Cliff Keen’s new Design Lab makes uniform customization fast, easy and fun

Photo: Here’s a sneak peak at Cliff Keen’s new Design Lab, which allows for custom colors, logos, names, etc.

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in WIN’s Volume 32 Issue 3, which was printed on Dec. 3, 2025. 

By Tristan Warner 

Any wrestling coach will tell you there is more to the job than meets the eye. The on-the-mat instruction is typically the easiest part, while administrative duties such as weight management forms, monitoring academic progress, travel and scheduling logistics, etc. often backlog any coach’s daily calendar.

With all of the tasks coaches are required to tackle on a daily and yearly basis, designing and ordering team uniforms is just one more element tacked on to the end of the task list.

The same can really be said for any wrestling consumer, whether that be parents, fans, dealers or the wrestlers themselves. Anything that requires designing and customization often takes time—time not everybody has to spare. But don’t fret—help is on the way.

Cliff Keen recently launched the Cliff Keen Design Lab, an easy and intuitive way for coaches to create and order custom gear for their programs.

The new customization process gives customers fast access to the freshest and most striking designs with the capability of matching team colors and uploading team logos. 

Cliff Keen’s Design Lab prides itself on being “beginner-friendly,” as it does not require any sophisticated level of graphic design to be able to check out with a sharp-looking product. Additionally, the Design Lab features premium built-in templates for users to comfortably begin the process.

“We’re excited to introduce the Cliff Keen Design Lab, our brand-new online customizer tool,” Cliff Keen’s creative director Shawn Greco said. “It is built to make creating custom team gear easier and more inspiring than ever.”

With the Design Lab, coaches and dealers can now design custom singlets, warm-ups, headgear and more. The tool lets users explore a variety of templates, choose one that fits their vision, and then personalize it with team colors, logos and athlete names. New product categories are being added every week, so if something isn’t there yet, it will be soon.

“Right now, the platform features custom singlets and select headgear styles, with more products being added every week,” Greco continued. “We’re encouraging coaches and dealers to explore it, build their uniforms and request quotes directly through the site.”

Greco outlined the following steps, which helps convert a seemingly daunting task into an easy, fun and efficient design process. To request a quote, Greco advises coaches to follow these steps:

Build a uniform and request a quote through the Design Lab.

Add any additional design (art) notes or details in the Message field—it’s a great place to start the conversation.

Simply hit the “Get a Quote” button, and someone from CK Customer Service will reach out, usually within 24 hours.

“Once a design looks just right, users can request a quote directly within the Design Lab,” Greco added. “Our team immediately begins preparing their quote and will follow up if we need any additional details.

“For programs looking to go even further (whether that’s custom text effects, camo patterns or unique design elements), we can accommodate all of that after receiving the initial request.”

Cliff Keen notes that custom gear typically has a production time of 4-6 weeks after artwork is approved, illustrating a timely turnaround process.

“Ultimately, the Design Lab is a starting point for creativity—a place where coaches can begin their design journey and bring their team’s look to life with the quality they’ve come to expect from Cliff Keen,” Greco concluded.

Coaches, looking to take the hassle out of uniform customization, dealers and fans alike can start designing today at https://cliffkeen.com/pages/design-lab.

About Cliff Keen

Cliff Keen has been at the center of wrestling for nearly 70 years. Founded by coach Cliff Keen—a University of Michigan wrestling coach and visionary—the company was born from a simple yet groundbreaking idea: wrestlers needed better protection on the mat.

So in 1958, Cliff Keen invented the first ever wrestling headgear. It’s the same essential piece of equipment wrestlers around the world still wear today.

Wrestling is more than a sport—it’s a culture, tradition and mindset. Cliff Keen says they don’t just make gear; they build on a legacy started with one coach’s vision and continues with today’s wrestlers.