School swag doesn’t just look good; it helps build community, boosts school pride, and creates memories that last for students, staff, and alumni. Custom T-shirts and sweatshirts are often the most popular and versatile options, but you can get anything from branded bags and drinkware to custom pens and hats.
So if you’re looking for fresh ideas for school swag, we’re here to save you time by narrowing down some of the best clothing and other branded merchandise for your students and staff. Use this guide as inspiration for your next orientation kit, spirit week, fundraiser, or campus event, and discover swag ideas that help strengthen school pride and community engagement.
Swag for Students
- T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts
- Stainless steel water bottle
- Backpacks
- Rally towels
- Notebooks
Students tend to love swag more than staff or alumni. This can look like merch for graduations or first-day-of-school events, club and student organizations, and events such as spirit days and homecoming games. Notebooks are popular picks here, as well as drawstring backpacks if you have the budget. Adding the school or club or fraternity or sorority logo to a stainless steel water bottle or mug is an easy way to give students and parents a functional option to support school fundraisers and promote school pride within the community. Even a towel can easily become a rally towel by adding the school colors and mascot logo.
However, if there’s one clear winner for the best swag for students, it’s wearables. For example, a moisture-wicking jersey with the school logo or teammate names can become a unique way to show up to every game and support your club, group, or organization while rooting for the home team. While walking the school hallways, a screen-printed or embroidered name and club logo added to a polo can show pride for student organizations.
In general, T-shirts like the Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton or Bella + Canva 3001 are huge sellers here and loved by students of every age. They come in both adult and kids’ sizes, so you’re sure to find a variety of sizes and colors to fit the entire school.
Top T-Shirt Picks for Students
Swag for Staff
- T-shirts, polos, and sweatshirts
- Jackets
- Stainless steel water bottle
- Notebooks
- Pens
- Alligator clips
For teachers and faculty, school pride is just as important as it is for students, whether they’re celebrating their students’ first-ever day at school or honoring the principal’s 30th year of teaching. Need a thank-you or anniversary gift for a staff member? Embroidered items are always stylish and elevated; just add the school slogan and logo with a custom name, and you have a unique and thoughtful gift, whether it’s a coffee mug or a personalized notebook.
Custom swag is also great for staff members who hold leadership roles within student organizations and clubs. For example, STEM or art teachers can show pride using custom T-shirts, sweatshirts, and even alligator clips and pens. Don’t forget PE teachers, who might don a custom performance T-shirt and short set with their name on it.
Gift Ideas for Staff
- Port Authority F217 – Value Fleece Jacket
- Alaskan 4744 40 oz. Stainless Steel Mug
- Eco Magnetic Notebook with Sticky Notes & Pen 1409
- Magnetic Alligator Clip AC1
- Badger Sport BD4120 Core Tee
- Badger Sport BD4107 B-Core 7 Inch Short
Swag for Alumni
- Vintage style T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts
- Embroidered Hats
- Stainless steel water bottles
- Can coolers
- Pens
Even if it’s been years since your ex-students graduated, most of them will jump at the chance to support the community with custom school swag.
If you want a creative way to celebrate your students from years past, a Colortone tie-dye T-shirt or a pigment-dyed Comfort Colors T-shirt can give any outfit a quick vintage feel. Give a throwback to their school years by printing the school’s original mascot on the front or back of the T-shirt. Offer an embroidered hat with an outdated logo at high school reunion events and fundraisers.
If you have any alumni chaperoning events, a simple “Chaperone” or “Staff” printed on a shirt can help them stand out in a sea of students so they know who to trust. Alumni can also cheer on their alma mater with coolers and water bottles that they can then take to the gym or community events.
For an easy fundraising win, stuff a custom-printed tote bag with custom pens, shirts, and can coolers that you can sell at a reunion or alumni association.
Popular Swag for Alumni
- Colortone T1000 Tie Dye Tee
- Comfort Colors CC1717 Pigment Dyed Short Sleeve Shirt
- FoamZone FZCC Collapsible Can Cooler
- Alaskan 4744 40 oz. Stainless Steel Mug
- Port Authority B050 Ideal Twill Convention Tote
Tips for Choosing the Right School Swag
- Prioritize comfortable, high-quality apparel for the season: When deciding what apparel to add to your order, think about the season. If you need custom T-shirts for the spring or summer, you may want to opt for the Bella + Canvas 3001 T-shirt rather than the heavier cotton Gildan 5000. In the fall or winter, the Gildan 2400 long-sleeve tee can keep everyone warmer while cheering for the school’s team.
- Use school colors and iconography consistently: Retaining a consistent color scheme and graphic usage (such as the mascot) can help create a cohesive look for your students, staff, and alumni. Using consistent designs can also help give staff uniforms a professional look and ensure that students can easily identify them.
- Consider different age groups when thinking about sizing: Since swag isn’t only for high school and college students, don’t forget to order kids’ sizes when creating a custom school T-shirt or jacket. This can also help to include little brothers and sisters of students who want to help spread school pride, even before they start school themselves.
- Offer a mix of wearable swag and practical merch: Offering a mixture of swag items to pair with school apparel ensures everyone can have something to show off their support. Using tote bags as a way to pass out T-shirts, pens, or notebooks during giveaways or fundraisers is an easy way to accomplish this.
It can also be helpful to involve students, staff, or alumni groups in the design process. Allowing students to vote on colors, slogans, or having the school’s art students create the artwork can make the final product feel more personal and meaningful to the entire student body.
Swag Ideas for School and Beyond
Everyone loves swag. If you want to add a bit more school spirit or rally your students around a common theme, it’s one of the easiest ways to do it.
Apparel tends to provide the most value here: A T-shirt or hoodie can become a favorite item that students wear long after spirit week or the school year has ended — helping to extend the reach of the school’s brand into the wider community. Pairing those items with complementary merchandise like bags, drinkware, or accessories adds variety while being practical to use every day.
Use these ideas as inspiration to create swag collections that energize your community, support school initiatives, and keep your school spirit visible all year long.