University Merch: T-shirts, Folders and Lanyards — a Guide
How a university can order attributes for students and lecturers: T-shirts, A4 folders, lanyards, deadlines, quantities and indicative prices from Atta Print.
University merch usually consists of three main groups — clothing (T-shirts, hoodies, polo shirts), document folders and lanyards printed with a logo. Typical quantities for Latvian universities are 50–500 pcs for first-year student sets and 20–100 pcs for lecturer or conference needs; production time with printing is 6–10 business days (4–7 days production + 2–3 days delivery). For example, the University A4 folder costs from €6.15/pc at 1 pc and from €5.91/pc at 100 pcs (excl. VAT, before the printing fee).
What universities order most often
The yearly rhythm is fairly predictable: spring brings graduation and alumni attributes, summer brings first-year student sets and open-day materials, autumn brings sports club and student council clothing, and winter brings conference folders and gifts.
- Clothing. T-shirts for first-year student days, hoodies and sweatshirts for faculty teams, polo shirts for study advisors and open-day staff, jackets for sports clubs.
- Folders and paper products. A4 folders with the faculty logo, programmes, diplomas, invitations, conference notepads.
- Lanyards. For student and staff passes, conference participants, volunteers — with a printed or woven-in logo.
- Small gifts. Pens, notebooks, bottles, keyrings, reflectors for first-year welcome bags.
T-shirts: choosing the printing method by quantity
The choice between printing methods is a matter of arithmetic, not taste. Screen printing becomes cost-effective from around 50 pcs, as a separate screen must be prepared for each colour; DTF transfer works from 1 pc and allows full-colour images with no per-colour setup fee; embroidery suits polo shirts, jackets and caps where durability and a more premium look are needed.
| Quantity | Recommended method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–20 pcs | DTF transfer | Full colour, no screen setup |
| 20–50 pcs | DTF or embroidery | Embroidery for polo shirts and jackets |
| 50–300 pcs | Screen printing (1–3 colours) | Lowest price per piece |
| 300+ pcs | Screen printing | Setup fee spreads across the quantity |
Standard print areas: left chest 110×90 mm, front and back up to 280×210 mm, sleeve 80×60 mm, embroidery up to 90×90 mm. The sleeve is often used for the study year or faculty abbreviation — this lets you reuse the same design for several years by changing only the small detail. You can choose models in the T-shirts, hoodies and polo shirts categories, and read more about the printing itself in the clothing printing section.
Folders and conference materials
An A4 folder is the only merch item a participant holds in their hands throughout the whole event. There are two practical options: a fabric or PU folder with a logo (durable, stays with staff for years) and a cardboard folder with full-colour printing (cheaper, suited to one-off events). A single-colour logo on the front is usually enough for a folder — it's both cheaper and visually cleaner.
If you're inserting a programme, certificates or invitations into the folder, we can print those too — digital printing starts from 1 pc and is completed within 1–3 business days, so the programme can be approved a week before the conference.
Lanyards and passes
For lanyards, the most cost-effective threshold is usually from 100 pcs; below that, the setup fee noticeably affects the price per piece. There are three variables to choose from: width (10, 15 or 20 mm), fastener (hook, clip, safety release), and the logo repeat step. We recommend universities order one neutral design with the university name for the whole year, plus a separate colour for conferences or volunteers — that way it's clear at the event who the organiser is. See models in the lanyards category.
Examples from our catalogue
A few examples from our catalogue with prices before printing:
- Urban 280 g/m² men's hoodie – cotton, polyester, 36 colour options, price from €11.61/pc at 1 pc,
- Urban 280 g/m² children's hoodie – cotton, polyester, 20 colour options, price from €10.58/pc at 1 pc,
- Arora 300 g/m2 unisex hoodie – 11 colour options, price from €33.56/pc at 1 pc,
- Jasper 280 g/m² OCS organic cotton unisex hoodie – 9 colour options, price from €29.70/pc at 1 pc,
How ordering works for a university
Communication departments usually need a document for procurement or budget approval, so the process is designed to produce that quickly.
- Add items to a request on the website or email us with the approximate quantity and design.
- Within one business day, we send a quote online and as a PDF — with product images, prices, print location, setup fee and deadline for each item.
- On request, we prepare a 3D mockup with the university's logo so it can be shown to management or the student council.
- The artwork is approved by email; production starts after approval.
Please send the logo as vector graphics (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg) in CMYK; for raster images, 300 dpi. If you have a brand book with specific Pantone colours, send it right away — we match colours against it for screen printing and embroidery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum quantity for a university merch order?
Clothing printing with DTF transfer and folders are available from 1 pc. Screen printing becomes cost-effective from around 50 pcs, socks with a woven-in logo have a minimum of 100 pairs, and for lanyards the most cost-effective threshold usually starts from 100 pcs.
How much time should I allow before an event?
Our own printing — stickers, business cards, posters, programmes — takes 1–3 business days. Promotional products with printing usually take 6–10 business days: production 4–7 business days depending on quantity, plus delivery 2–3 days. We review urgent jobs separately.
Can I order a single T-shirt as a sample before the larger run?
Yes. We make a single piece using DTF transfer so you can check the size, fabric shade and logo placement. If you then order a larger run with screen printing, we use the sample as the colour reference point.
Can different faculties with different logos be combined in one order?
Yes. Each logo variant has its own setup fee, so we list these separately in the quote. It's often more cost-effective to have a shared university logo on the chest and the faculty designation on the sleeve.
What sizes should I plan for in a T-shirt order?
In practice, student orders mostly go for M–L–XL. If you don't know the exact breakdown, we recommend collecting sign-ups with a size survey — that's cheaper than reordering individual pieces afterwards.
Do you prepare documents for procurement?
Yes. The PDF quote includes item descriptions, quantities, prices excl. VAT, print type and deadlines, so it can be attached to budget or procurement documentation.
Send us your logo and approximate quantity at info@attaprint.lv or call or WhatsApp us at +371 25776699 — we prepare a quote with prices, print locations and deadlines within one business day.
FAQ
What is the minimum quantity for a university merch order?
Clothing printing with DTF transfer and folders are available from 1 pc. Screen printing becomes cost-effective from around 50 pcs, socks with a woven-in logo have a minimum of 100 pairs, and for lanyards the most cost-effective threshold usually starts from 100 pcs.
How much time should I allow before an event?
Our own printing — stickers, business cards, posters, programmes — takes 1–3 business days. Promotional products with printing usually take 6–10 business days: production 4–7 business days depending on quantity, plus delivery 2–3 days. We review urgent jobs separately.
Can I order a single T-shirt as a sample before the larger run?
Yes. We make a single piece using DTF transfer so you can check the size, fabric shade and logo placement. If you then order a larger run with screen printing, we use the sample as the colour reference point.
Can different faculties with different logos be combined in one order?
Yes. Each logo variant has its own setup fee, so we list these separately in the quote. It's often more cost-effective to have a shared university logo on the chest and the faculty designation on the sleeve.
What sizes should I plan for in a T-shirt order?
In practice, student orders mostly go for M–L–XL. If you don't know the exact breakdown, we recommend collecting sign-ups with a size survey — that's cheaper than reordering individual pieces afterwards.
Do you prepare documents for procurement?
Yes. The PDF quote includes item descriptions, quantities, prices excl. VAT, print type and deadlines, so it can be attached to budget or procurement documentation.
