If you sit on a committee at Middlesex University, the chances are your group will need printed clothing at some point between the freshers push in September and the final-year send-off. This page is written for society presidents, treasurers, club captains and course reps who need to get a batch of hoodies or T-shirts sorted without it eating a term. FabricForge is a UK DTF printer that works by message: you send an idea, we reply personally with a quote and a proof. We are an independent business and have no connection with Middlesex University or MDXSU.
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What is actually on the Hendon campus
London teaching at Middlesex has been consolidated at the Hendon campus in north-west London since autumn 2013, close to Hendon Central station. That matters for printing because almost every society and team shares one site, so your members will be at the same events and photographed in the same spaces. The university's own campus pages mention MDX House (with the Cube Lounge Bar and pool tables), the Quad, the Grove Atrium (which hosts exhibitions and live performances) and the Pavilion. Those are the places where a society stall, an art showcase or a freshers social is likely to happen, so think about how a design will look in a busy room rather than only on a mock-up.
The sports side is unusually varied. Hendon has 7-a-side football pitches, floodlit outdoor courts, a bouldering wall and one of the few real tennis courts in the UK, and the university lists dozens of sports teams alongside activities such as trampolining and Muay Thai. A bouldering club and a football squad want very different garments, which is a good reason to plan your order by activity rather than copying whatever the last committee did.
A calendar for a typical Middlesex committee
Most orders go wrong because they start too late, not because the printing is difficult. Here is a sensible rhythm for the year:
- Summer before term: agree the committee line-up, choose a design direction and decide whether you want hoodies, tees or both.
- Freshers' Week: your stall needs something visible on the day. Committee tees in a strong colour make you easy to find in a crowd of lanyards.
- Autumn and spring terms: socials, charity weeks, tournaments and showcases each want their own design, usually a one-off.
- Late spring: final-year hoodies and the leavers' list. These need the most checking, so start them earliest.
- Graduation season: keepsakes with the year and member names.
When you ask for a quote, say what your deadline is and order early. We do not promise a turnaround in advance, because it depends on the artwork, the garment stock and the size of the job.
Choosing a design for an art-and-sport university
Middlesex has a long art and design heritage: its Hornsey College of Art strand dates from 1882, and the university was formed from several London colleges before gaining university status in 1992. Creative course groups often want something more ambitious than a logo on the chest, such as a large back graphic or a layered illustration. DTF suits that kind of artwork because it handles colour, gradients and fine detail without you paying attention to how many colours are in the file. If you are unsure whether your image will print cleanly, read our guide to artwork and file preparation before you send it.
Sports clubs usually want the opposite: a clean crest, a sponsor-friendly layout and each player's name and number. Our page on sports kit names and numbers explains how to format a squad list so nothing is misspelt.
Branding rules: check before you print
Students' unions and universities often set rules about how a society can use the institution's name, crest or logo, and about merchandise sold in the union's name. Society officers should check MDXSU's current branding and merchandise guidance before finalising a design, and ask the union directly if anything is unclear. A design that uses only your own society name and artwork is simpler than one that borrows the university's marks. FabricForge is not approved by, partnered with or supplying Middlesex University or MDXSU, and we cannot give permission to use their logos.
Collect your information before requesting a quote
Sending everything in one message saves a round of back and forth. Have these ready:
- the garment types you want and an approximate count for each
- the sizes needed, ideally as a table of names against sizes
- colours you would like, plus your preferred colour for the print
- your artwork file, or a clear description if you are starting from scratch
- the date you need the order by, and whether it is tied to a fixed event
- whether names or roles will differ from one garment to the next
There is no minimum order, so a single committee hoodie is as welcome as a full cohort, and a discount applies once an order reaches five or more items. You will see a proof before anything is printed, which is your chance to catch a wrong initial or a swapped surname.
Common questions from Middlesex groups
Can every member have a different name on the back?
Yes. With DTF each garment can carry its own text, so a list of nicknames, roles or full names is straightforward. Send the list as plain text so we do not have to retype it from a screenshot.
What if only half the group has paid by the deadline?
Collect payment commitments before you request the quote, not after. Many committees run a simple sign-up form with sizes and a cut-off date, then send one tidy list. That keeps the order accurate and avoids one-off additions later.
Can we mix hoodies and tees in one order?
Yes, you can combine garment types and sizes in one quote. Describe what each group of members wants and we will respond with a single reply you can share around.
Getting a bouldering, football or dance group dressed
Each activity on a sprawling sports menu has its own quirks. Climbers move their arms a lot, so a sleeve print is a bad idea and a chest or back graphic is better. Footballers want a surname above a number, centred between the shoulder blades. Dance and trampolining groups often perform in front of an audience, which suggests a back design big enough to read from the seats. Write down where the group will be photographed most, then choose the print position that works there.
Money and the committee treasurer
Treasurers often ask us how to split the cost. We never quote figures on this page, but the structure is yours to decide: some societies subsidise committee garments from membership income, others ask each member to pay for their own. Whichever you choose, agree it in writing before the order, and collect payment before you send the final list. A mix of subsidised and self-paid items is easy to describe in one quote, as long as you label each line.
Looking after the print
Wash printed garments inside out at a moderate temperature, avoid tumble drying on high heat and never iron directly on the print. A hoodie that is worn weekly for a year will look best when treated this way. Our washing and care guide goes into detail.
Final-year hoodies without the arguments
Leavers' hoodies cause the most disagreement of any order. Pick a deadline for design ideas, put three finalists to a vote, and then freeze the artwork. Ask one person to collect the name list and a second to check it against the course register, so nobody is left off. Decide up front whether nicknames are allowed, and if a name is long, agree how it will be shortened.
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