Wearable art: Find great graphic art T-shirts in Vancouver

The T-shirt – simple, stylish and increasingly a showcase for the creativity of the wearer. For people looking for something different, the possibilities are endless: design your own T-shirt, find something special designed by a local artist or choose a rock tee inspired by album art. Here's where to get wearable art in Vancouver. [Photo courtesy of Yellow Pages]

By Shella Gardezi

Bang-On T-Shirts

1

1225-4700 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4M1

• Phone Number
  • 604-439-9774Primary
• Directions

Do you remember the '80s, when on-demand T-shirt printing stores let you pick out a fun graphic of your favourite band or a cute animal and have it printed on a shirt? Well, in 1999, Bang-On brought that concept back with a bang. Choose one of their modern or retro images or bring your own photo. Pick out your tee and they'll do the rest.

MAKE

2

1648 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S4

• Phone Number
  • 604-684-5105Primary
• Directions

Exercise your creativity at MAKE Vancouver, a boutique selling all kinds of unique items on Granville Island. MAKE Vancouver lets you have fun designing your own T-shirt by either experimenting with their graphics or uploading your own. Using a computer interface, you get to arrange the elements on the T-shirt exactly as you want them.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Vancouver shops for cozy apparel and home accessories

Starlight Distributors Inc

3

1076 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L5

• Phone Number
  • 604-685-9228Primary
• Directions

There's no question that rock 'n' roll has been responsible for the birth of the T-shirt as a wearable graphic art form. In the classic rock era, artists were dedicated to creating brilliant album art designs, which were then modified for the T-shirts that would hang in the record store alongside the music. While record sales may be limited today, you can still find an extensive array of classic, punk and modern rock shirts at The Rock Shop, a Granville Street mainstay.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• The best vintage and collectibles shops in Vancouver

Queens Crown Holdings

4

12 Cordova St E, Vancouver, BC V6A 1K2

• Phone Number
  • 604-558-1234Primary
• Directions

Queens is an independent one-of-a-kind boutique for women who want to rock a bold urban style. Think cropped and oversized tees that pair perfectly with leggings and big, gold jewelry. The store also carries reworked vintage sports jerseys. While you're there, get the right accessories and nail design to accompany your great new T-shirt.

Tees.ca

5

227 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K7

• Phone Number
  • 778-316-9002Primary
• Directions

Located in Gastown, Tees.ca has a variety of designs that’ll appeal to the most diehard Vancouverites. From rockin’ East Van tees to whimsical mountain designs, there is something for everyone. You can also get custom work done here, too.

More from Shella Gardezi

Shella Gardezi is a writer living in Vancouver. After studying music at Carleton University, she realized that writing and journalism were her true calling. Her six-year career in community newspaper journalism took her from Ontario to the Southern Interior of BC before landing in Vancouver. Her interests are city politics, business, lifestyle, arts and fitness.

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