Question about Letter Shirts

[AKASpr14]

I tried searching for an answer but didn't find one. I hope someone can help me. Thanks in advance!

Is it acceptable to wear handmade letter shirts if you're a member of a Divine 9 organization? I haven't seen any Divine 9 members wearing them, so I'm not sure. If not, why is it not acceptable?

[NinjaPoodle]

If the item is well made, sure. Most store bought letters are laser cut these days so the quality is much better and tend to be better looking the most hand made items.

[alum]

There is a big difference between handmade and handcrafted!
I only made NPHC letters a couple of times but have made letters for NPC and IFC orgs often. If you are making them yourself, I recommend the following:

Specific Products
Dritz Fraycheck around the cut edges. Fraycheck is a thinner less gluey liquid as compared to other fray preventatives.

Ultrahold Heat and Bond for your fusing. This says you can't sew through this but you can.

General products
A clear plastic quilting ruler to center and level the letters on the garment. I use the 15" square Omnigrid.

For TShirts, I use both tearaway stabilizer AND freezer paper on the inside of the shirt. For sweatshirts, the tearaway stabilizer is sufficient.

Technique
I would definitely satinstitch around your letters as opposed to just zigzagging

[DrPhil]

You should ask the AKAs who brought you into AKA. I recommend not asking random Greeks and non-AKAs what is acceptable to wear. Random opinions can contrast local, regional, and chapter protocol traditions.

As for the protocol and traditions to which I subscribe: I agree with NinjaPoodle and the specifics vary by GLO and local, regional/district/chapter protocol and traditions.

[AKASpr14]

Thanks, everyone!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Just out of curiosity, is the issue that they may look less polished, or is the issue that they are made by a non-licensed vendor?

[DrPhil]

DeltaBetaBaby, if people are doing it themselves, it is important to conform to 'nalia protocol (colors, patterns, etc) and make it look polished.

If people are purchasing it, (for those of us who care) licensed vendor**, conform to 'nalia protocol, and make sure it looks polished.

**Licensed vendors are more likely to not violate official GLO policies and practices. But licensed vendors still can't keep track of every unofficial local/district/regional/chapter policy and protocol.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You should ask the AKAs who brought you into AKA. I recommend not asking random Greeks and non-AKAs what is acceptable to wear. Random opinions can contrast local, regional, and chapter protocol traditions.

As for the protocol and traditions to which I subscribe: I agree with NinjaPoodle and the specifics vary by GLO and local, regional/district/chapter protocol and traditions.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

DeltaBetaBaby, if people are doing it themselves, it is important to conform to 'nalia protocol (colors, patterns, etc) and make it look polished.

If people are purchasing it, (for those of us who care) licensed vendor**, conform to 'nalia protocol, and make sure it looks polished.

**Licensed vendors are more likely to not violate official GLO policies and practices. But licensed vendors still can't keep track of every unofficial local/district/regional/chapter policy and protocol.

All of this especially the bolded.

[AKASpr14]

I was talking about puffy-painted shirts. My sorors told me we aren't allowed because of licensing.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AKASpr14

I was talking about puffy-painted shirts. My sorors told me we aren't allowed because of licensing.

Then those AKAs answered your question.

If you are trying to verify something you were told by your prophytes (if you insist but it may not go over well for a Neo to be doing that) do that with fellow AKAs. Don't do that with other Greeks and certainly don't do that on a public board with your chapter information in your posts.