Our Approach
The Christmas Tee is a small line of apparel, released in drops. We partner with illustrators and commit to quality materials and considered design.
Why a considered Christmas still matters
It’s the feeling of pulling on a heavyweight tee that fits just right. It’s the quiet satisfaction of wearing something well-made, illustrated with intention, that doesn't scream for attention. It’s the kind of shirt you want to wear long after the decorations come down.
We started The Christmas Tee because we couldn't find that shirt. Everything was a cheap pun or a sold-out Instagram drop. So we built the storefront those illustrators deserved: a small line on heavyweight cotton, released in drops, where every artist is credited and paid fairly. That's the whole thing.
Built for a quiet December
These are for the person who finds most holiday merch tacky. For the design-aware gift giver looking for something that signals taste, not just occasion. For the one who wants a single, considered tee that works at a family dinner and on a January walk without feeling like a costume.
Our catalog is small and intentional. We release a handful of drops each year between October and December, built around muted palettes and original illustrations. Think of them less as seasonal apparel and more as wearable editions of an artist's work, designed to outlast the season.
How we build a shirt
- Original art, every time. Every design is a commissioned illustration, never a stock graphic or a tired pun.
- Premium blanks. We print primarily on 6.1 oz garment-dyed, ringspun cotton from Comfort Colors.
- Made to order. Each tee is printed for you when you order, ensuring a fresh print and zero unsold inventory.
- Illustrator-credited and paid. We credit every illustrator above the fold and pay a published fifteen percent royalty on net sales.
What we stand for
Authorship on the label
Every tee credits its illustrator on the product page, the label, and the hangtag. The person who drew it deserves their name on the work.
Heavyweight, by default
Our standard tee is a 6.1 oz garment-dyed blank. It's the kind of shirt other brands sell as an upgrade. For us, it's the starting point.
Wear it in January
Our drops are built around quiet designs you can wear to a December dinner and still feel good about on a January walk. No throwaway clothes.
A real return policy
If you don't love it, send it back within 30 days for a full refund or exchange. No interrogations, no restocking fees, no fine print.
We sell a dozen considered tees a year, not a thousand festive ones.
Our promise
Your order ships free over $75 and is printed just for you in 3-5 business days. If it's not right, our 30-day return policy is simple and straightforward. Any questions? You can always reach us directly at [email protected].
See what we've been making
We're better at making shirts than writing about them. The full line of current and past drops is waiting for you over in the catalog.
— The crew at The Christmas Tee
Free Shipping
Orders over $75
Easy Returns
30-day return policy
Secure Checkout
SSL encrypted payment
Quality Guaranteed
Made & printed in USA
Drops, in advance.
A short note before each drop — illustrator credits, the story behind the artwork, and the date the shirts ship. Two or three emails a season. No more.