Trademarks & Licensing

Ordering UW-branded products

Why use a UW licensee?

The requirement to use a UW licensee protects the UW in many ways. Each UW licensee has completed an application and met stringent requirements to ensure that UW marks are:

  • used properly and within the UW brand guidelines
  • used on products that align with the integrity and reputation of the university
  • not misleading or inaccurate in representing the UW’s relationship to other entities
  • used on products that are produced in a socially responsible and ethical manner that is consistent with UW’s Licensing Code of Conduct

UW campus licensees

Below is a list of vendors authorized to decorate apparel and products with UW marks. Included under each vendor is their factory selection process. Each campus licensee has the ability to source from suppliers that are small businesses, minority- or woman-owned. This information is provided to help your organization’s DEI efforts. Visit the vendor websites and reach out to them directly—they provide numerous items that can be customized.

Vendor list

4imprint Inc.

4imprint Inc.
Contact: edu@4imprint.com

Factory Selection Process:

The onboarding factory process includes meeting 4imprint expectations of quality service. These are maintained in a list on file with both CLC and the FLA (Fair Labor Association). They require a SMETA 4 Pillar or ERSA (Elevate Responsible Sourcing Assessment) audit for 4imprint Tier 1 factory locations which is reviewed by 4imprint’s corporate social responsibility team. A 4imprint supplier operations or compliance team member must also visit any potential new supplier facility. Any customer requests are welcome in the factory selection process!

Brand|Pride*

Brand|Pride*
Contact: glittertheunicorn@brand-pride.com

Factory Selection Process:

Brand Pride Inc. sources from many factories in the USA that are in compliance with all the national and local laws. If Factories use international sources, credentials are checked relative to child labor etc. and as a precaution, Bangladesh factories are not used as the labor practices relative to child exploitation are not guaranteed. Any customer requests are welcome in the factory selection process!

Complete Office

Complete Office
Contact: uwpromo@complete-office.com

Factory Selection Process:

Complete Office has 38 intermediaries, but are not limited to using only those vendors. Any customer requests are welcome in the factory selection process!

Creative House Branding

Creative House Branding
Contact: Brent@chbranding.com

Factory Selection Process:

Creative House Branding works with reliable suppliers that offer great products, pricing, service, and have shared goals surrounding fair labor and a sustainable future! Any customer requests are welcome in the factory selection process!

Custom Ink

Custom Ink
Contact: licensing@customink.com

Factory Selection Process:
Custom Ink has relationships with domestic suppliers and printers across the country that are active in the production of licensed apparel. We are supported by two women-owned apparel powerhouses: Staton and Printgear. Their exceptional contributions are pivotal in diversifying our offerings.

HALO

HALO
Contact: Rachel.Martin@Halo.com

Factory Selection Process:

With HALO, you can count on excellent value backed by completely reliable execution. We’ll take a deep dive into every project and source ample product solutions based on what means the most to you. We can help you promote your sustainability goals by providing thousands of sustainable products from suppliers who share our collective focus on environmental and human impact. Or procure from our very diverse supplier base including minority-owned, woman-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, LGBTQ+ and small businesses. We’ll source globally to make sure we’re meeting your needs at the price you want on every order!

ID ME College

ID ME College
Contact: info@idmecollege.com

Factory Selection Process:

I.D. ME College has a very in-depth supply chain vetting process that follow their “3-P Initiative” surrounding the products, people, and planet! The compliance officer is a member of the PPAI National Trade Association for product responsibility (PRAG). Their standards required a process that includes a lengthy initial questionnaire, a requirement that each supplier have a full-time compliance officer, the ability to validate via third parties for product quality/safety, social audits and environmental marketing claims. Regular ongoing communication is a requirement that includes in-person visits multiple times during the year. They have a system that allows for filtering by minority owned, veteran owned, woman owned, LGBTQ owned, as well as union made products, B Corp, carbon neutral certification, EcoVadis certification and FLA participating company, so any customer requests are welcome in the factory selection process!

Image Source

Image Source
Contact: jacob@ImageSourceTeam.com

Factory Selection Process:

Image Source selects factories based on client needs, quality, customer satisfaction, and how serious they take Corporate Social Responsibility. Their database allows customers to request many different specific criteria for the factory selection process, so customer requests are encouraged in the factory selection process!

Kotis Design LLC

Kotis Design LLC
Contact: customerservice@kotisdesign.com

Factory Selection Process:

Kotis Design LLC has many factories they select from based on specialty, reliability, accountability, quality, workforce/labor integrity, and cost. Special products are showcased containing factories that carry the following attributes: Minority owned, made in USA, women-owned, and sustainable/eco-friendly. Products can be sourced through various filters, so any customer requests are encouraged in the factory selection process!

PromoShop Inc.**

PromoShop Inc.**
Contact: MMason@promoshopwa.com

Factory Selection Process:

PromoShop is a 100% minority owned business, and the largest minority owned distributor in North America. They are a certified carbon neutral company, and have 20+ years of experience as an authorized UW Licensed campus provider. PromoShop Inc has many factories available to source from, that are proven in quality, performance, delivery, and have signed their agreements to maintain the strictest compliance for the products and services they provide. Any customer requests are welcome in the factory selection process!

University Tees

University Tees
Contact: customerservice@utees.com

Factory Selection Process:
University Tees have 55 factories in their pipeline, which includes blank apparel suppliers, promotional product suppliers, and decorators. Well over 80% of all decoration for University Tees products takes place at their headquarters in Cleveland Ohio.

*Woman-owned and LGBTQ small business—Certified by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

**Minority owned business certified by National Minority Development Council (NMSCD)

What is considered a UW licensed mark?

As unique identifiers, the UW owns and controls its name(s) and other marks, logos, insignias, seal, designs and symbols that are associated with the institution. These include the words Washington, Huskies, Dawgs, University of Washington; UW, UDub, and logos such as the block “W,” the Husky mascot marks, the Husky football helmet and the official UW seal. It also includes University images, University fight song and other music performed by the Husky Marching Band. Any person, business or organization desiring to use University of Washington trademarks in any manner and for any purpose must be licensed to do so.

When are royalties waived on products purchased by a campus department or program?

All uses of trademarks on products are subject to royalties including sales for fundraising projects, sales to individual members of an organization, or if the price of an item is built into a fee (i.e. event registration). To qualify for royalty exemption, a product bearing a UW trademark must be: customized with a UW department, program or event, purchased with University funds, and not resold.

Example graphic of one royalty bearing tote bag with the W logo and a royalties waived tote bag with W logo and department event

To request exemption from royalties, organizations and departments must work with an approved Campus Licensee. The Campus Licensee that you choose will complete the royalty waiver process along with artwork approval. Contact licensing@uw.edu with any questions.