Pro tip: that 'vintage' band tee from the mall probably isn't old at all

I keep seeing people post hauls with those faded, soft t-shirts with old concert dates on them, saying they scored 'real vintage.' I worked at a screen print shop in Austin for two years, and we made hundreds of those exact shirts for a big fast fashion chain. They use a chemical wash and a single-pass print to make them look worn right off the rack. The giveaway is the tag, which is always that same thin, modern polyester blend, and the print feels flat, not cracked from real wear. It matters because you're paying $35 for a shirt that cost maybe $2 to make, thinking it has a story it really doesn't. They're banking on that 'found treasure' feeling to make the price seem okay. Has anyone else found a good way to spot the real deal versus these factory-made 'vintage' pieces?

3 comments

3 Comments

rose_allen6017d ago

Oh, the "found treasure" feeling is exactly what they're selling. My favorite part is when the fake vintage shirt has a tour date for a city the band never even played. Really adds to that authentic story.

charles_baker2817d ago

My buddy bought a shirt like that once. The band broke up before the tour date printed on the sleeve. It's like they're not even trying to get the lie right, just slapping any old thing on there. The whole thing feels like a game of telephone but for making clothes. You pay extra for the wrong info, which is a special kind of funny.

alicer5317d agoMost Upvoted

It's the same trick they pull with those "distressed" jeans that come pre-ripped. The whole market runs on selling a fake backstory now, not just clothes. You see it with furniture labeled "farmhouse chic" that was made last month in a warehouse.