GIORDANA CUSTOM PROGRAM OVERVIEW & EXPECTATIONS

Your Giordana Custom Project

Important things to know as you begin your custom journey with us.

Now that your project is officially underway, we want to share a few key considerations that apply to every custom order. Custom cycling apparel blends creative direction with technical production. A shared understanding at the start helps us work efficiently together, reduces revisions, and leads to the strongest final result.

This page is designed as a resource you can refer back to throughout the process. It outlines how custom design translates into performance garments, what decisions require your input, and what happens behind the scenes to ensure your kit looks and performs at the highest level.

Custom Design Is Collaborative

Your kit reflects your identity. You bring the ideas, inspiration, logos, and goals; our team translates that vision through pattern geometry, proportion, color, and garment construction. Iteration is part of the craft. Clear direction helps set the course, and refinement strengthens the final outcome.

Mockups vs. Production

Mockups are alignment tools used to confirm:

overall design direction
color intent
logo usage and hierarchy
general composition

Once a mockup is approved, our team converts the design into technical pattern files used by our factory to print, cut, and sew the garments.

Production introduces physical realities that flat mockups cannot display, including:

seam placement
panel shapes
stretch and tension
substrate behavior
size grading

These steps ensure the final garments look cohesive on the bike and in motion, not just on screen.

A bunch of different colors of paint on a table

Color in Apparel Production

Color accuracy in performance apparel is influenced by multiple variables, including:

Pantone values
ink systems
substrate and fabric stretch
base fabric tone and sheen
lighting conditions

Screens are helpful for concept, but not for matching. If your kit requires precise brand color fidelity, Pantone references are recommended. If brand colors are unspecified, our team makes decisions optimized for visibility and wear.

Color can also appear differently across garment types and accessories, even when the same general color is specified. Jerseys, bib shorts, caps, socks, and other components may use different materials, print methods, and base fabrics, which can influence the final appearance. This is especially important when trying to coordinate one color across a full kit.

Certain colors—especially blues and reds—can shift more noticeably across fabrics, finishes, and lighting conditions. This is normal within custom apparel, and our designers can help guide recommendations when close coordination is important.

Fabric, Stretch & Saturation

Cycling garments use multiple fabrics with different levels of stretch, structure, and surface texture. These substrates absorb and display color differently. Areas with more stretch, such as bib short panels or mesh inserts, may appear slightly lighter or less saturated than more structured panels. This is not a defect. It is a natural result of printing on high-performance textiles.

This is especially important when pairing printed Lycra with a jersey in the same color family. A color that appears rich and stable on a jersey may read differently on a stretch panel once worn, particularly in saturated shades like red. The more a fabric is stretched on the body, the more its visual appearance can shift.

Some dark colors may also show a slight halo or edge softness on certain high-performance fabrics, particularly those with loft, texture, or thermal surface characteristics. Our patterning and design teams consider these variables during pre-production and will advise when artwork or color choices may be affected.

Natural fiber fabrics, such as wool, do not have the same bright white base as many synthetic materials. As a result, colors will appear more muted and highly vibrant tones are not fully achievable. Darker colors, especially black, may experience some color release after the first wash.

Pattern Geometry, Sizing & Scaling

Cycling apparel is constructed from multi-panel patterns that are engineered for fit and performance. As sizes change, the pattern pieces change as well. This process—called grading—ensures consistent fit across body types.

Because of grading:

proportions may appear to shift
artwork may move slightly between sizes
logo placement may sit differently from one size to another

Logos are scaled and positioned to maintain the strongest overall balance across the size range. Even when a logo is kept technically consistent in size, it may appear to shift visually depending on the proportions of each garment size. These adjustments are standard and help the design perform more naturally across the full run.

Seams, Alignment & What’s Possible

Continuous graphics across seams look great, and we plan for them whenever feasible. However, perfect seam-to-seam alignment is not always possible across all sizes due to differences in pattern geometry, grading, and garment construction.

Because custom garments are built from multiple shaped panels, artwork placed near seam finishes, side panels, pocket breaks, or transition points may be interrupted, wrapped, or reduced in visible area once the garment is cut and sewn. What lines up cleanly on one size may shift slightly on another.

Our designers review these considerations during pre-production and flag any placement details that may require adjustment so approvals are informed and the final result is as strong as possible.

Roles in the Process

A successful custom project includes collaboration between your team and ours.

Your team provides:

logos and artwork (vector formats preferred)
color intent (Pantone values when applicable)
design direction or references
sponsor accuracy
approval at checkpoints
sizing preferences (Fit Kit available if needed)

Giordana provides:

technical patterning and grading
color guidance and Pantone matching
substrate and ink optimization
cross-garment color coordination guidance
scaling and artwork placement
seam alignment considerations
production feasibility guidance
pre-production proofs for approval

This division of roles ensures clarity, reduces rework, and keeps the project moving.

Checkpoints & Approvals

Every custom project includes several checkpoints where you will review and approve:

design direction
color intent
logo usage
final proofs prior to production

These approvals exist to ensure alignment before garments are produced. Clear feedback at each step shortens revision cycles and protects timelines.

Timeline & Revisions

Revisions are a normal part of the design process. The number and complexity of revisions influence timelines. If your team has a hard deadline for an event, race, or delivery, please share that information at kickoff so we can plan accordingly.

Testing & Sampling

Strike-offs (test prints) are available as approximations, not full production samples. They can help preview how certain colors may print across substrates. For projects requiring advanced testing or sampling, paid options may be available.

Logo Usage & Brand Accuracy

Our designers place logos exactly as submitted. You know your brand and sponsors best, so we rely on your team to confirm:

correct spelling
outlines and effects
placement and scale
resolution
usage rules (when applicable)

You will have an opportunity to review these details during the approval phase.

Friendly reminder: Obtaining permission to use logos on custom printed garments is the sole responsibility of the customer.

Because each garment style, size, and fabric behaves differently, logo scale and placement may be adjusted slightly during technical setup to preserve balance and production feasibility.

Artwork Best Practices

Preferred Logo Files

For the best results, please send logos and artwork as vector files whenever possible. Preferred file types include AI, EPS, and SVG. These formats preserve sharpness at any size, making them ideal for custom apparel production. In some cases, a high-quality PDF may also work, depending on how the artwork was originally created. Raster file types such as JPG, PNG, PSD, TIFF, BMP, and GIF are less ideal for production use.

Vector vs. Raster

Vector artwork is created using shapes rather than pixels. Because of that, it can be resized up or down without losing clarity. Raster artwork is pixel-based, so when it is enlarged, it can become blurry or jagged. This is why vector files are strongly preferred for logos, clean graphics, geometric elements, and custom clothing applications where artwork may need to be scaled for print.

Why This Matters for Custom Apparel

Artwork quality directly affects print quality. Clean, properly prepared files help us reproduce logos more accurately, maintain sharp edges and details, and keep your design looking polished across the full kit. Vector artwork gives us the flexibility needed to size and place graphics correctly without compromising clarity.

If You Don’t Have a Vector File

If you do not have vector artwork, send the highest-quality file available and we will review it. A high-resolution version is always better than a small file pulled from a website or screenshot. In some cases, artwork may need to be recreated or cleaned up before it can be used for production.

Helpful Tip:

If you are unsure what kind of file you have, go ahead and send it. Our team can quickly review the file and let you know whether it is ready for production or if a better version is needed.

Custom Apparel FAQs

Can I pick my colors directly from my screen or mockup?

Not reliably. Colors vary from screen to screen, and what you see may not be what gets printed. For the most accurate results, we recommend choosing from the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Our team can guide you to the closest match based on your artwork.

Where can I find Pantones to choose colors for my kit?

Printed Pantone color books or fan decks may be available through graphic designers or print shops, or within existing brand guidelines or logo files. Digital Pantone tools can be used for reference, but printed swatches are recommended for the most accurate color selection.

Why do my colors look different on different parts of the kit?

This usually comes down to fabric variation, stretch, and garment construction. Different materials, such as mesh, Lycra, thermal fabrics, or accessories like caps and socks, can absorb and display color differently. Areas with more stretch often appear slightly lighter or less saturated than more structured panels. This is a normal part of custom apparel production and does not affect durability or performance.

Do you offer test prints or samples before production?

We can offer strike-offs, which are test prints meant to approximate how a color or logo will print. However, they are not exact replicas of the final product. For customers who require a print preview, we offer these sample services as a paid add-on.

Will you double-check my logos for accuracy?

We place logos exactly as submitted, but we rely on you to review and approve final mockups. Please check for correct spelling, placement, outlines, drop shadows, and overall clarity. You know your brand and sponsors best—and we want to make sure it looks exactly right.

Can I make unlimited revisions to my design?

We offer complimentary design time with every custom order, and we’re happy to collaborate. That said, excessive rounds or dramatic changes from the original concept can delay production. If a project exceeds the scope of standard design time, we may recommend our premium design add-on to continue development.

What’s the best way to ensure my kit turns out exactly how I envision it?

Be collaborative and ask questions! The more we understand your goals upfront—colors, brand story, rider needs—the better the outcome. Our design team is here to make sure the finished product exceeds expectations.