Now that we’re just a few days away from opening the online store (29 January is our target date), I’d like to share my favourite T-shirt companies pre-launch. I avoid the term best, since taste is subjective, and I haven’t covered all T-shirt labels to make such statement.

My list is based on one criterion – the same approach we’re using for our Tees – would I wear it or buy it for a friend? To be more specific, the style I like is urban, gritty, witty, and above all simple.

Without further ado:

1. Graniph (Japan)
+ $9,000 top prize money lures top designers, affordable T-shirts
- too many people wear it in Japan

2. One Top (Quebec)
+ great designs by Quebec artists, few people know about it
- disappointing 2006 collection

3. 2K by Gingham (California)
+ great selection of T-shirts
- hard to navigate, new designs

4. LaFraise (France)
+ limited series T-shirts, intuitive website.
- designs are getting too cutie and cartoony for my taste.

5. Divinas Palabras (Spain)
+ witty and well designed T-shirts
- some are less witty, not cheap (50 euros last I checked)

These labels also have good stuff but the overall humour or style, I suspect, is meant for a younger crowd: Bedlam (closed?), Busted Tees, Naco.

Note: my list was compiled over a span of 2.5 years from either surfing the net or scouting these cities for great Tees: Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Paris, Prague, London, Milan, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Other cities I want to check out are Buenos Aires, Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles, and Stockholm.