Image via Complex Original
Summer is in full effect and there should be no shortage of T-shirts in your wardrobe. However, you don't want to ruin your reputation by wearing a lame tee to a cool party. With every refresh of your Instagram or Tumblr, you'll see amateur T-shirt "designers" and unfunny parody tees. It's levels to this shit and not all tees are created equal. We found new favorites that should warrant your attention. From handmade designer T-shirts to dope graphic tees from new streetwear brands, these are the ones that deserve to be bought. Here are Awesome T-Shirt Brands You Need To Know.
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Rooted in minimalist and clean graphic design, French brand Masion Labiche's latest collection HANDS is inspired by the non-verbal commucation aspect of using your, well, hands. Super boutique Storm has the full run of tees and a few sweatshirts as well.
Bloodbath's name is based upon the idea that blood means life, and that bath means cleanliness. Designing around those two words results in a line of tees that are minimal, but pack a lot of punch. The graphics are eye catching enough to get your attention. Check out our favorite; the snakeskin box logo T-shirt.
Savannah, Georgia may not be at the top of your list of the most fashionable cities, but you may want to put it on your map now that Shrimp Sauce is there. This high quality streetwear brand has some dope graphic tees, and sticks to black and white garments for their own take of what they call southern gothic.
Founded in 2012, BLK MKT (a notable store located in Arlington, Texas) created its own in-house line. You couldn't click on on a Tumblr or Instagram page and not see BLK MKT's goods on a feed. Its inspirations vary from avant garde fashion to workwear, and the combination makes for some of the most awesome T-shirts and clothing you can buy right now.
French brand Hype Means nothing launched back in 2010 with its collection of celebrity T-shirts featuring iconic photos. It has a tee of all your favorite celebrities and these shirts sell out instantly, becoming collector's items. The next time the label has a release, make sure to cop it fast because if the business is any reflection, hype means everything.
San Francisco based New Jack City does a great job of not only sourcing and providing awesome vintage goods, but designing its own line of sweatshirts, hats and T-shirts. With subtle digs and plays off of iconic characters, brands, and celebrities, the label has quickly become one of the top brands on Karmaloop.
Arka in Armenian means king of kings, and the creative minds behind Arka are just that in the T-shirt world. The designers create and design tees that are graphically striking and thought provoking, while reflecting their world influence and inspirations.
Rum & Koke
Designer Hayley Basuke believes strongly in the balance of dichotomies. Just take a look at her line of T-shirts, Rum & Coke. One of the brand's most popular tees features singer Aaliyah on the front and her name in a jersey style on the back. Aaliyah was known for her beauty, but also for her tomboy style which is the embodiment of Hayley's aesthetic.
Embracing the humor in things that are usually categorized as dark is what founder and designer of Actual Pain, TJ Cowgill, does well. He's not afraid to show his fondness of the Occult (not to be confused with Satanism). The T-shirts and sweatshirts all feature eye-catching designs that play off people's fears of what they think are dark, but are often times the exact opposite of that.
Aloye is the product from a collective of designers with backgrounds that range from interactive media and web development to graphic design and the motion picture industry. The designers have created a line of tees that advance the way we see color-blocking—not only in the traditional sense, but by using patterns like polka dots and plaid in the place of solids.
Hand printing shirts is no easy process, and often, imperfections can be the downfall of any intricate process. However, founder and designer of Sangue, Angelo Milano embraces that aspect. His philosophy is that the garments are meant to not be perfect. One look at these T-shirts you'll notice that these tees are on some next-level shit.
Club 75 is made up of three creative legends: Pedro "Busy P" Winters (dance legend, DJ, and founder of Ed Banger Records), Michael Dupouy (founder of L.A. MJC creative agency, and publisher for streetwear bible All Gone), and Bertrand Langeron (aka So-Me of Ed Banger records who designs all of the graphics for Club 75). Stores like Colette in Paris have been long time supporters of the brand, so we look forward to seeing the T-shirts stateside as people catch on to the awesome label.
Jiberish got its start in the snow/sport world and became popular off its first line of boldly-designed sweatshirts. The team at Jiberish was able to expand the company to a full collection which now includes a few outerwear pieces and some of the coolest tees out there. Props to the brand's graphic designer because the T-shirts are truly unique.
Another young upstart, Kobi Mclemore turned his love for clothes into a business. He started Death Precision by chance and it took a quick turn towards success. The line consists of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets, including the Amy Winehouse tee that you can cop right now.
Dertbag has co-signs from Tyler, the Creator, Cam'ron, and Hypebeast—not too shabby for 18-year-old founder Phil Post. He sits at the top of the T-shirt game with unique designs which has gained him a cult following in the streetwear world and menswear forums alike.
