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Rodney · August 21st, 2006

So I was out most of yesterday at the local mall. We went to get some new eyeglasses for my wife, but the hour long wait at LensCrafters turned into about 3 hours.

I figured, might as well take this time to do some "work"/research

So I parked my butt on a bench, and watched a pretty diverse cross-section of American public walk by (as I tried to keep my two toddlers wrangled). This was a big mall in Sacramento, CA.

It was interesting seeing the different t-shirt "markets" respresents. The slogan (words on a t-shirt) wearers, the brand wearers (rocawear, enyce, fox racing, quicksilver, volcom), the tall tee wearers, the band t-shirt wearers, the fashion/artistic t-shirt wearers.

I think I may have seen every t-shirt type represented there. I was taking a mental tally of which was more prevelent, and if I'm being honest with myself, I'd have to say that the fashion/stylistic/artistic/off center t-shirt designs were the winner.

A few things I found interesting in my "research":

A lot of the tall, urban t-shirt wearers preferred blank t-shirts. Most of the time layered with a white t-shirt underneath.
The "fashion/artistic/tribal" style designs were crossing into other markets.

That is to say, the urban/brand clothing lines were varying up their logo/brand by changing the print location, using "tribal"/floral type artwork to display their name. Even the slogan t-shirts had some varied print locations.
I was surprised how many people wear "brand" names (and rhinestones). Like there were a lot of women wearing "bebe" rhinestone t-shirts, lots of shirts with just quicksilver or rocawear on it in a stylized font.
And the biggest note: the t-shirt market seems to be GROWING! The outside of the GAP store had signs all the way around it saying "the Gap T-Shirt Shop", focusing their marketing on selling different t-shirt designs. Almost every clothing related store made that their focus.

I ended up buying 2 "life is good" t-shirts from the Discovery store. $20 each, nice stonewashed garment, good sizing, and simple iconic designs with a neat message.

What are you seeing out there in your t-shirt "research"?

T-BOT · August 21st, 2006

Rodney, this is something magical i tell you.

I too was thinking about starting a thread here all about whats up at the mall ?
I mean, with the Holiday season around the corner, this is a great topic.

serious.

as for whats hot at the mall ? im hoping others post stuff cause im out in RR Land, nothing but leafs turning gold around here.

zagadka · August 21st, 2006

don't you love people watching? you can learn so much...

BelHeirClothing · August 21st, 2006

so true... gotta go heading to the MALL hahaha

chris24net · August 21st, 2006

The Life is Good story gives hope to all us t-shirt dreamers.

Jasonda · August 21st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney


	What are you seeing out there in your t-shirt "research"?

Lots and lots of people (mostly women) wearing shirts that are WAY too small for them. What's the deal with that?

Sorry.. not really on topic. But honestly, just now when I tried to think of what kind of t-shirts I've seen lately, that came to mind first.

That and tourists wearing shirts with nonsensical english phrases on them - always entertaining!

Solmu · August 21st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	Lots and lots of people (mostly women) wearing shirts that are WAY too small for them. What's the deal with that?

AA told us that 80% of women are a medium... and people believed it

peacegod · August 22nd, 2006

Speaking on the Urban Shirt Market ... a new unexpected compatitor is making there presents felt ..

In the Hood , Arab guys own almost every corner liquer store around , and now they are opening up clothing stores right next door to the liquor store , selling heat pressed shirts , and knock off name brand stuff that they produce themselves or get from east coast. Im seeing them pop up every where in the bay area .. ..

binki · August 22nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonda


	Lots and lots of people (mostly women) wearing shirts that are WAY too small for them. What's the deal with that?

They call them "sausage casing girls" here.

T-BOT · August 22nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney


	And the biggest note: the t-shirt market seems to be GROWING! The outside of the GAP store had signs all the way around it saying "the Gap T-Shirt Shop", focusing their marketing on selling different t-shirt designs.

Rodney, can you tell us what type designs the Gap was selling ?

yep, Women are extremely sensitive to size lables.

Comin'OutSwingin · August 22nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney


	I was surprised how many people wear "brand" names (and rhinestones). Like there were a lot of women wearing "bebe" rhinestone t-shirts, lots of shirts with just quicksilver or rocawear on it in a stylized font.

This never ceases to amaze me!

I have always wondered why people thought that this was cool, but now I'm glad that they do.

This is the very thing that inspired me to do what I'm doing with my clothing line. Some of my stuff has a message, but some of it (I'm almost too ashamed to even admit it

) is exactly what Rodney was surprised about: "CONQUER" and my tag line in some stylized font.

I figured if that's what the people in my market want, I shall give them plenty of it!

The Life is Good shirts definitely give inspiration. That's the kind of stuff that keeps me going.

MotoskinGraphix · August 22nd, 2006

A day at the mall people watching is like a day at the beach...so enlightening but sometimes frightening as well. Even those urban cut super long tees are being sold at Walmart. Has anyone developed a specially fitted baseball cap that you can wear properly cocked and skewed sideways?

T-BOT · August 22nd, 2006

Greg, that is one tough market to crack. You are a brave guy and your dedication will see you thru... I can understand why "sales reps" are so important to you.

Comin'OutSwingin · August 22nd, 2006

Well, thank you, Lucy!

It is very competitive, but I think that's where having a niche comes in.

Hopefully, those that buy my kind of products think that it is stylish, but also like the positive message (my niche) that is integrated with the urban wear.

You can learn a lot by people watching (sounds like a "Badalouism"!) and can get great business ideas that way (ok, now I'm sure it's a "Badalouism". Just not sure what number!)

My 2 boys play a lot of sports. Just going to some tournaments, I see how into the sports some of the kids are, and especially the parents. They have all sorts of t-shirts with sayings about their sports. So I've decided to print up a few and sell them to kids and parents on my boys' teams. I'm even thinking of building some kind of site dedicated to it. All thanks to a little people watching.

MotoskinGraphix · August 22nd, 2006

I have a couple friends that coach youth soccer teams. They usually buy team t-shirts so the kids can wear em around at school. Are we teaching kids branding at such an early age?

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t-shirt spotting: a day watching t-shirt trends at a local mall