Classic Retro City Illinois IL Lake Michigan Midwest Pride Men Women T-Shirt

The Ann Arbor T-shirt Company grew from a dorm room project between two friends at the University of Michigan. Proudly designing, printing, and embroidering the majority of their products completely in their Ann Arbor, MI factory, the company's workers receive fair wages, healthcare, 401k matches, and meals. Machines, inks, and most inputs are U.S. sourced, and shirts are mostly made of U.S. cotton, allowing the company to keep quality high and prices low through in-house production.

The company's products are unique in that they aim to provide fun ways for people to express themselves and strike up conversations with their neighbors. A classic example is the Unisex Blend Chicago T-shirt, a simple yet understated show of Chicago pride. This shirt features an expertly applied and cured screen print on a soft, ringspun 90% cotton blend (grey) or 50% cotton (blue, black) t-shirt, all printed with pride and gratitude in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

So what goes into making these shirts? First, the company's illustrators and designers create the artwork, which is then converted into component screens by art techs. Skilled screen printers and their apprentices then apply ink through the screens using top-of-the-line M&R carousel presses manufactured in Illinois. Finally, the warehouse team checks quality, bags, and boxes the apparel for fulfillment centers across the country.

When you buy one of the Ann Arbor T-shirt Company's products, your money is distributed across the country. Approximately 35% goes to design, printing, and production in Ann Arbor, MI; 22% to advertising and platform fees in Seattle, WA; 6% to an apparel distributor in Cincinnati, OH; 4% to logistics in Atlanta, GA; 4% to printing presses and equipment in Roselle, IL; 4% to cotton farming in Texas and the Southwest US; 3% to fabric sewing in Toluca, Mexico; and 1% to screen printing inks in Pineville, NC.

Screen printing is a delicate process, and the company ensures quality by hiring, training, and retaining skilled professionals with thorough understanding of ink chemistry, curing heats, and apparel fibers. They also invest in top-notch QCM inks, which are more vibrant, durable, and environmentally friendly than cheaper alternatives, as well as state-of-the-art M&R printing presses and equipment.

The Ann Arbor T-shirt Company is composed of dozens of artists, screen printers, art techs, logistics professionals, embroiderers, and support staff, all working together in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company treats its employees with respect, providing subsidized healthcare, 401k matches, company sports teams, catered lunches, and quarterly parties. This approach not only aligns with the company's values but also makes good business sense, as happy people make better shirts.

From top to bottom, the Ann Arbor T-shirt Company's people are proud of the products they produce and eager to share them with the world. Visitors to Ann Arbor are welcome to stop in for coffee and a tour, where they can see firsthand how the company's high-quality apparel is made.

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