At Banana Moon, we pride ourselves on offering an unparalleled range of unique processes and services that elevate your custom clothing and merchandise to the next level. Our expertise and creativity allow us to bring your vision to life with precision and style.
Whether you're starting a new clothing line, planning merch for your brand, or just unsure how your logo will look on fabric, we’re here to help. Our creative support team offers help at every stage, from artwork prep to garment mockups, ensuring your final product looks just as good in real life as it does in your head.
Established in 1993, we're a family company that has grown from a lifestyle craft business to an agile, responsible and visionary personalised clothing supplier operating from a 10,000 sq. ft purpose-built facility in Yorkshire, UK.
We are so pleased to announce that Banana Moon has been B-Corp certified! This certification acknowledges our continued commitment to people and our planet and we feel extremely happy and proud to achieve B-Corp certification after years of hard work.
It's that time of the school year yet again, with a new set of students getting ready to take their next big step. For schools, that means it's time to find the perfect parting gift to send them on their way.
The iconic leavers’ hoodie is the obvious choice, but there are other options if you want to stand out. From custom varsity jackets, smart polos and easy-to-sign tees, let's explore some stylish leavers’ hoodie alternatives for schools that like to break the mould.
Varsity jackets are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the leavers’ hoodie. Students love the American-inspired sporty style and premium feel. Plus, you can lean into the athletic aesthetic by placing the student’s name or nickname in bold across the upper back, with the year number below mimicking a sports team's jersey number. Then, complete the look by adding your school logo to the breast pocket.
Varsity jackets are excellent as a smarter alternative to the more laid-back leaver’s hoodie, thanks to their structured style. This allows them to pair fashionably with a range of outfits, making them a slick and trendy smart-casual addition to student wardrobes.
Because leavers depart in summer, some schools want a more lightweight option for their leavers’ merch. Short-sleeved shirts are a great choice of custom clothing that your students can wear on those hot days at the end of the school year.
For a tailored style, choose a leavers’ polo shirt. This can be personalised with embroidery to create a smart, high-end look. To differentiate this from the sort of polo shirt you might use for a school uniform, explore unique logo placements such as on the sleeve or centrally under the collar placket.
For a casual summer style, choose a personalised t-shirt as your leavers' merch option. This style is perfect for end-of-year trips in sunny weather. Plus, the more casual choice lends itself to further customisation by your pupils once unboxed, allowing their friends to add signatures and messages in pen. Additionally, t-shirts are some of our most budget-friendly customisable items, making them a great lower-cost leaver’s merch choice.
A leavers’ jumper is another great option for a slightly smarter alternative to the hoodie. Opt for a crew neck sweatshirt for a neat and streamlined garment that takes the classic leavers’ hoodie design and elevates it to a more polished, slick style. Or explore a quarter-zip sweatshirt for a modern look.
Leavers’ merch doesn’t have to be a top or even a garment. There are lots of other keepsakes your students will treasure. In fact, why not create a whole leavers’ goodbye pack, containing a hoodie, jacket or jumper plus a selection of smaller accessories and souvenirs?
One adorable option is to create a leavers’ teddy. This could be a small plush version of your school’s mascot embroidered with the leaving year, or a teddy bear made from old school uniform pieces. This allows students’ uniforms to be recycled rather than thrown away or burnt, ideal for environmentally conscious schools.
Recycling is a cause close to our hearts here at Banana Moon. Read about our Recycling Scheme to learn more.
Creating badges or iron-on woven patches for your leavers lets each student choose the type of clothing they customise. The patches can be added to backpacks, jackets and more as a sentimental addition to each student’s favourite everyday pieces.
You could even offer a selection of leavers’ hoodies and a separate selection of custom woven patches, so your students can mix and match their chosen hoodie and patch when you fill out your order. We at Banana Moon can then embroider each selected patch to the corresponding hoodie for each student to enjoy a unique, custom look.
Tote bags are a classic merch choice and are loved for their convenience in carrying essentials. If you’re offering multiple leavers' keepsakes, the tote bag is an ideal way to keep all of your merch items together. Just customise it hoodie-style, with your students’ names arranged in the shape of the leaving year’s number printed on the front of the tote.
Another benefit of a tote bag is that it can be used as a practical accessory for years and years, as students won’t outgrow it. It’s also a handy item for shopping trips, helping eco-conscious students cut down on plastic bag use going forward.
If you’re keen to make the most sustainable choices when creating leavers’ items, see our guide to creating an eco-friendly leavers' hoodie.
Another fun, wearable merch option is hats and caps. A baseball cap or beanie is ideal for a casual streetwear style that pupils will enjoy. If you’re heading on an end-of-year school trip, personalised baseball caps are also incredibly handy for sun protection.
Whether they’re primary school pupils heading to upper school, Year 11s heading to college, or Sixth Form students moving on to university, a pencil case is always handy. So, why not give them one personalised with their school logo and classmates’ names as a charming reminder of all their happy memories?
A custom tea towel is another charming, sentimental choice. For primary school leavers, adding students' drawings to a tea towel creates an adorable keepsake for parents. For older leavers in Sixth Form or College, a tea towel printed with the school logo, classmates' names, or even signatures will be a fantastic, practical item to take to university halls, with a heartwarming touch of nostalgia.
A leavers’ tradition imported from the States, yearbooks allow you to include photos, personal stories, and more for a deeply sentimental item. Yearbooks often include blank pages at the back for personal messages, too. This makes a yearbook ideal to offer alongside a high-quality leavers’ hoodie, varsity jacket or jumper, as it gives your students an alternate place to collect classmate signatures while keeping their custom garment pristine.
Maybe you have your heart set on a hoodie, but still want to stand out. Don’t worry - you can easily stick with tradition while making it your own with our next-level customisation options.
Choose metallic print, 3D puff styles, or even combine print with embroidery for a leavers’ hoodie that stands out from the rest. You could even book a consultation with our creative team to discuss ideas for a showstopping new design.
Just see our Ultimate Guide to Leavers’ Hoodies to create the ideal memento for your students, with tips on material selection, colour choice, personalisation type and more.
Bagging
Add a bagging option for each eligible item in your cart.
Unbranded pouches offer a refined look and are easily recyclable at home. Perfect for a sustainable, customer-friendly solution.
Tissue-wrapped for a thoughtful touch. Ideal for personal gifting or presenting to individual team members.
