A BAND TEE OBSESSION

Falling in love with metal/rock/alternative music in my teens is a time I reference & refer back to often, as it so deeply shaped my life and the person I am today. With this profound deep love came a desire to show to the world my obsession with it – the feeling that the most incredible secret had been kept from me was real, and not only did I hope to meet others in on it, but encourage others to discover.

Band t-shirts were a way of doing this.

So often such bold graphics connected with the artists I was listening to (and still listen to) made these t-shirts feel like works of art, as well as suits of armour.

I have amassed a little collection of vintage band t-shirts that feel like treasure to me. A few from my teenage years, and the rest over the last 10 years or so. I tend not to use the word ‘collect’ as it doesn’t feel the most fitting, making it feel they are locked away and never worn…I’m a believer in wearing them.

These items are often at a high price – depending on obvious factors such as rarity, artist popularity, condition etc. I tend to find mine on Etsy, eBay, by following certain curators, and every now & then I just ‘stumble’ upon one (e.g. whilst in Los Angeles recently).

As much as I adore having the vintage item, I also love a modern printed tee ‘done in the right way’ so to speak, and with the escalating price of vintage (even in the last six or so years since I bought a few of mine, the price increases are W-I-L-D) vintage – put simply – is just not always an option for many.

Below you’ll find a combination of a few curated vintage finds, as well as modern pieces I have found to have that soft, vintage-esque feel & drape. Enjoy.

MODERN FINDS:

VINTAGE TREATS: