A Greek letter shirt is by far the most popular item that a member of a fraternity or sorority will wear, making it the ideal gift! Shopping for a Greek letter shirt is a fun experience however can be quiet overwhelming given the amount of stores to choose from as well as the number of styles, colors, and patterns available at any Greek apparel store.
Product quality and selection, cost, turn-around time, licensing, & customer service should all play in to your decision when searching for a Greek letter shirt. Each Greek apparel store is distinct so it's important to find that store that best meets your Greek gear needs. Because the item being purchased is a gift, you ultimately want to choose a store that produces a great looking product. Be sure to check out samples or pictures as they are good quality indicators.
Once you select a Greek apparel store, the design process begins. This includes selecting the sewn-on Greek letters, a t-shirt, two layers of fabric (that are sewn down), and an optional embroidery message.
The most important piece of the process is selecting the correct sewn-on Greek letters. This may seem obvious but for shoppers not familiar with the Greek world, it can be confusing. Similar sounding Greek letters such as Phi and Pi often get mixed up which is the last thing you want when your gift arrives!
The next step in the design process is selecting the actual t-shirt for the Greek sewn-on letters. If you are not sure of the recipient's preference, unisex apparel is always a safe way to go. Many members of fraternities and sororities wear the unisex styles as they flattering on both men and women. Brands such as American Apparel, Hanes, and Gildan are extremely popular as well as high in quality. Ladies t-shirts do offer a more feminine, fitted look, but generally fit tighter which can be great for some individuals but not so ideal for others.
When selecting the foreground layer and background layer for the sewn-on Greek letter shirt there are several ways to go. All fraternal organizations have colors and symbols associated with them. Take for example Delta Delta Delta, an international collegiate women's fraternity. Their colors are Silver, Gold, and Cerulean Blue; their flower is the Pansy; their tree is the Pine; their jewel is the Pearl; their mascot is the Dolphin. Any of these colors or objects mentioned above can be used for design inspiration. Most Greek apparel stores offer large amounts of solid colors and patterns for the foreground letters and solid colors for the background letters - this makes finding the perfect color design fairly easy! Instead of going with colors or symbols related to the organization, you can also select a color or pattern that fits with the recipient's personality - most chapters allow for any sort of design or color scheme.
To further personalize your gift, many stores offer custom embroidery (direct stitching of thread). This can include any personalized message you desire. Embroidery offers the ability to choose the color, font, size, and location resulting in a very custom look.
With so many fantastic options for Greek apparel gifts it is essential to select a reputable Greek apparel store. When shopping for a Greek letter shirt, be sure to view "real" products which will reveal the product quality as well as provide you with great design ideas. Most importantly, have fun during the design process - it will show when your gift is delivered!
