Custom Vintage Sweatshirts - The Latest Trend in Collegiate Apparel | 60 characters

The Rise of Custom Vintage Sweatshirts

Vintage sweatshirts have seen a major resurgence in popularity over the last few years. What was once seen as just an old tattered shirt is now a coveted item amongst Gen Z and young millennials. The oversized fit and worn-in look provides comfort and style. But beyond buying up vintage sweatshirts at thrift stores, many are now looking for custom options. The demand for custom vintage sweatshirts has skyrocketed, especially customized with college and university designs.

The Vintage Sweatshirt Trend

Vintage sweatshirts saw a comeback thanks to nineties fashion trends creeping up in recent years. The sporty relaxed look of Champion hoodies and sweats became iconic. And with the rise of streetwear and normcore fashion, vintage sweatshirts were prime to hop on these trends.

Soon vintage sweatshirts were not just relegated to thrift stores but saw some high fashion collabs. Designers like R13 and Noah paired with Champion to release limited vintage collections. High snobiety culture embraced vintage band tees and sweatshirts as must-have flexes. And vintage sports sweatshirts became a flex denoting your knowledge of sports history and nostalgia.

The Customization Craze

But beyond just wearing vintage, fans sought out customization. Cutting up and embroidering sweatshirts became a major TikTok and Instagram trend. People wanted to put their own spin on garments. And what better base than an oversized vintage crewneck or hoodie?

Soon custom sweatshirts saw a growth in Etsy sellers and small businesses. Customers could send in their own vintage finds to be transformed into one-of-a-kind custom pieces. Patches, embroidery, bleaching, and dyeing revived thrift store sweatshirts. And others looked to purchase blank slates for complete custom styling.

College and University Custom Sweatshirts

One of the most popular trends became custom university and college sweatshirts. The lack of licensed college vintage wear meant a gap in the market. Small businesses could thrift college crewnecks and customize them with unique dyed patterns, embroidery, iron-on patches, and bleaching.

The craze blew up on TikTok and Instragram as perfect content fodder. Cool customized sweatshirts sporting the names and mascots of universities created viral moments. They embodied school and team spirit in a new stylized way.

Customizing Your Own Vintage Sweatshirt

Looking to hop on the custom vintage sweatshirt trend? Here are some ideas if you want to customize your own thrifted or blank sweatshirt:

Tie-Dye

Tie-dye exploded as one of the biggest DIY trends over the last few years. The psychedelic swirl patterns add a unique spin and colorful vibrancy to any sweatshirt. You can find plenty of tie-dye kits for clothing online or in craft stores. Gather some safety gear like gloves and prep your sweatshirt by soaking it. Then twist, tie and bind different sections before submerging it into dye for hours. The longer you let it sit, the more vivid it will turn out. Rinse thoroughly and unveil your creation.

Bleaching

Bleaching is another DIY custom sweatshirt option to try out. You'll need to purchase a bleach pen or bleach gel and work outside or in a well ventilated area. Put on gloves and carefully drip or draw out a bleach design. Make sure to lay sweatshirts flat inside out and put down a protective covering like cardboard. less is more with bleaching. Simply etching out a small logo or phrase can make a big statement.

Iron-On Patches

Iron-on patches offer an easy embroidery alternative if you don't own or know how to operate a sewing machine. You can find all types of iron-on patch options on Etsy from favorite tv shows, band logos, funny sayings, and more. Or create your own with fabric markers and felt. Cut out your designs and follow the patch instructions to adhere them onto any sweatshirt.

Stencil and Spray Paint

Stenciling and spray paint also create cool customized sweatshirts with some urban edge. Buy a stencil or create your own out of cardboard. Lay it flat against your sweatshirt and tape it down. Then take spray paint in your color of choice and apply light coats over the exposed stencil cut outs. Wait for it to dry fully before removing the stencil to unveil your paint design.

Embroidery

Embroidery gives a timeless customized look but does require some skill and sewing know-how. If you want to learn, you can find beginner embroidery kits online. Transfer your design onto the sweatshirt with tracing paper and hoop the area. Use embroidery floss and needles to stitch out your design following a pattern. But if you want the look without the work, many custom sweatshirt companies can embroider designs for you.

Buying Custom Vintage College Sweatshirts

If going the DIY route sounds like too much work, check out small businesses creating custom vintage college sweatshirts. Here are some top options on Etsy and beyond:

Custom College Vintage

This Etsy shop offers vintage sweatshirts customized with collegiate designs. Each is handmade and unique featuring dye work, bleach designs, and embroidery. The custom sweatshirts incorporate the school name, mascot, and founding date for a spirited style.

UniqstyleCo

UniqstyleCo uses vintage Champion blanks for their custom college sweatshirts. They can add embroidered school names, dye any color hoodie in school primary colors, and distress sweatshirts for a vintage effect. You can also send in your own sweatshirt to be customized.

Spikeball Tees

Spikeball Tees creates custom dyed and embroidered hoodies repping universities and colleges. The tie-dye style hoodies feature an embroidered school name across the chest for school spirit. They also offer multi-colored bleach stained sweatshirts customized with school logos.

Guarde Threads

This brand uses a discharge dye technique to make school colors pop on vintage crewnecks and hoodies. Each is cut into a cropped silhouette then discharged and re-dyed by hand in school primary hues. They add embroidered school names and logos for collegiate custom designs.

The B Word

The B Word offers vintage college crewnecks and hoodies with embroidered mascots and logos. The customized sweatshirts incorporate unique bleach stain patterns. And they utilize vintage blanks from brands like Champion, Russell Athletics, and Converse for a retro look.

Rep Your School in Style

Custom vintage college sweatshirts present a cool way to rep your school colors and pride. The customized dyeing, patching, embroidery, and bleaching gives a stylized edge. And vintage blanks offer comfort in an oversized retro fit. See if your favorite college custom sweatshirt shop does requests or start making your own vintage designs at home.

FAQs

Why are vintage sweatshirts so popular right now?

Vintage sweatshirts are having a major moment right now thanks to 90s fashion trends coming back. The oversized, comfort fit and worn-in look provides both style and coziness.

Where can I buy a custom vintage college sweatshirt?

You can find custom vintage college sweatshirts on Etsy through sellers like Custom College Vintage, UniqstyleCo, Spikeball Tees, Guarde Threads, and The B Word. Each offers unique customized dyeing, embroidery, and bleaching.

What is the best way to customize my own vintage sweatshirt?

Some easy DIY customization ideas include tie-dying, bleaching designs, adding iron-on patches, stenciling and spray painting, or embroidery. You can customize a thrifted sweatshirt or buy a blank for your own custom creation.

What types of designs can you get on a custom sweatshirt?

Popular custom designs include the college name, school mascot, founding year, fun landmarks, and school colors through dyeing, patches, embroidery, and bleaching.

What is discharge dyeing?

Discharge dyeing is a special technique used to make school color designs pop on vintage sweatshirts. It removes the original dye first then re-dyes the exposed areas in new vibrant hues.