The Humbles™ Core Tee
The core tee is where everything starts for us.
It’s the garment we return to, design from, and measure everything else against, because it has proven itself through years of wear, printing, dyeing, and daily use.
After printing for our own brand and for clients big and small, handling thousands of shirts in the studio, this is the one that stayed in rotation and kept earning its place.
We start with the Comfort Colors 1717 in Ivory, made from 100% cotton, and we’re open about that choice because the blank itself carries a reputation that aligns with how we work.
Take a look at your favorite band tee and there’s a good chance it’s printed on Comfort Colors, a shirt that’s become a familiar standard over the years for good reason.
The Starting Point
The Comfort Colors 1717 gives us a reliable foundation with a weight that feels substantial without being stiff and a fabric that responds well to ink, dye, and time.
Ivory is our base because it behaves consistently in the studio, takes color gently, and wears in naturally as the garment ages.
Every core tee either begins as ivory or is garment dyed in select solid, tonal, or tie-dye variations developed in-house as part of our signature studio styles.
Fit and Feel
The tee fits true to size and wears comfortably without feeling oversized.
The neckline sits easy and holds its shape, the sleeves land at a relaxed length, and the body has enough room to move while still keeping its structure.
If you prefer a more relaxed, oversized fit, sizing up works well.
The cotton feels soft from the start, with enough weight to drape cleanly, and continues to soften and settle the more it’s worn.
Walking Through the Shirt
When you lay the tee flat and really look at it, the details are subtle but intentional.
The collar feels comfortable without being restrictive and maintains its shape over time.
The sleeves fall naturally at the arm, working just as well worn straight as they do with a casual cuff.
The body is relaxed through the chest and waist without drifting into oversized territory.
The fabric has a soft, broken-in hand with enough substance to feel grounded, and that texture becomes more familiar the longer the shirt lives with you.
Studio Preparation
All garment preparation, from design through decoration, is handled entirely in-house.
Before printing, we remove the original tag by rough cutting it out, leaving a frayed edge as a quiet nod to the Comfort Colors label.
Each tee is then finished with our own tagless label, keeping the inside clean and comfortable so the shirt can be clearly identified as a Humbles™ piece while keeping the focus on the garment itself.
Printing in the Studio
All graphics are printed oversized and slow-pulled by hand in the studio.
We use super-soft plastisol inks chosen for their durability, clarity, and long-term wear.
Plastisol allows the print to stay crisp and intact through repeated wear and washing, holding its shape without cracking or breaking down over time.
Color and Dye
Starting from an ivory base gives us room to work with color in a quieter way.
Garment dye over ivory produces softened tones, washed pastels, and subtle variations that feel natural to the fabric rather than forced.
Each dye run is developed with the graphic and garment in mind, allowing color and print to age together.
A Familiar Favorite
This tee has quietly become a favorite for just about everyone who wears it.
It’s the one people come back for, the one that gets pulled from the drawer first, and the one that tends to stick around long after others rotate out.
Beyond the Tee
The core tee is part of a small group of garments we work with regularly in the studio.
Each one is chosen with the same attention to fit, material, and long-term wear.
We share more about those pieces in a separate studio note.
Sizing
Our tees fit true to size and are comfortable without feeling oversized.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed, oversized fit, we recommend sizing up.
For detailed measurements and sizing guidance, you can view our fit guide here:
Over Time
This tee is the result of nearly seven years of refining a single starting point.
Through repetition, close attention, and lived experience in the studio, the core tee has been shaped into what it is today.
Every detail reflects decisions made deliberately and revisited often, from fabric choice to fit to print approach.
The result is a shirt that feels intentional from the first wear and continues to hold that standard over time.
That’s what we look for in a core tee, and it’s where every Humbles™ collection begins.
Core Tee FAQ
What blank is used for the Humbles™ Core Tee?
The Humbles™ Core Tee is printed on the Comfort Colors 1717, a 100% cotton garment-dyed tee that has become a familiar standard for band merch and long-wearing shirts.
How does the Humbles™ Core Tee fit?
The tee fits true to size with a relaxed, comfortable shape that isn’t oversized. If you prefer a looser, oversized fit, sizing up works well.
Is the Humbles™ Core Tee garment dyed?
Yes. All core tees begin as ivory or are garment dyed in-studio in select solid, tonal, or tie-dye variations.
What kind of ink is used for printing?
All graphics are printed by hand using super-soft plastisol inks selected for durability, clarity, and long-term wear.
Will the print crack or fade over time?
Plastisol inks are used because they hold their structure through repeated wear and washing, keeping the graphic intact over time.
Does the tee get softer with wear?
Yes. The cotton starts soft and continues to break in and soften the more it’s worn.
Are the tags removed?
Yes. Original tags are rough-cut out in the studio and replaced with a tagless Humbles™ label for comfort.
Where can I find sizing details?
A full fit guide with measurements is available here: