The most memorable gifts do not have to be big or expensive. They show that someone thought of you in particular — your sense of humour, your pet, or the way you love or loathe mornings. A printed T-shirt or tote bag does that well, because it gets used every day. The same thing makes it risky, though: pick the wrong design and it ends up at the back of the wardrobe, where it stays.

Here are a few tips for choosing a gift that actually gets used.

Pick a design that speaks their language

The best design is one the recipient recognises straight away — like an inside joke only they and the people close to them get. A cat owner smiles at a cat; an early riser at a sun and a morning greeting. The less a gift needs explaining, the more likely it is to be worn.

A good test: would they wear it even if nobody had given it to them? If so, you are on the right track.

Choose something they will use anyway

• A tote bag is the safest choice, because the size cannot be wrong. Ours measures 36 × 42 cm with 70 cm handles, so it sits comfortably on the shoulder.
• A T-shirt is more personal but needs the right size. All our shirts have a unisex cut, in sizes S–XXL.
• A set works when the gift is for a couple or from several people at once: a T-shirt with a tote bag, or two T-shirts, and the pair is 15 % off.

If you do not know the size

With a gift, the size is the biggest question mark. If you can, sneak a look at the label of their favourite T-shirt or measure it — we explain how in our guide to choosing a T-shirt size. If you are between two sizes, go for the bigger one: a unisex tee is happier worn a little loose than too tight. And if you have no idea at all, a tote bag is always the right answer.

When to order

Every item is printed in our studio in Tallinn only once the order comes in, and it usually reaches a parcel locker in 2⁠–⁠5 working days. We ship to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. For a birthday or Christmas, leave a few days to spare — especially in December, when the parcel lockers are busier.

Ready to look? Browse the T-shirts and tote bags.

Every one of our T-shirts and tote bags is printed in our own studio in Tallinn on an Epson SureColor F1000, which lays the ink straight onto the fabric. A well-made print will happily take years of everyday wear. Almost everything that wears a print down over time comes from heat and friction in the wash — not from how often the shirt is worn.

The good news is that looking after it takes nothing complicated. Four habits are enough.

1. Wash inside out and cool

Turn the shirt inside out before it goes into the machine. That way the print does not rub against the drum or the zips and buttons of other clothes. Wash at 30 °C — it is enough for everyday dirt and keeps both the colours and the shape of the cotton. Choose a gentler programme if you can, and do not pack the drum full.

2. Skip the tumble dryer

A tumble dryer is a print’s worst enemy: high heat combined with constant friction quickly turns the surface dull and can make it crack. Hang the shirt up or lay it flat to dry. It takes a little longer, but the print and the fabric will thank you.

3. Iron only inside out

If the shirt needs ironing, turn it inside out and use a medium setting. Do not iron directly on the print: a hot iron can damage it and leave a shiny mark. If ironing inside out is not practical, put a clean cotton cloth over the print.

4. No bleach, no fabric softener

• Bleach damages both the cotton fibre and the print ink.
• Fabric softener leaves a film on the fabric that makes the print look duller.
• Stain remover belongs on the fabric only, never on the print.
• Dry cleaning is not needed for a printed tee — a normal cool wash is best.

The same goes for a tote bag

A tote bag is made of sturdy cotton and takes more punishment, but its print needs the same care: wash inside out at 30 °C, dry in the air and iron inside out.

With these habits the print stays bright through a great many washes. Looking for a new favourite? Have a look around our shop.

When clothes bought online go back, the reason is usually the size, not the quality. There is no need to guess: all you need is a T-shirt you already own and like the fit of, plus a tape measure. Five minutes later you will know which of S, M, L, XL and XXL is yours.

Measure the shirt, not yourself

Lay your favourite T-shirt flat on a table and measure two things:

• Half chest (A) — straight across the shirt, from one armpit to the other.
• Length (B) — from the highest point of the shoulder down to the hem.

Our chart gives exactly these two measurements, so there is nothing to double or convert — compare your numbers directly with the table below.

Our T-shirt measurements

Measurements are in centimetres and come from the garment maker’s size table. The height range is our suggestion, not a rule.

What to look at first

• Chest width matters most: it decides whether the shirt sits loose or feels tight.
• Length matters if you wear your tee untucked — if you like it longer, lean towards the bigger size.
• Your height is a good tie-breaker when you are between two sizes.

A unisex fit sits looser

All our T-shirts have a classic unisex cut: a straight silhouette with no waist shaping. For women that usually means a slightly looser fit than a women’s cut; for men it is the familiar relaxed fit. For a closer fit, go one size down; for a looser, slightly oversized look, go one size up.

Cotton and the first wash

The shirts are 100% cotton with a fabric weight of 220 g/m². Cotton can shrink a little in the first few washes, mostly in length. Wash at 30 °C and skip the tumble dryer and the change stays small — but if you are between two sizes, the bigger one is the safer choice.

Still unsure? Send us the measurements of your favourite shirt and we will help you choose. All the designs are on the T-shirts page.