These are known as Direct to Film or DTF (lol). They are quite literally a printed plastic sheet that’s melted to the shirt. Easiest way to check for this is to crease the shirt on the design. Screenprinted will reveal the shirt color underneath where DTF will be a solid sheet.
Those use to be pretty popular when I was growing up, I hated them. So much so that I barely buy t-shirts these days unless its a free shirt from some company
They also create weak points along their edge since it needs to bend more to make up for the stiffness of the plastic part. It'll start coming apart there before the neck frays.
They’re always on and under my boobs too?? Like it would be one thing if it was on my chest but there’s a big open area of nothing with a design only on or under my boobs? I think they’re just not made with women in mind 90% of the time even when it’s sold in women’s sizes
Counterpoint, wearing a graphic on the back feels shallow and self-aggrandizing. You're never going to get to see the graphic you like in a mirror; friends and acquaintances you interface with all day won't see it. It's only for the benefit of anonymous observers behind you that you'll never meet and won't think about you twice.
It also is more antisocial. It's natural to comment on a graphic when you're face to face (pointing to chest, "oh you also like [Band]?") and hard to broach a conversation from behind when they're probably engaged with something else ("[Band]? Oh right, the shirt, yeah...").
It's possible to pull it off, but in general I'd rather see someone confidently rocking a 3 wolf moon shirt than an incredible print drifting down the street on some anonymous back.
It’s natural to comment on a graphic when you’re face to face
This might be why I feel like front graphics are more trashy. You are picking a thing and putting it in peoples faces, and it feels like a stand in for actually saying something and expressing ones self. Versus on the back, it functions more as an out of the way vibe that supports the way you want others to see you, but still allows you the lions share of expression
Guess I don't see it like that. To me both are serving the same function of fashion, but on the back is cheekily pretending it's not and is therefore more disingenuous.
I also have a strong bias toward aesthetic over statement. There's no reason my T needs to "say" anything any more than a striped or patterned shirt needs to "say" anything. I can just like how it looks or compliments my outfit.
I'm never going to wear some generic Coca-Cola or beer brand or "I speak sarcasm" shirt. If it's an obvious legible statement (like a local band or charity) then that means it's really important to me and I don't mind looking like a trashy geek.
I hate it when its the other way around. I feel like a fancy design on the back and minimalist one on the front has more flair. But this is clearly subjective
If I had to guess, this avoids the classic case of staring at someone a little too long to read their shirt. The shirt design isn’t so much for the wearer, it’s a billboard to others. Also, printing on the front has much more noticeable texture than printing on the back which would make the surface a bit uncomfortable across the entire front as opposed to the back where you’ll hardly notice the feel.
Even the best screen printing techniques have at least a bit of feel to them.
I think its really cool to have a big beautiful design on the back. I have a vety broad back tho so i might be biased but i think its clean to have the front be uncluttered.
I hate when that happens. Gotta be a manufacturing error. It happens to me all the time with spoons as well, I'm eating with one normally, and then suddenly it turns inside out and can't grab any soup!
If the design is on the front, I can't tell if people are looking at the design or staring at my tits. And I kinda need to know who I should punch and who I shouldn't x)
Pro tip: you know companies get branded shirts right? There are other companies that print/embroider them. And those companies do samples of blank shirts. Look for your local custom print shop 😉
90% of my wardrobe consists of company swag shirts and shirts from charities I work with. I just want nicer shirts from good brands without huge logos and graphics. All of the shirts I have now are that shitty Gildan brand which is cheap and inconsistent.
Just yesterday someone I work with had a t-shirt with a small, centered inscription just below the neckline. I didn't catch myself in time and asked if the shirt was inside out, because it really looked like the logo/information you'd see inside under the neck on the back.
I might be exaggerating a bit but I do hate how limited men's fashion is, especially when you exclude second layers. You can't wear a nice cardigan when it's 30+ degrees out so you're stuck with just a basic t-shirt or collared shirt!
Half of my daily wardrobe is band merch and conference swag. The former I don’t mind showing off because I like those bands, and the latter I don’t mind being a free billboard for because only people in my career field would recognize them anyway. I also only pick the vendor shirts that actually have good/quirky designs and not just their name and logo.
Then wear non basic t-shirts or literally anything else. Different cuts can make a great difference in how a shirt looks, especially when you put accessoires in the equation.
Local band shirts are the only clothing I want to spend my money on. Nothing beats repping for homies you share stages with. Everything else is purely weather-necessary, usually thrifted or made myself.
71 Comments
9point6@lemmy.world · 110 pts · 95d
Even worse when the design is that plasticky kind of decal rather than the one that becomes more part of the fabric
Basically makes the shirt unusable in summer
otacon239@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 95d
These are known as Direct to Film or DTF (lol). They are quite literally a printed plastic sheet that’s melted to the shirt. Easiest way to check for this is to crease the shirt on the design. Screenprinted will reveal the shirt color underneath where DTF will be a solid sheet.
hey@reddthat.com · 20 pts · 95d
I hate those
Aneb@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 95d
Those use to be pretty popular when I was growing up, I hated them. So much so that I barely buy t-shirts these days unless its a free shirt from some company
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 94d
They also create weak points along their edge since it needs to bend more to make up for the stiffness of the plastic part. It'll start coming apart there before the neck frays.
blarghly@lemmy.world · 81 pts · 95d
Absolutely disagree. If I'm wearing a graphic t, I'd much rather the graphic be on the back. Graphic on the front feels trashy, ala 3 Wolf Moon.
W3dd1e@lemmy.zip · 33 pts · 95d
I’d rather have it in the back because sometimes the print feels stiff and uncomfortable and sometimes boobies stretch out the image.
CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 95d
They’re always on and under my boobs too?? Like it would be one thing if it was on my chest but there’s a big open area of nothing with a design only on or under my boobs? I think they’re just not made with women in mind 90% of the time even when it’s sold in women’s sizes
W3dd1e@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 95d
100%. we live in a man’s world.
RebekahWSD@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 95d
My issue with the back is I have long hair so my hair will cover the design! But the front my tits will make that image...real real stretchy.
Stupid human bodies!!
aeronmelon@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 95d
nouseforaname@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 95d
Makes me feel like a fucking billboard when on the front for some reason
fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 95d
I feel the opposite. I feel like a billboard when it’s on the back.
ztwhixsemhwldvka@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 95d
Exactly, graphic on the back for the same reason you don't look at explosions.
compostgoblin@piefed.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 95d
Yep, I’m right there with you on this one
Asidonhopo@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 95d
Yeah if you've got shirt with a wolf but no dragon on it that is a weak design, everyone knows this.
stickly@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 95d
Counterpoint, wearing a graphic on the back feels shallow and self-aggrandizing. You're never going to get to see the graphic you like in a mirror; friends and acquaintances you interface with all day won't see it. It's only for the benefit of anonymous observers behind you that you'll never meet and won't think about you twice.
It also is more antisocial. It's natural to comment on a graphic when you're face to face (pointing to chest, "oh you also like [Band]?") and hard to broach a conversation from behind when they're probably engaged with something else ("[Band]? Oh right, the shirt, yeah...").
It's possible to pull it off, but in general I'd rather see someone confidently rocking a 3 wolf moon shirt than an incredible print drifting down the street on some anonymous back.
blarghly@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 95d
This might be why I feel like front graphics are more trashy. You are picking a thing and putting it in peoples faces, and it feels like a stand in for actually saying something and expressing ones self. Versus on the back, it functions more as an out of the way vibe that supports the way you want others to see you, but still allows you the lions share of expression
stickly@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 95d
Guess I don't see it like that. To me both are serving the same function of fashion, but on the back is cheekily pretending it's not and is therefore more disingenuous.
I also have a strong bias toward aesthetic over statement. There's no reason my T needs to "say" anything any more than a striped or patterned shirt needs to "say" anything. I can just like how it looks or compliments my outfit.
I'm never going to wear some generic Coca-Cola or beer brand or "I speak sarcasm" shirt. If it's an obvious legible statement (like a local band or charity) then that means it's really important to me and I don't mind looking like a trashy geek.
halfeatenpotato@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 95d
Im almost always wearing some sort of a sweater/jacket/cardigan etc
Evotech@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 94d
Yeah. Shows your belly
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 28 pts · 95d
I also hate when I check the sizing chart and the base shirt is a unisex cut Gildan.
Shit material that fits weirdly on any human body and when used as a silk screening blank, are overpriced as fuck for the quality they offer.
timestatic@feddit.org · 22 pts · 95d
I hate it when its the other way around. I feel like a fancy design on the back and minimalist one on the front has more flair. But this is clearly subjective
otacon239@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 95d
If I had to guess, this avoids the classic case of staring at someone a little too long to read their shirt. The shirt design isn’t so much for the wearer, it’s a billboard to others. Also, printing on the front has much more noticeable texture than printing on the back which would make the surface a bit uncomfortable across the entire front as opposed to the back where you’ll hardly notice the feel.
Even the best screen printing techniques have at least a bit of feel to them.
gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works · 14 pts · 95d
Omg same. And I often wear a button down over a t-shirt, which is mildly annoying with that configuration
AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 95d
I think its really cool to have a big beautiful design on the back. I have a vety broad back tho so i might be biased but i think its clean to have the front be uncluttered.
PixeIOrange@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 95d
Mine are on the inside sometimes 😞
NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de · 8 pts · 95d
I hate when that happens. Gotta be a manufacturing error. It happens to me all the time with spoons as well, I'm eating with one normally, and then suddenly it turns inside out and can't grab any soup!
PixeIOrange@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 95d
Enshittification has gone too far.
arcine@jlai.lu · 8 pts · 95d
If the design is on the front, I can't tell if people are looking at the design or staring at my tits. And I kinda need to know who I should punch and who I shouldn't x)
REDACTED@infosec.pub · 2 pts · 94d
I've always found this awkward because I stare at tits but they assume I'm reading their shirt
hey@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 94d
Fair enough
Test_Tickles@lemmy.world · -3 pts · 94d
Hell ya! Cause you didn't spend that much money on an uncomfortable bra to have those tatas ignored!
baggachipz@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 95d
And here I am just wanting the small thing on the front and nothing on the back. So hard to find that aren’t athletic shirts.
seblin@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 95d
Pro tip: you know companies get branded shirts right? There are other companies that print/embroider them. And those companies do samples of blank shirts. Look for your local custom print shop 😉
baggachipz@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 95d
90% of my wardrobe consists of company swag shirts and shirts from charities I work with. I just want nicer shirts from good brands without huge logos and graphics. All of the shirts I have now are that shitty Gildan brand which is cheap and inconsistent.
MyVeryRealName@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 94d
Nah it's cool
Leviathan@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 95d
Long sleeves, design on the front, design on the back, design on the sleeves.
Ironfacebuster@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 95d
Long sleeves on the front, short sleeves on the back
AstralPath@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 94d
I bet you're a metal fan that likes a certain drippy moon on their merch.
Leviathan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 94d
Nah my favorite panel shirt is a Cryptopsy shirt. Which band has the drippy moon?
AstralPath@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 93d
Leviathan! 😆
Leviathan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 93d
Oh!! Haha no I'm not a fan.
SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org · 5 pts · 95d
Can I add that dumb new trend where the logo is on the back upper left, making it seem you wore your shirt backwards like a dumbass?
4am@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 95d
I hate those. They always put the tags on the front now, too.
Obi@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 95d
Just yesterday someone I work with had a t-shirt with a small, centered inscription just below the neckline. I didn't catch myself in time and asked if the shirt was inside out, because it really looked like the logo/information you'd see inside under the neck on the back.
SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org · 1 pts · 94d
Don't bash yourself, it helped remind them of what impression they give, going around like that.
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 95d
I like to wear aloha shirts. For a while there was a strange fad to make them with the fabric inside out so the colors were muted. Designers, amirite?
Brosplosion@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 95d
UGH, I have some of those and almost everyone says, "Hey did you know your shirt is inside out?"
Oh really? How did I button it?!
wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 95d
Inside-out fabrics: the dadaism of fashion.
FrChazzz@lemmus.org · 2 pts · 94d
THANK YOU!
justme@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 0 pts · 95d
Just wear it the other way around...
explodicle@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 94d
Then it touches the front of your neck! 💀😭🪦🤮
justme@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 90d
can't have it all ;)
BigTuffAl@lemmy.zip · -8 pts · 95d
graphic t-shirts are clotheslop
blitzen@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 95d
Like all other clothing, they have their place.
But I too agree that graphic tees shouldn’t be someone’s main clothing the way that too often it is.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works · 28 pts · 95d
Any other things I'm doing that harm absolutely no one that I shouldn't be doing?
blitzen@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 95d
Probably.
ddplf@szmer.info · 0 pts · 94d
macodnalds
NotSteve_@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 95d
I like a good band tshirt or local art graphic tshirt under a nice flannel short aleeve.
||that might be my whole wardrobe||
blitzen@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 95d
Me too!
We'll disagree here
NotSteve_@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 95d
I might be exaggerating a bit but I do hate how limited men's fashion is, especially when you exclude second layers. You can't wear a nice cardigan when it's 30+ degrees out so you're stuck with just a basic t-shirt or collared shirt!
nightofmichelinstars@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 95d
Be the change you want to see
scytale@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 95d
Half of my daily wardrobe is band merch and conference swag. The former I don’t mind showing off because I like those bands, and the latter I don’t mind being a free billboard for because only people in my career field would recognize them anyway. I also only pick the vendor shirts that actually have good/quirky designs and not just their name and logo.
Lileath@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 95d
Then wear non basic t-shirts or literally anything else. Different cuts can make a great difference in how a shirt looks, especially when you put accessoires in the equation.
Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio · 1 pts · 94d
Pacific northwest 'eh?
NotSteve_@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 94d
Not American thankfully. Ontario, Canada
Leviathan@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 95d
Local band shirts are the only clothing I want to spend my money on. Nothing beats repping for homies you share stages with. Everything else is purely weather-necessary, usually thrifted or made myself.
fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 95d
For the past 4 months I’ve been exclusively wearing cat shirts.
BigTuffAl@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 95d
i primarily use them for a hair wrap
blitzen@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 95d
gmtom@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 94d
Bold of you to say that on lemmy of all places