Identifying and Authenticating Vintage T-Shirts

Introduction

• Speaker: Ryan Roots, vintage t-shirt seller and collector
• Common questions:
  • How to identify a vintage t-shirt?
  • How to authenticate a vintage t-shirt?

What Makes a T-Shirt Vintage?

• Widely accepted definition:
  • A t-shirt is considered vintage if it is 20 years or older.
  • As of 2022, t-shirts produced in 2002 or earlier are vintage.
• Some consider t-shirts 15 years or older as vintage.

Key Indicators of Vintage T-Shirts

1. Tag

   • First thing to check if present.
   • Vintage t-shirts typically have a physical tag; screen printed tags are rarely vintage.
   • Tags may be missing or cut out.

2. Stitching

   • Single Stitch vs. Double Stitch:
     • Single stitch indicates production in or before the 90s.
     • Double stitch became common in the 2000s; however, some vintage shirts in Europe were made with double stitch.
   • Important to remember that single stitch doesn’t guarantee vintage authenticity, nor does double stitch rule it out.

3. Date Stamp/Copyright Stamp

   • Look for date or copyright stamp on the graphic.
   • Officially licensed vintage shirts usually have this stamp.

4. Natural Fading and Wear

   • Expect flaws such as cracking graphics, fading, pinholes, or loose stitching.
   • True vintage shirts often show signs of distressing.

5. Fit Size

   • T-shirts from the 70s and 80s typically run smaller than modern sizes.
   • Example: An 80s XL may fit like a modern medium or large.

Identifying Authenticity

• Fakes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially from places like Malaysia and Thailand.
• High-value shirts (e.g., bootleg 90s rap tees) are often targeted for counterfeiting.
• General rule:
  • If the shirt is not highly valuable, it is likely to be authentic if it has indicators of vintage.

Tools for Authentication

• Recommended app: Legitimate
  • Allows users to upload shirts for community voting on authenticity.
  • Users can also pay for professional authentication by top vintage experts.
  • Promo code: "rallyroots" for 25% off authentication services.

Examples of Vintage T-Shirts

• Fake Wu-Tang Forever shirt example:
  • Appeared authentic but was verified as fake through Legitimate.

True Vintage T-Shirt Examples

1. Looney Tunes Shirt

   • Year: 1997
   • Tag: Toltec
   • Double stitched

2. Disney Shirt

   • Made in the USA, true vintage tag
   • Lacks date, but still vintage

3. Titanic Tee

   • Year: 1998
   • Tag: Stanley DeSantis
   • Cracking present in graphic

4. Grateful Dead Tee

   • Year: 1994
   • White Liquid Blue tag

5. Biggie Smalls Shirt

   • Bootleg, true vintage but not officially licensed
   • Verified as authentic by Legitimate

6. Who American Tour Shirt

   • Year: 1982
   • Style: Raglan, single stitch

7. Spider-Man Shirt

   • Year: 1997
   • Marvel licensing, single stitch

Conclusion

• Recap of key indicators for identifying and authenticating vintage t-shirts.
• Importance of knowledge and tools available for collectors.