[ShowBizKids]

Hi everyone, I am totally new to this forum and stumbled across it as I was trying to research where to source good quality T shirts. I am kind of overwhelmed just how much information is out there regarding T shirt printing/designing and how many different companies there are with which to buy shirts from. I have always been really interested in T shirts and buy quite a few. However I have become more and more particular as to what kind of T shirt I like to wear and in more recent times I have placed even more emphasis on how it fits, and how it wears over time. Most T shirts I buy I do not wear 2 months after I buy them. Some I don't even wear 2 weeks after I buy them. The main reason is not that I get bored of the image or graphic (although sometimes this does happen in the case of an "impulse purchase") but that I just don't like how it fits.

I feel that it is difficult to find good fitted T shirts without paying a high price for something pre worn in a vintage store, or something from a high end brand like All Saints or Marc Jacob. How ever I think most will agree that these brands are very over priced and not everybody is willing to pay over $50 for a T shirt. I find that all the big retailers like Urban Outfitters, H&M, Top Shop, and American Apparel for the most part do not offer quality fit T shirts. Even the likes of AA who are far more associated with quality and good fit than the others I mentioned fail to provide what I am looking for.

I might be way too fussy about what I like but I feel that AA shirts are too tight around the neck, too tight on the upper chest and shrink too easily. I don't know what exactly I am looking for but I just know how I like my T shirts to fit and would like to experiment with the idea of trying to make some of my own that meet these criteria. First of all, I want very soft fabric which is slim fit yet loose and hangs off you rather than sits on you. Haha I'm sure that doesn't make any sense but basically I am referring to a loose fit T shirt that you hardly notice your wearing. I realize that this feeling mostly comes with wear and after it has been washed 20 or so times. But this is something I want to experiment with. For example I find the best fitted T shirts available in stores are the likes of All Saints which have been pre washed to give them that soft texture.

What I also love in a T shirt is a lose neck, and I feel shirts I buy have way too tight a neck and I have to pull and stretch it. I am a very slim person too so I do not need more room that anybody else but it is just how I like my shirts. A good example is H&M T shirts. While they usually are lacking in quality, they do have a nice neck cut and hang nicely around they upper shoulders. My other main requirement in a T shirt is that the sleeves are nice and short but not too short. Again H&M tend to be a nice length here but in my experience Topshop cut their sleeves too short and they become tight when you raise your arms.

So I am looking to find shirts that meet some of the criteria I have outlined above. I want to experiment with pre washing and wearing and basically trying to make shirts which have a vintage feel and are more comfortable than wearing a brand new shirt. I also want to explore printing methods and techniques but I will not be happy moving on to this stage until I can determine whether or not I can actually make the type of fitted shirts I like to wear myself. I appreciate any advice or tips anybody may have.

Many thanks!!

 

[michellefanfan]

After read your story, i think to custom made the t-shirt would be the best choice, provide a sample for anyone who can do custom work and ask them to custom the fit as per your sample. For your own daily wear, stick to H&M, I had a chance to wear a AA2001 t-shirt, but the quality is bad, shrink much, and rib neck run out of shape after several time wash--before that, i thought AA is a top quality t-shirt with high standard quality tees, now i changed my mind.

-bill

 

[iconracr]

I really like Alstyle. LaT is my next fav.

 

[DivineBling]

I use Next Level and Bella/Canvas more than anything. I actually don't care for the way the ladies' AA shirts fit. I like their unisex shirts and their thermals, but not the ladies' tees.

 

[ShowBizKids]

Thanks for replies. So would having shirts custom made by someone who is capable of tailoring to a specific fit be expensive over all? I want to first get shirts that fit how I like and then I want to experiment with making them sort of worn looking. I guess the best example is T shirts from Allsaints. These use 100% super lightweight cotton loose knit single jersey. They are then re-washed to give a vintage feel & look. While I can't really justify their high price and do not like some of their designs, I think these are the best fitted T shirts I have seen in large name stores. The are similar to the H&M shirts but definitely a few steps up in quality. Mind you my favorite T shirt is a H&M one I bought about 7 months ago and has aged really well and is very vintage looking and fits really well. However it has belt holes everywhere and has worn so thin you can actually see through it in some lights.


Here is an example of what I am after.
http://www.us.allsaints.com/men/gra...t-sleeved-cut-colla/?colour=2270&category=463

 

[DivineBling]

It can be expensive in the sense that they usually have a minimum. I've inquired about a certain style sweatshirt with several companies and they want me to order at least 400.

 

[ShowBizKids]

I was kind of hoping rather than use a company where I need to order a large quantity of shirts, I could source an individual producer. What I am basically trying to do is to make a few prototype shirts and it is for my own experimental purposes rather than intending to start a business. I have design ideas also but more important is how the shirts look and fit and how comfortable they are.

 

[jinky11]

I know this is all rather untimely, but i have a small t-shirt business on ebay: iconic-graphic-t-shirts on eBay

and i am going to branch out into a website on www.cocaineclothing.com

I searched hi-and-low for all saints blanks and i think i found them. They are the blanks of the tee's i sell.

I would be happy to send some samples in the post before wholesale. Drop me a mail. They do have a small black weave on the shoulder. They are available in multiple colors. If you want more images drop me a msg.