Red Canadian Leaf custom sublimated team apparel by Versus Canada

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How to Choose Team Colours for Your Jersey

July 17, 2026

How to Choose Team Colours for Your Jersey

Colour is the first thing anyone notices about a jersey, from the stands and on the field. Get it right and your team looks unified and sharp. Here is how to choose colours that work, not just ones that look good on a screen.

Start with one or two anchor colours

Most strong kits are built on one dominant colour and one supporting colour, with maybe a small accent. Resist the urge to use everything. A tight palette looks more professional and is far easier to build a full set of home and away jerseys around. If your team already has colours from a logo or a league, start there.

Contrast is what makes it work

The colours that matter most are the ones behind your numbers and logo. Those need strong contrast so they read from a distance. Dark numbers on a dark jersey, or light on light, disappear on the field and on camera. A quick test is to imagine the jersey in a blurry photo. If the number still stands out, your contrast is right.

Think about home and away

Leagues often need a light and a dark set so two teams do not clash. Pick a palette that flips cleanly. A navy and white home can become a white and navy away with the same identity intact. Planning both from the start keeps your team looking consistent all season.

Colour meaning and rivalry

Colours carry a feel. Reds and blacks read aggressive, blues read classic and steady, bright colours read fun and modern. None of this is a rule, but it is worth a thought when it lines up with the identity you want. It is also worth checking what nearby rival teams wear so you do not blend into them.

Screen colour is not print colour

The colour you see on a phone is not always the colour that prints on fabric. Screens glow, fabric does not, and different knits shift a shade slightly. This is where colour codes matter. Giving us a Pantone reference is the most reliable way to get the exact colour you expect. We explain this fully in Pantone vs CMYK vs RGB.

Keep it consistent across your gear

Once you lock your colours, use the same ones on jerseys, shorts, socks, and off field team gear. Consistency is what makes a team look organised and established rather than thrown together.

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