How to Create Your Own Uniforms

Uniforms serve the purpose of making a group easily identifiable, but also allow that group to develop a sense of solidarity. The first military uniforms were created to cut down on friendly fire casualties. The Red Cross simply identifies its members through the use of the Red Cross somewhere on their person, generally on an armband or over their heart.

Instructions

1. Determine how much of a uniform you need. A uniform can serve several purposes. The United States Army uniforms (non-dress) are meant to help a solider blend into the terrain, which is why they come in non-solid patterns largely consisting of greens, browns and tans. If you need a full body uniform, then how the uniform interacts with the surroundings will become important. However, if you are only looking to create a sense of solidarity, you may wish to go with something smaller. Think about the uniforms at any store: they have uniforms ranging from shirts all the same color (Best Buy) to regular clothes set off by name tags (Wal-Mart). These are still considered uniforms.

2. Consider cost. Are you going to get a lot of use out of these uniforms? If so, it is worth the investment to have them made out of sturdier fabric or in a variety of sizes. If these are for a one shot event, or an event that changes every year, it is better for your wallet to make the uniforms cheaper. Screen printed t-shirts are cheaper and allow for a variety of sizes to accommodate the wearers.

3. Make yourself identifiable. The simplest way to do this is through the use of a logo or brand mark. Since these are t-shirts and the wearers must be seen from a distance, make the logo large and easy to see. The largest uninterrupted space on the human body is the torso. Many places opt to put a large logo on the back and a smaller logo on the front over the breast pocket area.

4. Decide your decoration. Military uniforms show off rank and affiliation. Wal-Mart employees may have stickers or pins on their name tags. These decorations allow some individuality within the group. Since we are using screen printed t-shirts, the easiest way to add some difference is by adding the name on the front or back of the shirt. If your large logo is on the back, put the name on the front where the breast pocket would be.

5. Pick your colors. Bright red makes you visible from a distance. Green cameo assists a soldier in slinking through the forest undetected. Depending on your needs, choose the colors accordingly. However, one good rule to follow is not to pick anything too wild because the further from the norm you get, the fewer people look good in it. When in doubt, white and black are always a good choice.

6. Get the sizes right. Before you finish ordering what you need, double check that you have the appropriate sizes and then order a couple extra in each size. It costs a little extra, but when you consider people who under-report physical size and the fact that not every cut of fabric is going to come out sized as advertised, this can save you time.

References

• Uniform program builds your club brand

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish