<p>Does anyone have a recommendation for an online vender that customizes varsity letter jackets? </p>
<p>At DS’ high school, letter jackets were somewhat “by invitation only” in that you only got an order form if you had participated in a sport or other school activity that qualified you to “letter” in that activity. It was a local company that we ordered from; however, I think some of the class ring companies (like Josten’s, etc.) may also sell letter jackets. </p>
<p>Ours was a local company. I spent about 150 bucks for a really nice jacket that my son swore he would wear. He never wore it ONCE, because it turns out it wasn’t cool to! So it’s hanging on a rack in the basement that I pass often. I really should move it, because I get annoyed all over again whenever I see it.</p>
<p>Ditto process and outcome to MaineLonghorn!</p>
<p>Letter jackets were absolutely not cool at my older D’s school. But she still wears, 8 years after her HS graduation, her team sweat pants and hoodie with the girls’ names on the back. I also don’t know anyone who wears a class ring, but that seems to be a regionally popular thing.</p>
<p>There was a local vendor that the teams at D’s school used. Promised to baby kiddo if she made the State in an individual event… Never thought she would. She did wear her jacket to school a few times, and I have no idea if that was ever a popular thing or not. No rings for sure at her school! Sweats with the team logos are still heavily used as loungewear when she comes for a visit. </p>
<p>I think letter jackets (and being cool to have/wear one) might be regional. I don’t see them much around here, but we went to a scholarship competition in another state (where most of the students were from) last week and they were rampant! My D was like, “why is everyone wearing one of those!!?”</p>
<p>My kid went to the same HS as MaineLonghorn’s kids, and I very, very rarely saw kids wearing letter jackets. S didn’t seem to want one. Which was a good thing, because we couldn’t have afforded it at the time.</p>
<p>@MaineLonghorn, maybe you could give it to the coaches to give to a kid who wants one but can’t afford it.</p>
<p>Our kids weren’t into lettermen jackets and rarely saw any of them on their campuses. They also nixed class rings, so we didn’t spend. They DID want and we bought musical instruments, which haven’t been played since HS. Argh! </p>
<p>Addendum: DS’ jacket, with the various patches to which he was entitled but which I had to pay an alterations place to put on because I couldn’t do it myself, totaled about $350. How do you amortize a cost of $350 to the actual number of wearings . . . which were zero . . .??? Well, actually, he did wear it once, in the back yard for us to take pics. We did not order a class ring. </p>
<p>haha. Bought S both a letter jacket and a class ring. He wore neither. Best part was he insisted on all kind of customization with the class ring and never ever wore it. arrgghh. But, to answer your question, if you google “customized letter jackets” several will come up. </p>
<p>I also have a son who customized his ring and swore he would wear the jacket. The ring sits in his dresser and the jacket hangs in his closet. I tried to convince him to sell both but he won’t part with them.</p>
<p>Both my sons got class rings that were worn very little. In the case of S1, it was my fault. He wasn’t really into getting a ring but I was afraid he would wish he had if all his friends were wearing them. Friends didn’t wear them and neither did S1. S2 wanted a ring. The first one he got was too small and had to be returned. When he got the replacement, he wore it for awhile and then lost it. When he found it, the ring excitement had worn off and he never wore it again.</p>
<p>S2 was a varsity athlete but had no interest in varsity jacket. </p>
<p>Neither of them were the least bit interested in college rings.</p>
<p>If you get a letterman jacket, get it a size or two larger for now so it will fit 20 or 30 years from now when you walk around wearing jacket like Al Bundy talking about your ‘glory’ days back in high school when you were state champ.</p>
<p>It looks like they are making a comeback. But $300-$400 at our local store, means my son may have to hang his varsity letter on the wall.</p>
<p>When I left for college, my little sister wore my letter jacket in middle school and high school so my jacket got some use. S does not have younger siblings. </p>
<p>Right on Lizard! Glory days! LOL.</p>
<p>I’m sad to see the demise of the Letterman’s (and Letterwomen’s) jackets. What’s the harm in acknowledging accomplishments? I remember one of my social studies teachers in high school telling us that in the 1960s his school awarded varsity letters to the debate team; a little megaphone icon stitched on the school letter. Hah.</p>
<p>We still have DHs and DS’s letter jackets. Do they have any resale value on eBay?</p>
<p>
Some still do. Or the rook pin for the chess team.</p>
<p>I never saw the appeal of a jacket, so never got one. It’s not like I’m going to wear it in college.</p>
<p>They are a big deal in our high school and are making a strong comeback. You see lots of kids wearing them when you drive by the school. It crosses all races, genders and sports. My son loves his and wears it all the time. (It was last year’s Christmas present). So much so, that the senior made a joke about it at last year’s end of the season banquet. </p>
<p>When we go to statewide swim meets, the kids really flaunt them. </p>
<p>We got it from a local shop, who customized everyihg down to the cuff and neck knitting and embroidering his name on the underside of the popup collar. </p>
<p>If you letter in college, you get jacket for free!</p>