Philadelphia Tees With Attitude: Our Top 5 Local Shops (Jawn Approved)
Philly doesn’t do subtle, and its best Philadelphia tees don’t either. This city gave the world “jawn,” the Phanatic, Gritty and a football team that runs the same play until everyone else gives up. So why would anyone leave with a generic Liberty Bell shirt from a souvenir stand two blocks from Independence Hall?
We’d rather you didn’t. Crooked Monkey has a location in Philadelphia, and we spend our days obsessing over custom apparel. So we went looking for the homegrown labels and shops that locals actually wear to the Linc, the corner bar and everywhere in between.
Here are our five favorite spots for cool Philadelphia tees.
1. South Fellini
South Philly friends Tony Trov and Johnny Zito turned their love of local weirdness into a brand, and their shop on East Passyunk Avenue became a neighborhood landmark. The designs read like a Philly group chat: Wawa jokes, Gritty, South Philly doors, the Tush Push and a famously tipsy Edgar Allan Poe. Bryce Harper once wore their Phanatic and Gritty shirt to a home game, and the internet lost it. That tells you everything.
2. Art History 101
Justin “Jay” Pross started printing shirts in his mom’s basement in 2007, and today his shop on Frankford Avenue in Mayfair carries the whole Northeast on its back. He designs everything himself, produces in-house and sells it only through Art History 101. The graffiti-inspired streetwear has shown up on Eagles players and coaches, yet it still feels like a neighborhood secret. Wear “We Own The East” and you’ll understand.
3. Shibe Vintage Sports
A group of Philadelphia sports fans opened Shibe in 2013, and their Midtown Village shop works like a museum you can wear. Skip straight to the in-house designs: tributes to Connie Mack Stadium, the Vet, the 1980 champs and those glorious ice cream helmets, many created with local artists and screen printers. If you love Philly sports history, block out an hour.
4. Philadelphia Independents
This Old City shop sits a short walk from the Liberty Bell, yet it has zero souvenir-stand energy. Owners Ashley Peele, Tiffica Benza and Jennifer Provost fill the place with work from dozens of local artists and makers, including several apparel brands. It’s the easiest way to discover a handful of Philly designers in one stop (and pick up a “Jawnament” on the way out).
5. Hog Island Press
Graphic artist Mark Adams founded Hog Island Press in 2011 and still handles much of the screen printing himself. His designs mix Philly sports lore with sharp social commentary, and they have a habit of selling out. His “Grease those poles” tee became a local legend, and a collab with Charlie Manuel raised money for a teen program. Order online or find his work at Philadelphia Independents.
The Philly Look
Great Philadelphia tees carry an attitude: proud, funny, a little defiant and always specific. You can’t fake that with a skyline and a font. Want to see how another city with big personality does it? Read our list of NYC t-shirt shops that beat any gift shop tee.
Got a Brand in Philly? Let’s Make Merch With Attitude.
If your company, team or creative studio calls Philadelphia home, we’d love to help you create Philadelphia tees and swag people actually wear. We handle everything from screen printing and embroidery to custom design and premium brands. Tell us what you have in mind, and we’ll make it worth keeping.
