A graphic tshirt is easy to ruin in the wash. Not dramatically — it rarely falls apart — but the print fades, cracks, or loses its sharpness, and after enough washes it looks like a version of itself from three years ago.
Temperature
Always wash cold. Heat is what breaks down the ink and shrinks the cotton. 30°C maximum, and ideally less.
Inside out
Turn the tshirt inside out before it goes in the machine. The drum and other fabrics rub against the outside of the garment during the cycle — keeping the print on the inside protects it from that friction.
Gentle cycle
A shorter, slower cycle puts less stress on the fabric and the print. It’s enough for a tshirt that’s just been worn.
Drying
Air dry where possible. A tumble dryer running hot will do more damage in one cycle than twenty cold washes. If you use one, choose the lowest heat setting and take the tshirt out while it’s still slightly damp.
Ironing
If it needs ironing, do it inside out and avoid ironing directly over the print. Low heat, quick passes. The print doesn’t need to be pressed — the fabric around it does.
A graphic tshirt treated well lasts years. The print stays sharp, the cotton stays soft, and it keeps looking like something you chose, not something you’ve just had for years.
— Studio Ninette, designed in Belgium.