DeLong Varsity Jackets

Nothing sets apart high school athletes like a letter jacket, and odds are that letter jacket is from DeLong Varsity jackets. For over 150 years, the DeLong Sportswear company has been the jacket of choice for many schools all over the country.

Some parents may be surprised when faced with the sudden cost of their athlete's letter jacket. While they want to encourage their child to excel in sports, whether a quarterback or cheerleader, spending around $200.00 for a letter jacket may seem daunting.

DeLong Varsity jackets aims to lessen that blow by keeping with their motto: Quality, Service and Delivery. Family-owned and operated for over a century and a half, DeLong works both directly with high schools as well as with retailers through their sales reps.

DeLong jackets are available in both traditional and modern materials. The jackets come in many styles and combinations, but the classic cloth body (wool, cotton or some synthetic fabric) with leather sleeves and cotton cuffs is the usual choice of sports teams and cheerleading squads. Naugahyde and nylon are also available, and some of their jackets are even reversible.

The DeLong sales representatives aim to establish relationships with the schools that order their products, making sure that the school spirit is represented through color and mascot. At the same time, they can help the cheerleaders get jackets that are in styles that complement their uniforms, protect them from the elements at away games, and also provide other accessories such as team blankets.

Other customizable services include:

• Tailoring jacket bodies and sleeves longer or shorter than stock
• Different color sleeves
• Different color jacket welts (the area that is right over the pockets) either left to right or upper and lower

One of the impressive services DeLong offers is that there is no minimum order – so no matter how small your squad is, you can get the same quality apparel and matching jackets for everyone on the varsity squad. You can also download their entire catalog via their website, and this makes it easy for coaches, captains and squads to make their decisions.

As a supplier to many schools, DeLong needs to be very attentive to production schedules and try their best to fill all orders as quickly and efficiently as possible. Obviously the length of time it would take to ship an order depends on many factors, such as:

• Custom vs. stock orders: If the jacket style is in stock, the company will ship the jackets the same day. However, it will take longer to produce custom colors and styles.
• Sew-ons: Your order may include specific patches such as service chevrons, mascot patches or awards. The time to sew them on (as well as a surcharge) will add up.
• Availability of Materials: Some premium materials, such as 24 ounce Melton Wool, will be at a premium during busy times of year, and there can be a delay in the production time. Some premium materials, such as chenille, are not provided by DeLong.

According to the catalog, Delong does try to accommodate special orders such as "rush jobs" in spite of these limitations. Many orders come in as fast as seven business days if necessary. However, there is a 25% markup for this kind of service, and it is not available during the months of November and December when peak demand hits.

It is important – and a lot of fun – to take the time to really go through the range of choices in DeLong varsity jackets and come up with a style that really fits your school. This is more than just color or patches – does your squad have to cheer from the sidelines at a Midwestern football game? Having a solid wool jacket with a zip-up hood might be a good idea. Perhaps a squad in Seattle wants to have a reversible jacket to protect them from the rain when they are heading off to a basketball championship. Whatever the needs, the DeLong rep can help you wear a great school varsity jacket throughout your high school career.

It has recently come to LoveToKnow's attention that Delong has reportedly closed their operations. Double check with your retailer before you place an order.

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