Screen Printing, Embroidery, DTF, and Sublimation Take Center Stage

As we move through 2025, school spirit is at an all-time high—and it’s never looked better. From high school halls to university campuses, custom jerseys are becoming a major form of self-expression, team pride, and identity. This year, the trends are defined not only by bold design choices but also by the technologies behind them. Let’s take a look at the most popular school jersey trends for 2025, featuring screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-film (DTF) printing, and sublimation.

1. Retro Revival Meets Modern Screen Printing

Screen printing remains a fan favorite in 2025, but it’s being used in new, innovative ways. The retro aesthetic is back—think bold block letters, vintage fonts, and old-school color palettes like mustard yellow, navy, and maroon.

Schools are blending these vintage designs with modern screen printing techniques to achieve cleaner lines, sharper details, and more durable prints. Metallic inks and glow-in-the-dark accents are also trending, offering a fresh twist on traditional prints. These designs are ideal for team jerseys and spirit wear that needs to last all season—and beyond.

Trend Tip: Water-based inks are gaining popularity due to their eco-friendly profile and soft feel on fabric, making them a top choice for comfort-focused school apparel.

2. Custom Embroidery Gets Edgy

Embroidery is no longer just for varsity jackets. In 2025, it’s being applied to jerseys in unexpected places: sleeve cuffs, hoodie hoods, and even over mesh fabric. This year’s embroidery trend is all about texture and dimension. Schools are using 3D puff embroidery to make logos and mascots stand out—literally.

Colorful thread options, metallic finishes, and gradient stitching are making embroidery more dynamic than ever. It’s not just a design—it’s a statement.

Trend Tip: Many schools are combining embroidery with other techniques, like screen printing or sublimation, to create multi-layered looks that pop both on and off the field.

3. DTF Printing: The Customization King

Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing has exploded in 2025 as one of the most flexible and vibrant jersey customization methods. Schools love DTF for its ability to print full-color, high-detail graphics on almost any fabric type.

This year, DTF is leading the charge in personalization—think custom nameplates, mascots in school colors, and limited-edition drops for special events like homecoming or spirit week. DTF’s fast turnaround and affordability make it perfect for short runs and quick reorders.

Trend Tip: Expect to see a rise in QR-coded DTF prints, where scanning a jersey logo links to team schedules, rosters, or even hype videos. It’s where fashion meets function.

4. Sublimation: All-Over, All-Out Designs

Sublimation continues to dominate full-coverage design in 2025, especially for esports teams, intramurals, and academic clubs. Because it dyes the fabric itself, sublimation creates vibrant, long-lasting prints with no cracking or peeling—ideal for high-performance and high-energy wear.

This year’s standout trend? All-over gradients, geometric patterns, and digitally-inspired themes that match the aesthetics of the digital-native Gen Z and Gen Alpha students. Designers are pushing boundaries with sleeve-to-sleeve, collar-to-hem designs that feel more like streetwear than school uniforms.

Trend Tip: Sustainability is key. More sublimation vendors are offering recycled polyester garments to meet demand for eco-friendly teamwear.

Final Thoughts: Mixing Techniques for Maximum Impact

2025 is the year of hybrid customization. Schools aren’t limiting themselves to one method—many are combining embroidery with sublimation, layering screen prints over DTF bases, and creating multi-texture designs that feel as premium as they look.

Whether you’re designing for a pep rally, a championship game, or just everyday school spirit, the message is clear: custom jerseys are evolving, and they’re more creative, inclusive, and expressive than ever before.

Ready to rep your school in style? Embrace the trends—and the tech—and make 2025 your most stylish year yet.