T-Shirt and Hoodie Printing in Nottingham

Known as the Queen of the Midlands, Nottingham has Robin Hood on its statues, lace in its history and two big universities on its doorstep. FabricForge makes custom clothing for the city: tees, hoodies, polos and more, printed at the Nottingham production house and delivered to your door. The production house is closed to walk-in visitors, so the way in is WhatsApp, a phone call or an email.

One item is enough to start, and an order of 5 or more earns a discount. Below you will find the Nottingham events people order around, a closer look at the institutions behind the biggest orders, and the route a job takes from your phone to your front door.

Month by month: Nottingham's reasons to wear a matching shirt

These notes cover what groups around each date usually ask for. They are not a record of our own jobs. Dates change from year to year, so look at each organiser's own page before you commit to a plan.

February: Light Night

Nottingham Light Night is a free winter event of illuminated art, usually held in February across the city centre. Artists, schools and volunteers involved in nights like this often want black or hi-vis tops so the public can find them in the dark.

July and August: Pride, carnival and the greenwood

Notts Pride is usually held in Sneinton in July, with a march ending at Sneinton Market. Nottingham Carnival is a summer parade, usually in August, on Victoria Embankment. Sherwood Forest also holds a week-long Robin Hood Festival each August. Groups marching, dancing or volunteering tend to want colourful matching tees, and costume makers add names or troupe numbers. Trent Bridge, home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, fills during summer matches, so supporters' groups often look to our cricket kit printing page.

September and October: freshers, fun runs and Goose Fair

Each autumn the university's Welcome Week brings Students' Union fairs that introduce societies and sports clubs. The Robin Hood Half Marathon, with a mini race and a corporate challenge, is usually run in late September. Goose Fair then lights up the Forest Recreation Ground, usually from the end of September into early October. The fair has a royal charter dating to 1284, and the Goose Fair name appears in records from 1541. Fair staff and charity run teams commonly need workwear, hi-vis and bright team tees.

October also brings charity walks and market weekends. Walkers and fundraisers choose matching tees, and bar and market teams like staff tops with a small logo.

November to January: winter lights

Winter Wonderland: Christmas in Nottingham usually opens in mid-November and runs towards the new year, and a winter light trail often follows at Wollaton Park. Seasonal staff teams often order hoodies and polos.

Queen of the Midlands: local colour worth printing

Nottingham's character gives plenty of material for a design. There is the Robin Hood statue and the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, Wollaton Hall and the City of Caves. The Lace Market grew from the lace trade after William Lee invented the stocking frame in 1589, and the architect Watson Fothergill designed about 100 of its red-brick buildings. Hockley has been called the Soho of Nottingham, and Jesse Boot, who founded Boots, was born in the area. The Raleigh bicycle works once stood where the University of Nottingham's Jubilee Campus is now. Hen and stag groups heading to Hockley sometimes want something fun; see hen, stag and wedding printing.

Two universities, a law school and a big college

Nottingham's student population drives much of the printing. Each body is described first, then the clothing its people tend to want.

University of Nottingham. Founded as University College Nottingham in 1881 and chartered as a university in 1948, it has a Nottingham population of around 36,000 spread over University Park, Jubilee Campus and King's Meadow, and Jubilee stands on the former Raleigh bicycle site. Halls, courses and sports clubs can order hoodies printed with the intake year and a surname across the back; a medical-school cohort might choose a dark, classic design.

University of Nottingham Students' Union. Based in the Portland Building, it hosts over 200 societies and 70 sports clubs and runs fairs in Welcome Week. A society whose stall competes with dozens of others gains from a hoodie colour no other group uses, while a sports club adds sponsor logos on the sleeve.

Nottingham Trent University. Tracing its roots to a design school of 1843, it became a university in 1992 and has over 35,000 students. The School of Art & Design teaches fine art, fashion, textiles and graphic design at City Campus. Design students could print their own graphics on tees for a show, and groups based at the Brackenhurst campus might want hard-wearing tops for outdoor work.

Nottingham Trent Students' Union. NTSU speaks for students across every NTU campus and counts more than 100 societies. Its RAG fundraisers organise stunts and challenges where a group, often fancy-dressed, benefits from a shared tee carrying the cause and a team name.

University of Law, Nottingham. Established in 1962 as the College of Law of England and Wales, the private university teaches law, business, psychology, criminology and policing, and has a Nottingham site. Mooting teams and the law society could wear polos or hoodies with a crest, and leavers ordering a keepsake would like a year and nickname on the back.

Nottingham College. Created on 8 June 2017 by merging New College Nottingham and Central College, it runs ten centres in the city and county and has around 40,000 full- and part-time learners, from apprentices to A-level students. Apprentice cohorts and course groups may need practical tops for workshops or placements, so ask the department what its dress code allows.

NHS and the city council

Clinical uniforms are decided by the employer, so these notes concern volunteer, fundraising and community clothing.

Queen's Medical Centre. Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in July 1977 on Derby Road, it was the UK's first purpose-built teaching hospital, has more than 1,300 beds and houses the University of Nottingham's medical and nursing schools. The major trauma centre is England's largest. Student nurses and doctors raising money can order matching charity tees, and a ward team can add a ward name to the back.

Nottingham City Hospital. Its origins go back to a workhouse of 1729, it later became Bagthorpe Workhouse and Infirmary, served in both world wars and joined the NHS in 1948. Today it is a regional centre for cancer and heart care. Departments running a sponsored walk might choose a recognisable team colour, and a cardiology charity group could add a heart motif.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Running both hospitals above, the trust has 16,244 staff and serves about 2.5 million people. Staff charity committees, leaving gifts and volunteer groups can all use a short run of tote bags or tees for a hospital fundraising week.

Nottingham City Council. A unitary authority since 1998 with 55 councillors in 20 wards, it meets at the Council House on Old Market Square and has offices at Loxley House on Station Street. Community litter-picks and park events organised in wards can use bright hi-vis or tees with the group's name.

Stages, venues and screens

Venue crews are mostly in black with a small mark, so the fabric and print placement matter more than colour.

Royal Concert Hall. Opened in 1982 with Elton John as its first performer, this 2,499-seat hall is owned by the city council and shares a complex with the Theatre Royal. Ushers and bar teams could wear identical black polos, a community choir singing there might choose tees, and youth orchestras may like rehearsal hoodies.

Theatre Royal. A proscenium theatre that opened on 25 September 1865, designed by Charles J. Phipps, it seats 1,186 over four levels and stages touring drama, opera, ballet, musicals and a yearly pantomime. Pantomime parties arrive in matching seasonal tops, and an usher team can add a discreet logo to black polos.

Nottingham Playhouse. A producing theatre that began as a repertory company in 1948 and moved to Peter Moro's building in 1963, it seats 770 in the main house and has staged The Kite Runner and James Graham's Punch. Young company members on its community projects might order a project hoodie, with technical crew wearing plain black.

Rock City. On Talbot Street since December 1980, the 2,000-capacity venue occupies a building of 1876 that once hosted the first World Professional Darts Championship. Touring and local bands often need short merch runs in black, and the door and bar staff wear matching tees.

Motorpoint Arena and National Ice Centre. Opened on 1 April 2000 by Jayne Torvill, the Arena is the East Midlands' biggest entertainment venue, holding up to 10,000, and sits in the Lace Market as part of the National Ice Centre. Skating clubs, learn-to-skate groups and conference teams can order practical, easy-wash tees with a club crest.

Broadway Cinema. A four-screen independent cinema and registered charity at 14 to 18 Broad Street in Hockley, with a café bar and creative workspace, and home to the October Mayhem Film Festival. Festival volunteers can have horror-flavoured tees, and a film society might print a tote bag with a hand-drawn poster.

Nottingham Contemporary. This charity opened in November 2009 in a purpose-built building with four galleries, an auditorium and a café bar in the Lace Market. Invigilators and workshop leaders look tidy in simple tees, while exhibiting artists may want limited tote editions.

Castles, caves, courts and halls

National Justice Museum. Housed in a former courthouse, prison and police station in the Lace Market, it has courts that date to the 14th century and a gaol known from at least 1449. School parties dressing up for a mock trial love matching tees, and costumed interpreters need practical shirts under their costumes.

City of Caves. Part of the National Justice Museum on Garner's Hill, this tour passes through sandstone caves once used as a tannery, pub cellars and an air-raid shelter; the city has about 1,000 known caves. Guides in a neat polo with a cave-shaped emblem stand out underground, and keepsake tees could use a map of the passageways.

Nottingham Castle. The ducal mansion, begun in the 1670s by William Cavendish, stands on the site of a Norman castle started in 1068. Legend sets the sheriff's showdown with Robin Hood here. Event staff on Robin Hood Day or at outdoor shows can be dressed in one tee colour, and the outlaw theme gives printers plenty to work with.

Wollaton Hall. The Elizabethan house, built from 1580 to 1588 for Sir Francis Willoughby, holds the Nottingham Natural History Museum, stands in a deer park and was used as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises. Park runners, event marshals at the winter light trail and nature-club groups can use hi-vis and bright tees.

Football, cricket and ice hockey

Nottingham Forest. Founded in 1865, red-shirted from the start and based at the City Ground since 1898, Forest won the European Cup twice, in 1979 and 1980, and are nicknamed the Tricky Trees. Supporters' branches can print a tree-themed slogan, and a pub that organises a coach trip can order identical red hoodies for the journey.

Notts County. Traditionally founded in 1862 and wearing black and white stripes since 1890, the Magpies claim to be the oldest professional football club in the world and have played at Meadow Lane since 1910. An away-day supporters' group might choose a mono tee with a Magpie sketch, while junior teams add numbers.

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Founded in 1841, it plays mostly at Trent Bridge, which holds 17,500 and stages Test matches, and its limited-overs side plays there too. Club cricketers and school teams who visit for a day can wear matching polos with a name line, and scorers and volunteers do well in one plain colour.

Nottingham Panthers. The ice hockey club, founded in 1946, plays in the top British ice hockey league at the Motorpoint Arena in black, gold and white. Young skaters and parents' groups might want match-style tops carrying a surname and a squad number, and a stag party can pick bold black-and-gold tees.

Businesses, innovation and industrial heritage

Boots. The health and beauty retailer and pharmacy chain has roots in the Boot family's Nottingham shop; Jesse Boot was born in the Hockley area in 1850, and listed buildings remain at the Beeston factory site. Branch teams on charity days can wear a plain health-themed tee, and apprentices could order polos with their names.

Experian. The credit-reporting and data company is among the larger employers noted in the city. Its staff networks and volunteering days can use tees in one plain shade, the team or cause printed large on the front.

Games Workshop. The maker of Warhammer, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Lenton since moving its UK operations there in 1997, runs its own stores. Painting clubs and gaming groups love full-colour army-inspired artwork, though we only print designs the customer owns.

Speedo. Founded in Sydney in 1914 and now headquartered in Nottingham, the swimwear company outfitted 27 of 29 gold medallists at the 1968 Olympics. Local swimming clubs and squads can order warm-up tees and hoodies with names and numbers, kept away from the brand's own protected marks.

BioCity Nottingham. The bioscience incubator on Pennyfoot Street was founded in September 2003 by both universities, and it hosts about 70 member companies. Start-up teams at conferences or exhibitions can dress in the same polo, and lab-based groups might want a charity-run tee.

Raleigh heritage. Raleigh began in Nottingham in 1885, was the world's largest bicycle maker by 1913 and sold the Chopper from 1969. Cycling clubs and heritage fans might like a retro graphic drawn by a member, and charity cycle-ride teams can share a matching tee.

Each body, venue, club, company and event mentioned is simply local background; FabricForge is unconnected to them and neither endorsed by nor collaborating with any.

The suburbs and towns around the Trent

From our Nottingham production house we serve the city centre, the Lace Market, Hockley, Sneinton, Radford, Basford, Bulwell, Lenton, St Ann's, Clifton, Wollaton, The Park, Mapperley, Sherwood and Bilborough. Beyond the city boundary we cover West Bridgford, Beeston, Stapleford, Eastwood, Hucknall, Arnold, Carlton, Ruddington and Bingham, along with Ilkeston, Long Eaton and Ripley in Derbyshire. Your quote spells out delivery for your address.

How an order moves along

Picture a society needing twenty navy hoodies. You send the logo, the colour, the sizes and the date. Back comes a quote giving the expected delivery time and any charge for delivery. A visual proof follows, with each name and logo checked, and once you agree it is printed in Nottingham and sent to you. Larger runs can go directly through the quote page.

Garments and DTF

We print T-shirts, hoodies, polos, workwear, hi-vis, scrubs and tote bags. DTF gives full colour, so crests, gradients and photos reproduce well, and names and numbers appear on the proof for every squad or group.

Working back from the date

Freshers arrive in late September, Goose Fair follows in early October and Winter Wonderland opens in mid-November, so ask before term starts or the posters go up. Settle sizes in a group chat and confirm names early. For a carnival or fun run with a fixed date, mention it in your first message. Turnaround is never promised in advance; the quote tells you what is realistic. Festival crews can also see festival and event T-shirts.

Nottingham printing questions

When should a Nottingham society order hoodies for Welcome Week?

Ask before term begins. Welcome Week is usually in late September, and societies meet new members at Students' Union fairs. Send your design and sizes early and approve the proof; the quote then confirms how the hoodies will reach you.

Can we print tees for a Goose Fair charity stall?

Yes. Stall teams often order bright tees with the charity name on the front and 'volunteer' on the back. Give us the event dates and your headcount in the first message, and the quote will set out timing and delivery.

Do you do shirts for the Robin Hood Half Marathon charity runners?

Yes, runners and their support crews often order matching tees. Send your charity logo, team name and size list, and look over each name on the proof before printing begins. The quote explains delivery for your address.

Do you deliver to West Bridgford, Beeston and Hucknall?

Yes. Deliveries run across the city and out to West Bridgford, Beeston, Hucknall, Arnold, Carlton and neighbouring towns. Add your postcode to the enquiry and the quote sets out the arrangements.

Can NTU or University of Nottingham sports clubs get names and numbers on kit?

Yes. Send a roster with names and numbers, your club colours and any sponsor logo. Printing is by DTF, and every name appears on the proof first. Discounts apply from 5 items, and no minimum is set.

We are doing a charity memory walk in Nottingham. What would suit a team?

A bright team tee with a shared name works well. Send the logo, colour choice and sizes. Once you approve the visual proof, it is printed and delivered, and the quote confirms the arrangements.

Can I order just one hoodie?

Yes, a single hoodie is fine, because no minimum applies. A discount begins at 5 items. Send the design, the colour and the size on WhatsApp or email, and we will come back with a quote and a proof to approve.

Can I see my design before it is printed?

Yes. A clear logo file or even a photo of a sketch is enough to start. We build a visual proof and nothing is printed until you approve it, so colours and spelling can be checked first.