Welcome to the official resource page for the ALA 21 Ribbon Group Order, run by the Ribbon Station! This page has everything you need to know, from timelines and pricing to artwork requirements and frequently asked questions.
Before submitting your order, please read through the entire page so you’re fully prepared. It’ll save us both a lot of back-and-forth!
What Are Convention Ribbons?
Convention ribbons are collectible fabric strips that attach to your attendee badge. At Anime Los Angeles, ribbons are a fun, social scavenger hunt and a beloved part of our convention’s culture. Attendees exchange, trade, and earn ribbons all weekend long!
Key Dates
- Design Deadline: Saturday, November 8, 2025
- Payment Deadline: Sunday, November 9, 2025
- Estimated Ribbon Arrival: Early to Mid-December
If payment isn’t received by the deadline, your order will not be included.
If you miss our deadline, there may still be time for other options if you act quickly enough.
The ALA 21 Ribbon Group Order has officially closed! You can order Full Color Ribbons through the Ribbon Station via the button below!
Please don’t submit the form until you’ve read through this full guide and confirmed you have everything needed!
You’ll need:
- Your Ribbon Design
- Number of Ribbons (Quantity)
- Ribbon Color
- Foil Color
[View the available color options here]
Submit one form per ribbon design you want to order. If you want one ribbon design, submit the form once. If you want 5 different ribbon designs, submit 5 different forms with 5 different sets of information..
After submission, you’ll receive an invoice via Square to review and pay. This is done manually by volunteers, so this may take some time
Pricing Summary
This group order is for Marco Promos horizontal ribbons only, specifically:
- Size: 4” wide x 1 ⅝” tall
- Colors: One ribbon color & one foil color only
This order does not cover:
- Other ribbon sizes
- Multiple foil colors
- Full-color ribbons
If you’re interested in full-color ribbons, check out our Full-Color Custom Ribbon service closer to the event!
Group Order Rates
All pricing includes a built-in management fee, which covers:
- Vendor coordination
- Design review & final product QA
- Bulk shipping to ALA HQ
- On-site pickup during the convention
Additional:
- Tax added at time of invoicing: California (91344) 9.5%
- (Optional) Design Help: $10 per design
- Includes:1 mockup + 1 revision
Ordering On Your Own (For Comparison)
If ordering on your own, you can expect to pay an additional $15–$30 per design, depending on vendor price fluctuations at that time.
Payment & Invoices
After submitting your form, you’ll receive an invoice via Square from Anime Los Angeles. You can pay online, and a receipt will be emailed to you.
- If you submit the form early, please be patient! Volunteers check submissions less frequently before the deadline rush.
- Keep an eye on your inbox and watch for your invoice.
- Even if it takes a few days or weeks to receive, you are responsible for paying it by November 1st to be included.
- You’ll receive a digital receipt via email.
Design Requirements
All designs must follow vendor specifications for hot-foil stamping. The final artwork is embossed into the ribbon, so it needs to be bold, clear, and simple.
File Format:
- Ratio: 4:1
- Colors: Black & white only (vector ideal)
- Format: PNG or .AI
- Resolution: 300 dpi or higher
Important Design Tips
Remember, ribbons are only 1⅝” tall by 4” wide, but your actual design area is just 0.9” x 3.4”
If you want to include images, logos, or characters, keep them bold, simple, and high contrast. These are hot-foil ribbons, not printed like a photo. That means:
- No gradients, tiny details, or soft edges
- No fine lines or ultra-thin fonts
- Use thick, crisp lines for best results
If lines in your design are too close together, they may:
- Melt together during embossing
- Fail to transfer at all
- Be too small to see clearly on the final ribbon
Custom Design Help
Need help making your ribbon design? I offer basic design assistance for just $10 per ribbon. This includes:
- Font and layout suggestions
- One mockup + 1 revision
[See past ribbon designs I’ve helped with]
To get started, you’ll need to provide some basic details about your design. Whether it’s a simple text ribbon or a more complex design, the information below will help guide the process:
- Description of Desired Design: This can be as simple as “logo + text,” or you can provide a rough sketch (even on a sticky note!) for us to recreate.
- Graphic/Logo: Any image you want included on your ribbon
- Text/Quote: Any words you want written on the ribbon
- Font: You can browse sites like DaFont or 1001 Free Fonts and send me a direct link to your preferred font.
- Ribbon Color: Use the Marco Promos Color Guide.
- Foil Color: Choose from the Marco Promos Color Guide.
Please note:
- I won’t provide a mockup until payment is received
- I reserve the right to decline any design I’m uncomfortable with
- Vendor restrictions prohibit nudity or profanity (censored designs only)
FAQ
Q: What even is a ribbon order? Do I need to be part of a group to make one?
A ribbon order is when you design and print custom badge ribbons to give out at the con. This group order is just one way to do it. It’s designed to make the process easier and more affordable by batching everything together. You don’t need to be part of a club or official group to join—anyone attending ALA can participate!
Q: What kind of things do people put on ribbons?
Anything from fandom quotes and memes to art, usernames, event names, character jokes, or even in-jokes between friends. Just make sure your design fits the format and doesn’t include profanity or nudity (vendor rules).
Q: Is it possible to have my ribbons shipped to me before the convention?
No, unfortunately, this is not something we’re set up to offer at this time. All ribbons will be available for pickup at the Ribbon Station during the convention.
Q: I’m new. Is this process trustworthy?
Absolutely. I (Kim) have run bulk orders for 10+ years and am the Division Head of Ribbons & Official Merchandise at Anime Los Angeles. All payments and communication for the group order go through official ALA systems.
Q: I’m a vendor/artist. Should I have ribbons?
It’s not a requirement, but definitely encouraged! Offering exclusive ribbons is a great way to stand out and draw attendees to your booth. Many vendors and artists use ribbons to:
- Reward purchases (e.g., “Free ribbon with $10+ purchase”)
- Promote new merch or branding
- Encourage ribbon trading
Q: Can I order fewer than 100 ribbons?
Not through this group order. The minimum for inclusion is 100 ribbons per design to get the group rates.
Q: I submitted my form a week ago. Why haven’t I received an invoice yet?
If you submit early, there may be a short delay in processing as we prioritize high-volume periods closer to the deadline. Don’t worry, you’ll get your invoice in time.
Q: What if I don’t know my exact design yet? Can I still claim a spot in the order?
No. Submitting the form is how you join, and your design file is required. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out early for guidance.
Q: Can I make edits after I submit my form?
Small corrections are okay, but major design changes may require resubmitting. Contact me as soon as possible if you need to revise something.
Q: Can I submit a photo or anime screenshot?
Not for this order. Photos and screenshots are too detailed for foil-stamping and would require full-color digital printing, which is not part of this group. Keep it bold and simple.
Q: Can I pay with cash or Venmo?
No. All payments go through Anime Los Angeles’ official Square invoicing system for transparency and accounting.
Q: I want to reorder a design I made last year. What do I need to provide?
If you ordered through me (or even if you didn’t), as long as your ribbon was produced through Marco Promos, I can usually pull the design, but I need specific info.
If you’ve ordered the same design more than once:
- Look up the “H1-######” SKU (this is in the left-hand column of your Marco Promos Sales Order). Send me that number along with the Ribbon Title.
If you’ve only ordered the ribbon once, your design will show up as “H1-CUSTOM”, which is not specific enough. In this case, I’ll need:
- The Sales Order Number
- The Ribbon Title
Please double-check your vendor emails or account before submitting your form. Providing accurate info helps avoid delays or errors in reprinting since existing designs are not shown in Marco’s Art Proof!
Questions?
Email: ribbonstation@animelosangeles.org
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/9BTFR4H9
Facebook Group: Anime L.A. Ribbon Order
