Celebrating Pride and Creativity with Shutesbury Elementary
When Shutesbury Elementary School reached out to us about creating custom merch for their participation in the Franklin County Pride Parade, we immediately knew it would be a project unlike any other. Their Gender and Sexuality Alliance—an inspiring group of 4th–6th graders—wanted a way to celebrate Pride that felt both personal and meaningful.
Rather than simply ordering pre-designed items, their idea was creative: custom bucket and baseball hats featuring a student-designed Pride logo. But what made it truly special was their plan to embroider the logo in a way that allowed every student to personalize their hat. By stitching the rainbow in white thread, each student could color it in themselves with fabric markers, turning their hat into a one-of-a-kind creation.
This approach made the project so much more than just a merch order—it became an experience. Students weren’t just receiving hats; they were involved in bringing their own designs to life. In the weeks before the parade, classrooms were filled with laughter, teamwork, and creativity as the students gathered to decorate their hats. Each one was different: some bold and bright, others soft and subtle, but all proudly representing their individuality and their collective support for Pride.
When photos of the hat-decorating sessions arrived in our inbox, we couldn’t help but smile. There’s something powerful about seeing kids collaborate on a project that’s both fun and deeply meaningful. These weren’t just art activities—they were moments of connection. Students were sharing markers, trading ideas, encouraging each other, and watching their work transform into something they’d soon wear proudly in front of their whole community.
By the time the Franklin County Pride Parade arrived, the Shutesbury Elementary group was ready. They marched together in their hand-decorated hats, each one vibrant and unique, yet tied together by the same embroidered design. Seeing their finished creations in action was a reminder of what community looks like when it’s rooted in inclusion and joy: young students proudly celebrating who they are and supporting one another in a space where they could be seen and celebrated.
For us at Soundscape, this project perfectly illustrates why custom merch can be so much more than apparel.
Izzy, a Shutesbury Elementary student, wearing a decorated Pride bucket hat. The hat features the embroidered rainbow logo, colored in with bright markers, showcasing creativity and individuality from the project.
It’s about creating something that people feel connected to—something they had a hand in making, something that carries a story and builds a sense of pride (in every sense of the word). It’s about transforming a simple hat into a memory, a shared experience, and a symbol of belonging.
Shutesbury Elementary’s Pride hats are a perfect example of how creativity and community can come together. It wasn’t just about showing up to a parade—it was about giving students ownership of their celebration, making them part of the process, and reminding them that their voices matter.
We’re incredibly proud to have been part of this project. Working with schools and organizations on initiatives like this reminds us that merch isn’t just merch—it’s an opportunity to connect, to celebrate, and to empower. Seeing those students’ smiles and their colorful creations reminded us why we do what we do.
✨ Here’s to Shutesbury Elementary, to their incredible students, and to the power of community-driven creativity. When people come together around a shared vision, even something as simple as a hat can tell a much bigger story. ✨
Have an idea for a community project like this? Let’s make it happen together.
