Category: Brands

We rounded up all of the tag date guides created by Defunkd writer Brad S. aka spelloutdye, and put them all in one convenient place. We also recently added in a handful that were created by Nostalgiasaurus, that are welcome additions! If you have one to contribute, please get in touch with us. Click on any of these links to jump to your desired tag: Alstyle – Anvil – Ched – Delta – Fruit of the Loom – Giant – Gildan – Hanes – Jerzees – Oneita – Screen Stars – Signal – Sportswear – Stedman and Hi Cru – ... Read more

From time to time a vintage t-shirt tag is suspected of being a counterfeit, when it actually isn’t. This is a sign of the times – we live in the era of convincing fake tags and none of us want to be fooled twice. Sometimes there are elements to a tag that are inconsistent with other versions and it sets off alarm bells. Other times it’s because the tag is lesser seen and most are unfamiliar with it – so it’s assumed to be fugazi. (After nearly 20 years in this business – I still see vintage t-shirt tags that ... Read more

It wasn’t long ago that you could easily authenticate a vintage tee using just the tag. There was always a chance the counterfeiter had printed on actual vintage blanks, but the majority of brands didn’t have blanks floating around. So when you were examining a t-shirt with a Giant or Wild Oats tag, you almost automatically knew it was legit. Needless to say, authenticating was far easier in the olden days. In the mid-2010s, the real trouble began. Convincing versions of the 80s classics like 3D Emblem and Sneakers, started coming out of Thailand and they were attached to blank ... Read more

Resurreccion is a Mexico-based bootleg t-shirt that was formed in the early 90s. But it’s far more than just a typical bootleg operation given they were determined to create a lasting brand. The designs were original, big, and painstakingly printed. Rather than scouting out dirt cheap blanks, they mostly used ones they smuggled from the United States or bought shirts that didn’t pass the quality control. Resurreccion occupies a unique space in the vintage t-shirt universe, which is obvious given its value in modern times. According to Jesus at @vintagewitchfinder, someone shelled out $3000 for a Dragon Ball Z Resurreccion ... Read more

The man behind the eponymous shirt company Stanley DeSantis was more than a clothing manufacturer. Though best known for his tees with the unmistakable, bold tag showing his name, DeSantis was also a successful businessman and renounced actor starring in many classic films and television series, including Boogie Nights, Candyman, Alf and many others. Being in the entertainment industry, most of DeSantis’ tees featured licensed designs for movies and tv shows — many of which demand high prices on the market today. 1970s As early as the mid-1970s, DeSantis created and sold shirt designs as a student at New York ... Read more