeks for a standard project. For urgent orders (less than 2 weeks), additional fees apply and some options are no longer possible.
Our advice: launch your project at least 2 months before the date of need (season start, tournament, event). You'll gain serenity and finish quality.
In summary
Choosing a jersey means arbitrating between several criteria: fabric, cut, colours, personalisation, budget, deadline. No decision is isolated: each choice influences the others.
The best jersey doesn't exist in absolute terms. The best jersey is the one that precisely matches your team, your level, your budget and your identity. And that's exactly what we design with you at Korvess.
A jersey isn't chosen. It is built, step by step, until it becomes the obvious choice.
