If you're ready for the next level of team uniforms, then GK is the brand to take you there. Don't just take our word for it though. Tiffany Garretson is a former cheerleader who has worked in the cheer industry for 14 years, and she's here to tell you about her experience with GK Cheer.
GK: As a former cheerleader, what do you look for in a uniform?
TG: The first thing I look for is ultimate comfort during performances. Long gone are the days of zippers, buttons, and restrictive, uncomfortable fabrics. You don't want to be itchy or have to worry about adjusting your uniform 
while cheering for a game or performing at a competition. That's why GK's innovative 4-way stretch fabrics are so great. They fit like a second skin and are available in so many colors. Next, I look for style. Flexible embellishment options enhance a team's ability to make their uniform unique, without compromising the stretch of fabric. Finally, I look at price. I love that I can design a uniform for any gym or school on any budget. Today's athletes are lucky to have it all when they choose GK - great fabric, color and embellishment choices, style and comfort - all in one uniform.
GK: Social media has exploded in the cheer industry over the last few years. How do you use social media?
TG: To keep up with all of my teams, I use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Since I can't attend every competition, I love seeing the updates and pictures that everyone posts! GK is great about recognizing their athletes on their own social media. With just a few clicks, I can quickly forward information back and forth from my gyms to the factory. It's a very personal experience on both ends.
GK: You mentioned GK's 4-way stretch fabrics. How important is that type of quality in a cheer uniform?
TG: Four-way stretch fabric moves with you. After wearing polyester uniforms for 22 years, it's amazing to have that superior quality in our fabrics! You should feel great after putting on your uniform because when you feel better, you perform better. On the competition floor, you shouldn't have to think about anything but your routine. All of GK's fabric choices provide athletes with amazing comfort and the ability to focus on hitting their skills.
GK: Last year was your first competition season with GK. How excited were you to see your uniforms take the competition floor?
TG: This was such an amazing year with GK! This past Spring, I traveled to as many gyms as possible for fittings and design sessions. It was great to meet all of the coaches and athletes and to attend their competitions throughout the Mid-west. I love watching them perform in their gorgeous GK uniforms! I was also able to make the trip to Worlds and see the amazing designs come to life on the largest stage in All-Star cheerleading! The SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS are so beautiful on the uniforms, but seeing them magnified on stage is absolutely amazing!
GK: GK guarantees the fit of your uniform if you use one of their ‘Try Us On For Size’ samples. How do you help your teams through this process?
TG: Depending on the time frame for ordering, gyms have the choice to either schedule a fitting or receive the GK 'Try Us On For Size' samples at their gym. The sizing samples are great because the gym can keep them for up to two weeks to fit all of their athletes. The fit of GK's uniforms is unlike any other, so using the sizing samples is the best way to find the correct size. The focus is on the fit rather than the actual size. If we are sizing early in the year, each athlete will try on a few different sizes to see how much room they have to grow before competition season begins. By comparing more than one size on the athlete, you can check to see how comfortably they move in each one. One of the most important areas to fit is the shoulders. I always have the athlete lift up their arms to ensure that they have space to tumble or perform another skill while wearing the sizer top and bottom. The athlete, with guidance from the coach or a parent, is then able to choose which size feels the most comfortable. I am always available to the gyms if they are doing the fitting themselves. We can send pictures back and forth to make sure that their athletes are selecting the correct sizes. Thanks to technology, FaceTime can also be utilized during a fitting to answer any questions.
Thank you for your perspective on cheer uniforms, Tiffany. There's definitely a lot to be said about fit and comfort, but appearance and sometimes cost are equally important. You've done a great job explaining how it all works together.
As a coach or gym owner, you can began researching our styles and designs at our Special Order Design Studio. While you're there, remember that the studio has dual purposes. It's a means for special ordering your cheer uniform, and it's also a tool for inspiration. If you have ideas of your own, contact your local Account Manager for further assistance. Your Account Manager and our Customer Service team are great resources for acquiring the 'Try Us On For Size' samples that Tiffany mentioned above.
GK Cheer. The Next Level.