Time to Retire that "Vote for Pedro" Shirt. No, Really.
There is nothing quite like finding the perfect t-shirt. The t-shirt that speaks to you on a deeper level, that makes you smile, makes you laugh, or just shows off the results of your time in the gym. There's also the self-branding involved with wearing a shirt of your favorite band, team, university, or witty phrase. Here at Seattlest, we understand the plight of the male in search for the right shirt, and we're here to help. Below is our guide to finding your own cotton/poly blend here in town. (Ladies, we think you're fine just the way you are, and since you can't throw a rock without hitting a boutique in this town, you'll have to take consolation in the fact that most of these stores cater to the fairer sex as well).
If you notice that we missed something, let us know in the comments.
B-Bam (907 E Pike St., 206-329-0499) - If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. B-Bam provides the facilities and know-how, and you provide either the design or the idea. From simple text to full-color, B-Bam can do it, and the staff is nice and helpful. Even the one-off shirts are reasonably priced, so you can be as esoteric or self-indulgent as you want.
Blackbird - (5410 22nd Ave NW, 206-547-2524) - Blackbird was a great store before they moved from Fremont to Ballard. Now that the move is complete, they've added even more to their already incredibly impressive lineup. They have a lot more than t-shirts, but the ones they do have are some of the best you'll find around. Hand-printings, soft fabrics, and oh-so wonderful designs have this store setting an extremely high bar for other Seattle stores to match.
Black Chandelier (705-B E. Pike St., 206-325-5725) - This store is very dedicated to the ladies, but there's some guy stuff in the mix as well. Most of the gear here is a bit overdone for Seattlest's tastes, but that's more of a personal decision. If you're a really big fan of gold and silver foil on your t-shirts, this is a required destination for you.
Capitol 1524 (1524 E. Olive Way, 206-322-2305) - Yes, this is a shoe store. That said, along the back wall they have some very choice t-shirts, most from Nike's limited edition line. There are always a few other designs mixed in as well (including the store's own), but the fact that you can't find these designs anywhere else makes this worthy of attention. Might as well get something to match those limited edition Air Force Ones.
Ebbets (404 Occidental Ave. S) - If you're into sports and want something different, then Ebbets is the place for you. Their selection of quality reproductions of old jerseys and jackets is their primary business, but they also have t-shirts sporting old team logos on them as well to fill your retro niche. You just have to decide which defunct team you want to support, the Brooklyn Tip-tops or the Cienfuegos Elefantes (Seattlest admits to being partial to the Atlanta Crackers, but we're just like that).
enexile (611 N 35th St., 206-633-5771) - The bulk of this store is dedicated to women's wear, the home, and more dressy attire (Ben Sherman has buttons, so that's dressy), but there is a selection of t-shirts to be had as well. There are few real surprises, but the variety of Gama-Go, Itsus, BC Ethic, and locally-designed shirts is one that can't be found elsewhere.
Goods (1112 E. Pike St., 206-622-0459) - One of the best places to go for exclusive t-shirts, Goods takes a designer-based approach. For many of their lines they are the sole Seattle distributor and the print runs are small, so chances are you won't see anyone else sporting the same shirt. Most of their shirts fit the Vice-reading, skater aesthetic, but it's always worthy of a quick look regardless.
I Heart Rummage (@ The Crocodile monthly) - Rummage is a tee-lover's paradise. Sure most of the wares are of the craft-y variety, but the t-shirt designers that do show up are all on their A-game (and local). The small scale of the operations means that if they don't have your size or a color you want immediately available, they'll be willing to put one together for you. Even better, all of the shirts are reasonably priced. It takes a lot of restraint to not leave here with a week's worth of shirts and a much lighter wallet.
Ian (Multiple Locations) - Ian is a great store for when you just have too much money in your wallet, when you need to spend upwards of $70 for silkscreen on cotton. Don't get us wrong, they have some pretty decent designs, but nothing so unique you couldn't find it elsewhere for a more reasonable price. Lucky for them (and us) their sales bring prices down to realistic levels.
Kuhlman (2419 First Ave., 206-441-1999) - While a bit on the pricey side of things, Kuhlman carries t-shirts among their accessories and English gear (Ben Sherman and Ted Baker). Some of the designs are pretty unique, so they have the feeling of exclusivity. And since they do tailoring on-site, you have no reason to leave with a shirt that doesn't fit just right.
Moksha (4542 University Way N.E., 206-632-1190) - Moksha is a Seattle gem. With a focus almost entirely on local designers, this is one of the best places to go to find something unique. A lot of the designs would fall into an urban aesthetic, but there is enough variety to suit a lot of different tastes. The fact that they branch out to jackets and hoodies only sweetens the deal.
OKOK (709 Broadway E, 206-322-7523) - If you even know about OKOK, you're already ahead of the game. Just off the beaten path on Broadway, the store is known mainly for its vinyl toys, but also has some limited-edition tees in the back of the store. While some of them fall into the overly-artsy category, the design quality and fabrics are top-notch, which matches the other forward-looking fashions they have in stock.
Urban Outfitters (Multiple Locations) - Urban Outfitters is the Wendy's of t-shirts. While they're better than their larger competition, they're still far too big a company to stay on the bleeding edge. The sheer size of the store allows them to carry a lot of merchandise, but the wall of t-shirts is constantly begging for an update. It's also pretty hard to feel like you're getting a shirt that speaks just to you when you've already passed four guys in the same design on the way to the store. Always a great place for a gift though, especially for someone in a less t-shirt-saturated locale.
Value Village (Multiple Locations) - Value Village is definitely for the patient. You might visit a dozen times before finding anything worthwhile, but the fact that you won't be paying the markup you will at the hipster-oriented vintage stores makes it all worthwhile. And if you happen to be into company morale t-shirts or shirts from 10Ks you didn't run, then Value Village is a must.
Vintage Stores (Red Light, Atlas Clothing) - Seattle has no shortage of vintage stores (the fashion recycling fits our liberal, green aesthetic). There's a bit of a markup at these stores, since they've gone through the trouble of separating the wheat from the chaff, and you're still likely to find a better deal than buying new (although these stores sell new goods as well).
Zebra Club (Multiple Locations) - While many wouldn't consider a stop in Zebraclub due to their relatively pricey nature, their sale racks offer some choice designs for someone willing to be patient. They carry Obey, LRG, and Modern Amusement among others, so their variety of designs is impressive, ranging from traditional urban-styled motifs to elaborate silkscreens.
