Blog posts
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, by Charlie Frost Top 10 Streetwear Brands for Graphic Tees in 2025
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, by Charlie Frost Behind the Design: How We Create Our Graphic Tees
Behind the Design: How We Create Our Graphic Tees
- , by Charlie Frost
- 4 min reading time
At first glance, a graphic tee is just a T-shirt with a print. But for us, it's the loudest expression of what our brand stands for — attitude, storytelling, and culture stitched into heavyweight cotton. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into creating one of our designs, here’s a full breakdown of how we bring our graphic tees to life.
1. It Starts with a Story — Not Just a Cool Image
Every tee begins with a concept, not a trend. Whether it’s motorsport culture, UK subcultures, or nostalgic references, we build each collection around a theme that actually means something. That story drives everything — the artwork, colour palette, even the fit.
If it doesn’t say something, we don’t print it.
2. Moodboarding: Pulling in References from Everywhere
Once we’ve got the theme, we build a moodboard. This includes:
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Vintage album covers, zines, rave flyers
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Old car manuals or Japanese street racing culture (for Motor Club, for example)
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Film stills, protest posters, bootleg merch
We’re not just grabbing trendy Pinterest shots — we’re pulling raw, obscure visuals that shape a unique aesthetic.
3. Sketching & Digital Drafts
Our design team takes the moodboard and starts sketching rough concepts. We work both on paper and digitally, experimenting with:
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Layouts and negative space
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Text vs image balance
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Graphic placement (chest, back, wrap-around, etc.)
We’ll often go through 5-10 variations per design before landing on the final direction.
4. Testing Print Styles
Once the graphic is locked in, we test different printing methods depending on the vibe we want:
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Screen printing for bold, durable colours
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DTG (Direct to Garment) for detailed and complex graphics
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Puff print or raised ink for added texture
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Cracked/washed effects for a worn-in, vintage feel
It’s not just what it looks like — it’s how it feels when you wear it.
5. Pairing It with the Right Blank
We design all our graphics to work with our custom-cut, boxy-fit blanks. Our tees are heavyweight (240-260 GSM), slightly cropped, and wide-fitting — because the fit amplifies the graphic. A loud print on a slim tee just doesn’t hit the same.
6. Sampling & Refining
We don’t just print and hope for the best. Every design goes through sampling:
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We test the colour under natural and studio lighting
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Check how the print sits on the fabric after washing
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Tweak placement by centimetres until it’s perfect
If it doesn’t wear well, we scrap it — even if it looks good flat.
7. Final Touches: Labels, Packaging, and the Drop
Once approved, we go into production. But even the final version isn’t just about the tee — it’s about how you receive it. That includes:
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Custom woven neck labels
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Branded swing tags
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Eco-friendly packaging that still feels premium
We drop our collections in limited runs, so once they’re gone — they’re gone.
Why It Matters
Our graphic tees aren’t fast fashion. They’re built with purpose, printed with precision, and designed to last. From the first spark of an idea to the moment it lands in your hands, every tee tells a story — and you become part of it when you wear it.
Want to see more behind-the-scenes content or previews of unreleased designs? Join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram for early access and exclusive drops.