I love custom things. If I can wear or use it, I will always try to get a customized version of it for myself, or even customize things I already own. My search history in Google Chrome is just a reminder of the extent to which I fancy personalized items.
With advances in printing techniques, the cost and prices of customizing clothes are significantly lower than in the past, making it more accessible for people who are on a tight budget…such as myself. If you too, like customized things, it is probably for the same reason as myself: the pride or feeling of being an individual instead of being generic and just the same as the rest.
There is literally no end to what you can customize. On the streets and roads, you see all kinds of modified and custom vehicles. Some look like masterpieces and others look horrendous (to my tastes). Herein lies the beauty, as you don’t really have to care about what others see in your preferences, as long as it is something that you love or believe in.
Pride and identity
The sense of pride of having a customized item or piece of clothing is definitely not limited to personal possessions. The best example of this would be football (or soccer if you’re feeling American) players and fans. Not only does wearing their team’s jersey invoke the feeling of pride, but also a sense of belonging and being a part of something larger than themselves. Humans naturally and instinctively are at least slightly tribalistic, a remnant of our ancestors from prehistoric times. I bet you reacted negatively to the word tribalistic. Not a surprise there. But being “tribalistic” does not necessarily mean that you are some sort of savage. It just means that you are fiercely proud and protective of your group or organization. By cultivating such positive and constructive tribalism, you are able to build a strong culture and sense of belonging to your organization, which in turn helps foster unity and the development of a sense of purpose.
The role of the T-Shirt
From the title of this article, and with your Sherlock-tier deduction masterclass, you may have guessed that we would be looking at the role of a custom t-shirt in fostering said sense of pride and identity. A custom printed t-shirt bearing your logo or some form of identity for your organization has the best of both worlds when it comes to office wear, which namely are: office shirts, and casual clothes. It provides all the uniformity of office wear with none of the hassle, and the comfort of casual wear while looking more suited to a professional environment. As an employer, do encourage your employees to wear such clothes for company occasions and gatherings, or even on specific days of the week. While it may not seem like much initially, over time, it may work wonders on the culture, atmosphere, and unity of your organization. Plus, if done well, you will look good while doing it.
If you do not yet have a custom printed t-shirt for your organization, it is high time to get one. In Singapore, there are many apparel printing companies that cater to businesses, such as the creatively named Custom Print SG. It would not cost much anyways, so might as well invest a little in the culture for your organization!
