A hoodie is the piece of team clothing people keep the longest. It is warm, comfortable and worn on weekends, which means a well-made one carries your logo for years. The choices that matter are the style, the fabric and how the logo goes on.
Pullover or zip
Pullover
The classic hoodie: no zip, pulled on over the head, usually with a front pouch pocket.
- The front is one clean surface, so a centre chest print or a large front graphic sits on it without interruption.
- Warmer, because there is no zip line for wind.
- Simpler and usually less expensive to make, with no zip to fit.
- Casual. It reads as leisure wear and team spirit.
Best for: college batches, fests, sports clubs, team merch that is mostly worn outside work.
Zip
A hoodie with a full-length front zip, often with two side pockets.
- Easy on and off, and easy to wear open over a shirt or polo.
- Better for changing temperatures: offices with air conditioning, travel, mornings outdoors.
- A little smarter, especially in a dark colour with a small logo.
- The front is split by the zip, so a large centre front print is not possible. Logos go on one side of the chest, with the big design on the back.
Best for: office teams, field staff who move between inside and out, anyone who will wear it over work clothes.
Fabric
Hoodie fabric is a knitted cloth with a smooth face and a different inside.
Brushed fleece
The inside loops are brushed into a soft, fluffy surface that traps warm air. It is the warmest and cosiest option, suited to winter, cold mornings and anyone who feels the air conditioning. It sheds a little at first and is bulkier.
Loopback or French terry
The inside loops are left as they are: small, neat loops. Lighter and more breathable than fleece, and less bulky. It suits mild weather, warmer cities and people who will wear it indoors.
Weight and blend
A heavier hoodie feels more substantial and lasts longer; a lighter one is more comfortable in warmth. Cotton-rich hoodies are soft and breathe. A little polyester helps the hoodie keep its shape and resist shrinking. For decoration, a stable, heavier fabric holds embroidery flatter.
The classic team layout
Most team hoodies follow the same plan, and for good reason:
- Left chest: an embroidered logo. Small, neat and long-lasting. Embroidery looks premium and outlasts print. Keep text in it at least 5 to 6 mm tall.
- Back: a large printed design. Team name, event, batch year, a list of names. Print handles size, colour and detail that would be heavy and stiff as embroidery.
- Optional extras: a sleeve print, a hood print, or a small back neck mark.
The embroidered chest looks smart up close; the printed back reads from across a room. See embroidered hoodies.
Other options
- Large front print on a pullover: bold and casual, ideal for fests and merch.
- Embroidery only: a small chest logo and nothing else. The quietest, most wearable choice for office teams.
- Full print front and back: for clubs and events where the hoodie is the identity.
We do embroidery, screen printing, DTF, DTG and sublimation in-house, so a hoodie with an embroidered chest and a printed back is made in one place.
Decoration details to know
- Embroidery on fleece sinks slightly into the pile. A good digitiser allows for it so small text stays clear. See embroidery digitising explained.
- Print across a zip is not possible. Plan zip hoodie designs around it.
- Print over the pouch pocket of a pullover crosses a seam. Keep front prints above the pocket line.
- Hood prints are seen only when the hood is down. Treat them as a bonus, not the main message.
Colour
Dark hoodies, black, navy, charcoal and bottle green, are the most worn: they hide marks and suit everyone. Grey marl is a classic sporty look. Bright colours suit events and clubs. Stock (core) colours start from one piece. A body dyed in an extended colour or your exact Pantone needs one roll of cloth; see core, extended and Pantone colours.
Sizing
Hoodies are often worn loose and layered. Ask each person whether they want their usual size or a size up for a relaxed fit, and collect sizes per person rather than guessing a spread.
Which to choose
- College batch, fest, club: pullover, printed front or back, embroidered chest. See college hoodies.
- Office team: zip or pullover in a dark colour, embroidered chest, optional printed back.
- Field staff: zip, for layering, with a hard-wearing embroidered logo.
- Winter or cold offices: brushed fleece. Milder weather: loopback.
For print positions, sizes and care, read the custom hoodie printing guide. Start at custom hoodies, or send us your logo and we will come back with a mockup before anything is made.
Quick answers
Is a pullover or zip hoodie better for a team?
A pullover suits college batches, fests and clubs: it is warmer, simpler and has a clean front for a big print. A zip hoodie suits office and field teams who layer it over work clothes and take it on and off through the day.
Should a team hoodie be embroidered or printed?
Often both. The classic layout is an embroidered logo on the left chest, which looks premium and lasts, and a large printed design on the back, which reads from a distance and stays soft.
What is the difference between fleece and loopback hoodies?
Brushed fleece has the inside loops brushed into a soft pile that traps warmth, so it suits cold weather. Loopback, or French terry, leaves the loops intact, so it is lighter and more breathable for milder weather and indoor wear.
