Is Your Greek Merch Supplier Actually Allowed to Print Your Letters?

Ordering chapter merch is basically a trust fall. You’re sending in hundreds of dollars, banking on a vendor to come through with the right sizes, right colors, right designs... and most important of all, legally cleared logos. 

If you end up picking a vendor that’s not licensed, you could be looking at a lot more than a bad print job. Suddenly Nationals are asking questions, your order’s on hold, and your chapter’s over it. All of which you could’ve avoided by using a licensed sorority merch supplier.

So What Does “Officially Licensed” Vendor Even Mean?

Every sorority and fraternity owns the rights to their name, Greek letters, crests, colors, even catchphrases. So if a merch company (like us) wants to use any of those on a product, they need formal approval. That approval is called a license. No license = no legal right to print Greek merch. Same goes for college logos, mascots, and school names.

That’s why official sorority merch suppliers matter. They’ve gone through the legal and brand checks to print for specific chapters and universities. This means they’re the only ones allowed to submit designs for approval. Any design using Greek letters or trademarks has to be submitted for review, which normally takes 3–5 business days. Skip that step and you’re risking a lot here. The rules around Greek merch can be specific and time-consuming to work around, but that’s not your job to figure out. A licensed vendor would already know them by heart, so you can hand off the stress and just focus on making the cutest shirts possible.

What If We Order Merch From an Unlicensed Vendor?

Printing with an unlicensed vendor can get your chapter flagged by Nationals for violating trademark rules. This could mean fines, having your order blocked, or in serious cases, chapter suspension. The safest move is to work with someone who’s licensed with your org and knows the approval process inside and out.

But that’s not all. Designs that don’t follow guidelines can get blocked during the approval process, forcing last-minute edits or cancellations that throw off your whole timeline. And if you’ve already paid an unlicensed vendor who disappears or prints merch you can’t legally use? That money’s just gone. Now add in a group chat full of people wondering where their stuff is, and you’ve got yourself a full-on apparel chair nightmare.

How Do I Check If a Vendor’s Licensed?

All it takes is a quick search on two key platforms: Affinity Gateway (for Greek organizations) and your school’s official licensing page.

For Merch With Your Greek Org’s Letters and Trademarks:

1. Go to Affinity Gateway. This is the official licensing platform used by most national Greek organizations.
   
   

2. Search for your organization. You’ll find a list of officially licensed vendors who are allowed to print your letters and trademarks.
   
   

3. Look for the vendor’s name. If they’re not on that list, they’re not cleared to print your sorority or fraternity’s merch—no matter how cute their designs are.

If your organization or school isn't on our list, that means we’re not licensed with them yet and can’t print their trademarks. In that case, your Campus Manager can reach out to our Licensing team to get the process started. They’ll walk you through what that process might look like, including how long it could take. So if you’ve got a deadline in mind, definitely reach out early.

For Merch With Your School’s Letter and Trademarks:

1. Search your school’s website for “licensed vendors” or “trademark licensing.” Many universities post a public list of approved merch suppliers. (Example: Texas A&M’s list).

2. Still unsure? Contact your school’s licensing office. Or ask the vendor directly. Official suppliers will always be transparent about what they’re licensed for.

Btw, we are licensed with 180+ schools in the USA and Canada. Not sure if yours is on the list? Just reach out and we’ll check for you.

Pro tip: If your vendor has to “double check” or says “licensing doesn’t really matter,” that’s your sign to run. Official vendors will tell you up front and often have tools to help you browse approved designs or check your org instantly.

So We’ve Just Submitted a Design, Now What?

Once your design is submitted (especially if it includes your sorority or college’s name, letters, crest, or other trademarks), it doesn’t head straight to the printer. It goes to our Licensing team first, because it has to be reviewed and approved before anything gets made.

This review usually takes 3–5 business days, and yes, it’s 100% required. That approval checks if your design follows your chapter or school’s official brand rules—and makes sure it doesn’t include anything off-limits, like alcohol or smoking references.

Tip from our Licensing team: Give us 3–5 business days to get your design approved. Your Campus Manager will let you know once it’s cleared, and that’s your green light to place the order.

Here’s Where to Start (the Right Way)

We’re already licensed with over 150+ Greek organizations and 180+ schools across the U.S. and Canada. That means you can go from idea to approved design without the licensing drama. You can check if we’re licensed with your org in seconds.

Need ideas for your next drop? Check out our Design Gallery to see what other chapters are making. 

You can also explore our Product Gallery to find customizable garments that fit your vibe. 

And if you’re ready to bring it to bring your ideas to life, use our Design Tool to start creating!

Once your design is submitted, we’ll take care of the licensing part so your merch is cute and compliant.