how can i make t-shirts look vintage?

Answer 1

Use a medium grade sandpaper on the edges/hems. My son has done this to shirts and jeans. It gives it the worn, almost ripped look. It works very well, but use a light hand and check often to see if you've achieved the look you want!

Answer 2

Do you mean your standard white Hanes t-shirts or your Fruit of the Looms?

The only thing I can come up with is to "dye" them in the sink in a solution of strong tea. This should result in an aged, vintage look in a sepia tone...

For colored tees, maybe wash in a bleach solution so the garment acquires a faded, old look...

You could also go to a thrift store, Goodwill, or Salvation Army store and actually search the racks for some older t-shirts.

I'm curious as to why you need vintage t-shirts....

Answer 3

Bleach- set them in a sink with bleach and water for a long time, and you may have to repeat until you achieve the look you want. I did this with a pair of jeans once, only I used the bathtub. I worked. They faded, of course, but the fibers at the seams and hems broke down and became worn out looking. I assume that is the look you're going for? Be wise though- a thin shirt will be prone to getting holes or ripping with too much bleach soak.

Answer 4

Yeah -- bleach.

And I'd imagine going over it with a stitch ripper, and breaking a few threads here and there, and then washing it repeatedly, would give it a few little holes. Do that around the seams a fair bit; that's usually where t-shirts start to fall apart.

I don't know that there'd be any way to get it to _feel_ authentic, but it might not be too hard to get it to look old. (Er, why?) Washing it repeatedly with a little bleach each time will accelarate the wear and tear; bleach not only bleaches, it also breaks down the fibre.

That assumes cotton. Don't use a poly blend.