I help clubs with marketing activities, and I was constantly getting asked whether I would have suggestions for companies providing custom GAA jerseys in Ireland.
Azzurri.ie have always been top of mind for me. They’ve always helped out during my playing days in rugby. Comfy fits, modern designs and wearing club colours with pride.
I thought I’d just put together a short review for them.
Firstly. I’d recommend them massively.
If you are a kit secretary, club manager, or committee member tasked with sorting out new gear for your squad, you already know that choosing a supplier is a high-stakes decision. You have to balance budgets, please players with different fit preferences, keep sponsors happy, and ensure the gear actually holds up on a wet Tuesday night in November.
Azzurri Sport (azzurri.ie), an Irish-owned brand based in Waterford and an official GAA licensed supplier, has been outfitting teams across the country for years. But how do their custom club kits actually stack up when put to the test? Here is a detailed, honest review of what you can expect when partnering with Azzurri for your team’s custom apparel.
The Customisation Process and Design Experience
One of the most crucial elements of ordering teamwear is ensuring your club’s identity is captured perfectly. Azzurri excels in this department, primarily due to their sublimation printing technology.
Big shout-out to Jack in the Azzurri sales team. He made the process effortless for a number of our customers. He also sorted me out with some custom branded workwear for Ardu Digital.
Unlike cheaper alternatives where sponsor logos, numbers, and club crests are ironed or heat-pressed onto the fabric—inevitably cracking and peeling after a dozen washes—Azzurri’s sublimation process dyes the ink directly into the fabric. This means your club crest, sponsor details, and player numbers become part of the jersey itself.
The design phase is highly collaborative. While they have an online presence where you can view templates, the real value comes from interacting with their design team. They are highly responsive to custom requests, whether you want a traditional hoops design, a modern gradient, or a completely bespoke pattern that pays homage to your local area. They provide high-quality digital mock-ups before any money changes hands, ensuring there are no nasty surprises when the boxes arrive.
Quality of Materials and Durability
A jersey can look fantastic in a digital mock-up, but it needs to survive the physical demands of the sport. Azzurri’s standard match-day jerseys are constructed from moisture-wicking, breathable technical fabrics.
For high-contact sports like GAA and rugby, the tensile strength of the fabric is paramount. Azzurri uses reinforced stitching on stress points (like the collar and underarms), which significantly reduces the risk of tearing during a tackle.
Furthermore, the fabric stands up incredibly well to the harsh realities of Irish weather and the resulting laundry cycles. Heavy mud stains wash out predictably well, and the sublimated colours remain vibrant season after season without fading into a dull, washed-out version of your club colours.
Sizing, Fit, and Player Comfort
Getting sizing right for an entire squad, ranging from nimble corner forwards to robust fullbacks, is usually a logistical nightmare. Azzurri mitigates this headache by offering a comprehensive range of sizes across men’s, women’s, and youth categories.
A major positive is their willingness to provide sizing samples to clubs before a bulk order is finalised. This allows players to physically try on the gear in the clubhouse, eliminating the guesswork. Their modern kits feature an athletic fit; they are tailored enough to look professional and prevent opponents from easily grabbing loose fabric, but they offer enough stretch (often incorporating elastane blends) to ensure an unrestricted range of motion.
Pricing and Value for Money
When compared to other major players in the Irish teamwear market (such as O’Neills or McKeever), Azzurri positions itself as a highly competitive, high-value alternative.
While they aren’t the absolute cheapest option on the market, they hit the “sweet spot” of value. You are paying for officially licensed, professional-grade quality without an exorbitant premium. They also offer excellent bundle deals (e.g., half-zip, training jersey, shorts, and socks) which are incredibly popular for club fundraisers or player packs at the start of a new season.
Customer Service and Delivery Times
The true test of a teamwear supplier is what happens when things get complicated. Azzurri is generally well-regarded for its customer service. You are typically assigned a dedicated account manager, which means you aren’t bouncing between different customer service reps explaining your order history repeatedly.
We got quotes for 16 weeks lead times. Azzurri were one of the faster options.
Lead times are an important factor to consider. For fully custom, sublimated gear, you should expect a turnaround time of roughly 4 to 6 weeks from the moment you approve the final artwork and sign off on the order.
While this requires clubs to plan ahead, it is the industry standard for bespoke manufacturing. Crucially, Azzurri is known for hitting their promised delivery dates, which is vital when you are timing the arrival of gear for a cup final or a sponsor launch event.
What would I consider Pros and Cons?
Some of my pro’s
- Exceptional Durability: Sublimated logos and crests never peel or crack.
- GAA Licensed: Fully compliant gear for official fixtures. I love the new Waterford jerseys.
- Dedicated Support: Personalized account management and design assistance.
- Sizing Samples: Takes the risk out of bulk squad orders.
- Competitive Pricing: Excellent value, especially on player leisurewear packs.
These cons are normal so I don’t even consider them deal breakers.
- Lead Times: Custom gear requires a 4-6 week wait, which requires proactive planning from club committees.
- Minimum Order Quantities: Like most custom suppliers, strict minimum order quantities apply to bespoke designs, which can make late additions to the squad slightly trickier to outfit immediately.
Azzurri.ie is a top-tier choice for any club looking to upgrade its identity and provide its players with high-quality, durable gear. They understand the specific demands of Irish grassroots sports and back up their products with solid customer service and robust manufacturing. If you have the time to plan your order a month or two in advance, Azzurri represents a fantastic investment for your club’s future.