Team Kit (via Flickr @stevep2008)

1) Choose a Person

So you’ve decided that it is not the goalkeeper, not your sluggish right back and not your permanently hungover mascot Barney ‘binge-drinking’ Barnacle. Rather its your team kit that has resulted in the worst losing streak in recorded sixth division history. Mauve and shocking pink stripes no more. First, you need to delegate responsibility to someone in the team to sort out the new kit, ideally a diplomatic and organised individual. There also needs to be a decision as to whether the final choice lies in his/her hands or elsewhere. In politics this is called the separation of powers to avoid a tyrannical minority, a concept that goes well with the battlefield that can be ordering team kit.

2) Choosing a Design

This will be the prime source of contention and is probably best as a collaborative effort. It is worth having a general brainstorm and deciding on the things that definitely need to be included. If one person wants a gold crested unicorn and another the green goblin then find grounds for compromise, in this case a green goblin riding a gold crested unicorn. Once decided upon then get your vision down on paper and put it to one side for the moment.

Get the design right (via Flickr @yaffamedia)

3) Getting Quantity, Sizes and Price Range

Self explanatory really but bear in mind that it is probably worth ordering a couple of extra kits as you never know when the opposing team may go Mike Tyson on you and chew off bits of your clothing (but hopefully not your ear). Also get everyone to write down the sizes they think they are, if you’re going for a tight fit top then bear in mind that it is exactly what it says on the tin; figure hugging, anatomy crunching, tight fit. The final element is deciding how much everyone is willing to spend. If it is a tenner then you just have to accept that the latest neon blue, opposition blinding, clima-cool top is not going to fall into that budget. Work with what you have, and you won’t necessarily have to spend an arm and a leg to get it.

4) Choose a Custom Kit Provider…Indigo Clothing!

Thought I’d save you the strenuous Google searches and paper cuts sustained from tearing through the Yellow Pages and direct you to the best in town.

5) Get a Quote and Choose Your Printing Process

Give us a ring and you’ll probably get a response from Stephan or Jo, our friendly client services representatives. Don’t know the difference between your rib knit neck and your piped shoulder seams? They will be happy to walk you through the kit selection and find one that best fits your design and price range. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, it is our job to make sure we get the order right the first time! They will also give you an idea of the best printing process for your design, it is likely to be screen printing unless you want some embroidery. All of this will contribute to the final quote we give you. If that falls within your price range then you can move onto the next step but if not then it is probably worth consulting your teammates first.

Stephan one of our friendly client service representatives

6) Make the Order

If that all works for you then you’re ready to make the order! If you have your own finished product artwork then we’ll ask you to send that across. If not and all you have is some pretty average scribblings on the back of an exam past paper, then you can send that across too for our graphic designer to, ahem, refine. Either way you can make the order over the phone and specify a time frame for delivery.

6a) Ordering a Sample

If you’re unsure as to the quality of the kit you are ordering or how the artwork will look then we are always happy to send you a sample first. If it turns out that the Marge’s hair doesn’t pop off the polyester then this is the time to make the relevant adjustments. When you’re satisfied then we can go on to make the full order for you.

7) Controlling the Anticipation

Customers have told us it is like waiting for Santa Claus, counting the minutes to the New Year, waiting for England to win the World Cup (but unlike that the clothes will a) turn up b) not take 100+ years to do so). Luckily our delivery times are rapid and your kit will turn up in no time.

New Kit, Time to Shine

Your new kit is delivered, morale is boosted, you get promoted and the Queen considers knighting the whole team based on the quality of your kit alone.

Time to bring in the silverware (via Flickr @cole24_)

9) Spread the Word

In return we only ask one tiny favour and that is you tell everyone you know about Indigo Clothing, tweet it, facebook it, blog it, host an Indigo party, whatever means but please get the word out!

So there you have it, 9 steps to ordering team kit and reaching a better spiritual place. However although I’ve used sport as an example this process is just as applicable to university societies, clubs and membership groups of any sort. We cater to everyone through our customised t-shirt printing, or even hoodies and polo shirts. We also recognise that at this time of year things can get a little tight financially which is why we have our Plus One student offer for 2011 where for every order you make you get an extra piece free! It is perfect for the team kit orders that I just mentioned, I mean could we make it any easier?

A different kind of juggling

Luckily I refer not to my own experience but that of an unfortunate friend of mine, Adam, when we were still at university. Now let’s clarify a couple of things here. Much as you may think otherwise competitive juggling is a major establishment and not restricted to awe struck Japanese tourists in Covent Garden capturing it in 12 megapixels. It combines athleticism, co-ordination, balance and showmanship. And as a result I held Adam in quite high esteem for his Thursday evening excursions with the traveling troupe. And from what I understood they were tight knit bunch, juggling buddies with juggling related inside jokes and not afraid of a mean curry either.

Juggling with your life (via Flickr @lbphotos)

However the start of the New Year marked a whole different sort of juggling for him, and let’s just say that a few pennies (and balls, batons, general aerial paraphernalia) dropped. The team captain had lined up a few meets across the country and wanted brand spanking new custom t-shirts to bring the ‘bling’ back to the world of competitive juggling.  Think ‘Bring it On’ meets Alan Sugar, showy but professional in a tacky reality show sort of way. This responsibility was to left to Adam who was more than happy to take it on, thinking how hard could it be to order some printed t-shirts? Awesomely hard. The kind of thing that can make or break friendships. And entire juggling troupes.

“Gamboge My Dear Watson. Gamboge.”

What follows is the amalgamation of various public rants, broken dreams and hidden frustrations expressed over pints of Britain’s finest cider. It started with deciding on the printing design. What was initially a scattered bunch of ideas developed into firmly drawn party lines between the diabolos crew and the clubs crew. Neither would budge.

Diabolo (via Flickr @chaquetadepollo)

Adam was definitely a clubs man but feared that siding with them might lead to a mutiny from the diabolos (in other words a juggling picket line). So he did what any sensible kit organizer would do. He decided to include both designs and squeeze them onto the front of the t-shirt. Equally sized. Equally prominent. His pleasure with this end result was expressed as “its going to look amazing mate, but I’m going to tell each side I’m going with their design, better to keep this on the down low.” Sowing the seeds of his own idiotic downfall.

Clubs (via Flickr @caseywest)

In order to avoid anymore conflict he decided to go with his own colour choice; gamboge. Yes really. You would never have heard of it, and for good reason, its what gold would look like if it been covered with a vomit finish. He called it ‘bling’. Again he felt it was better to ignore my advice and not inform the team of this choice as it would “ruin the surprise”. I actually agreed with him, I just think we had a different idea of what kind of surprise he was talking about.

Hideous gamboge architecture, so why t-shirts? (via Flickr @tillwe)

Then came getting in touch with the t-shirt printing company. They strongly advised that he opt for the screen printing process (i.e. the best way to print onto cotton) but he had his heart set on embroidered diabolos and clubs on his gamboge monstrosity. So he made the order and waited couple of weeks for it to arrive.

Unfortunately when the DHL delivery came through the unveiling of the kit wasn’t quite what he had envisaged. I watched with that sense of impending cringe-moment as he pulled out the first t-shirt with the team looking on. There was a collective look of ‘you’re joking right?’, but one look at Adam’s face said it all, genuine glee at his textile Frankenstein. Before you know it everyone was launching into him about messing up the order and putting the team’s reputation at stake. However he didn’t back down and claimed the t-shirt was a ‘grower’ (the way that Marmite’s taste has grown on me i.e. it hasn’t). And then to stoke the fire even more, as if the whole house wasn’t burning down already, he then asked the whole team to pay up. Cue pandemonium. As a student you thrive on freebies and cheap stuff, not gamboge embroidered t-shirts that you actually have to pay for.

T-shirt printing the right way

And that really was the beginning of the end for Adam’s juggling career. In fact it was more the end of the end. Rapidly booted off the team for his ineptitude and ensuring frosty relations with former teammates. This was exactly the kind of situation that used to make me laugh but it genuinely was quite tragic to see and has given me a newfound appreciation for being in charge of a team’s kit.

Buying a custom t-shirt really can be this fun (via Flickr @B Rosen)

Now bear that in mind when you dump that responsibility on someone in your team, club or society. One way to make everyone’s life a lot easier is by coming to us at Indigo Clothing, we can’t help you with your domestic disputes but we can ensure high quality t shirt printing with a friendly service. Sounds cheesy but trust me you’ll be the one laughing. I know Adam isn’t.

Late for Lectures? No one will care if you're a 'Harvard Yard' boy.

Collaborating with the tailored clothiers Wearwolf Group, the colour theme is crimson and green and the style is classic American. Branding yourself as a fashion house and a world-leading Ivy League University could spell disaster for this prestigious establishment as you don’t have to have “MA” after your name to wear these clothes, and more worrying, you don’t need any fashion sense either so long as you’ve got enough money to splurge. The crimson and green might not look as distinguished as Harvard envisage on a balding 65 year old man who always wished he’d gotten the grades to go to Harvard. This ‘men only’ brand effortlessly oozes style, class and the sex appeal of intelligence, so if you drool over expensive university apparel and the untouchable preppiness it evokes then this might just be the clothing line for you. Wonder if it’ll feature in the prospectus?

“Oh Meeha, keep in mind we’re very casual and jeans will do just fine.”

Just the words any intern/workshadowing student wants to hear when trying to venture into the world of the working kind. I didn’t really know what to expect  when I got accepted to do a workshadow with Jo and the gang at Indigo Clothing. All I can say is, quickest six hours of my life, apart from the really, really , REALLY fast six hours of sleep that preceded the working day.

I was taken by Jo, my mentor for the day to the warmest, most comfortable studio room-office ever. T-shirts hanging from a clothing line, of course, they customise shirts, among other things. Was introduced Eleni, who works with Jo, and got right down to work, being explained bits and bobs along the way.  After a  few additions and multiplications, sending back quotes to potential customers  it was time for lunch. Guess what, they feed you too!! Well, only if you’re interning I guess . Yummy chicken sandwich baguette from a bar across the road, you will truly be missed. When we got back from lunch I was introduced to the Blog on which these few words will be put up, I’m assuming. FUN! Although I’m not sure if this particular post will be half as popular or fun to read as any of Kate’s. Wow can that woman write or what?

As I write this, I’m getting my very own t-shirt printed.  It took me nearly half an hour to think up what I wanted to have printed on my shirt. I think it is quite near perfection.  Almost.

You readers should be so lucky to get a day to intern with Indigo Clothing, I did, so BOOYA!! I’m thinking of throwing in an evil chuckle somewhere, yes totally should.

*RUBS HANDS TOGETHER AND CHUCKLES*

And because I have a train to catch back to Loughborough University, I must stop writing this post from this big city computer, in this big city work place, in the big city.

This sheep in the big city and alien to fast walking, tube-taking, hustling and bustling must go back to the Village that is Loughborough.  Adios!

Meeha's new t-shirt!

The hoodie is useful for the process of becoming a real student as it is a key wardrobe essential that requires minimal washing. It’s snuggley and warm; the hoodie says it loves you even though Mummy is miles away….ahem, but that’s one of it’s secret charms that people don’t really talk about so much. No, the hoodie is the perfect way to affirm your new University identity and is useful for forming first impressions and making new acquaintances. The hoodie could start a conversation, “Why yes, I am a member of the Karl Kennedy appreciation society, do you watch Neighbours too?”, and could even provide a way into potential life-long friendship, “Would you, erm, like to watch it with me sometime?” shifty eyes. Furthermore, the hoodie can let people know your name, or your nickname if you’re willing to share it. In fact, very often a nickname is created solely for the basis of adorning the back of the hoodie. Special meetings may be arranged in order to create ‘hoodie nicknames’ for one another, from a simple shortening of an existing name “Rob” to the more obscure “Laminator” which may be a humorous ‘in joke’ that doesn’t actually refer to the laminating activity.

One of my favourite hoodie brands is Just Hoods by All We Do Is. They have many many wonderful colours to cater for every taste and are the perfect blank canvas to begin printing off nicknames and officially brand yourself as a society member to match your fellow peers. If that’s not enough the colour selection section of their website is so much fun and can provide endless entertainment. Just click on the different colours (from hot pink to hot chocolate to red hot chilli) and see the little jumping man’s hoodie change colour accordingly…it’s like one of those dress up paper doll toys, and he always looks so happy, even if you dress him in ‘lavender’. Though we students love the hoodie, it isn’t an especially niche market. If your student days have been and gone and you are feeling the void in your life every September for a fresh new hood, fear not. Instead, hatch a cunning plan to convince your workmates to get creative. Why not get your favourite item of office stationary printed onto your ‘arctic white’ hood. Mine would be ‘Paperclip’. Sometimes at the office, you just need a hug, especially when then coffee machine’s broken, or it’s 9am on a Monday morning after a rather boisterous weekend. Let the hoodie hug you, it’s what it’s there for.

Hot Chocolate coloured Hoodie by All We Do Is