Category: How To

The tag is one of your best allies in the vintage t-shirt authentication arena. It’s a stronger authenticity signal than single-stitching and a copyright combined, but authentication via the tag should always be done in conjunction with an analysis of the print. We’ll explain why below. Sewn-in Tags We have seen counterfeiters attempting to pass of t-shirts with genuine vintage tags installed from other shirts. It is, however, not very common – because it’s tough to do, seamlessly, pun intended. In most of the instances, I’ve seen it was super obvious – the seams are off – the tag is ... Read more

Dry rot continues to tear the vintage t-shirt community apart. While some people claim they’ve found a cure, we’ve been busy in the Defunkd labs trying to detect and prevent dry rot. This latest experiment was inspired by our colleague, Dereke from @waxandthreadsvintage. The man should be given a Nobel Prize for his non-invasive way to test a t-shirt for dry rot. More importantly, though, his process enables us to detect if a deadstock t-shirt’s pH levels are headed in the wrong direction can potentially save a t-shirt destined to become dust in the wind. But part of Dereke’s body ... Read more

Copyright lines, that tiny text that often appears near the edge of the print on a t-shirt, is another tool in your vintage t-shirt authentication toolbox. But just like single-stitching, it comes with plenty of exceptions that make it unreliable as a stand-alone signal of age and authenticity. Does the copyright date indicate when the t-shirt was printed? It can, but the copyright date you see on your t-shirt is the date the copyright on the design was completed or registered. Which is not necessarily the date the shirt was printed. There are no requirements to update a copyright every ... Read more

Every t-shirt collector has at least one tee they consider a holy grail. Perhaps it’s worth a small fortune, or maybe the sentimental value is through the roof. Whatever the case may be, that poor shirt will likely spend eternity locked away in a vault. But what if I told you there was a way to proudly, and safely, display it on your wall? We did a little digging and found the best t-shirt frame that uses scientifically backed protective materials. Enter: SHART. (Short for shirt/art. I think. I hope. But you certainly won’t ever forget the name.) SHART offers ... Read more

Perhaps you’ve packed on a few pandemic pounds? Or maybe you want to restore your beloved tee to its pre-dryer heydays? If you need a few more inches of breathing room inside your favorite t-shirt, our pal Josh from @invtgwetrust has you covered. The last time we caught up with Josh he dished the deets on removing stains (and pit stains!) from white t-shirts. This time the GOAT of garment care drops some knowledge on his trusted t-shirt stretching technique. The Ingredients 100% Cotton T-Shirt Measuring Tape Bucket Towel Hair Conditioner Table Salt The Process Measure the t-shirt. Fill your ... Read more