A compliment from a satisfied client is one of the greatest feelings in the world. You know that you've earned your money, done some good, and can have a reasonable expectation of an enjoyable relationship in the future, to say nothing of future sales. 

Every now and then, you get a compliment that goes a little above and beyond the usual, and just warms your very soul. We got one of those today from one of our clients on eBay, and we proudly share it here:

Now THAT'S what I call service!

We had the wonderful opportunity to print shirts for Dr. Rodney Hyduk of Orthodontics by Hyduk, a phenomenal Orthodontist in Troy, MI. While we are inclined to say all of our clients are phenomenal in what they do, after meeting Dr. Hyduk's wife and daughter, we have concluded that either the family has wonderful tooth genetics, or he is very skilled indeed.

Furthermore, Dr. Hyduk's son designed their logo, which would be cool for a band let alone a doctor's office, and we were very happy to put our names on the sleeves (thanks, Nancy!)

Did you know that most art historians attribute Mona Lisa's coy grin to the fact that she was originally depicted wearing a "Frankie Says Relax" t-shirt?

Da Vinci, who painted her, was several decades her senior and hated pop music. Because of this, he would have had no idea of the secret, R-rated meaning behind the slogan. Several hundred years after the fact, Vatican officials - fully aware of Frankie and his debauchery - had the shirt replaced with a modest tunic, which is what is now on display at the Louvre.

This moment in t-shirt history brought to you by the Ann Arbor Screen Printing Society of Screen Printing Screen Printers. 

Did you know that Iowa farmer Jeremiah Hewitt adamantly refused to be depicted without his Stone Cold Steve Austin t-shirt at his sitting for painter Grant Wood's iconic AMERICAN GOTHIC?

After fifty three minutes of tense negotiations, Hewitt finally relented after Woods promised to let him hold a pitchfork.

This moment in t-shirt history brought to you by the Ann Arbor Screen Printing Society of Screen Printing Screen Printers.

As a t-shirt company, we get a lot of requests for favors by non-profits. We help whenever possible - and want to give a quick shout out to two of our favorites that we've donated to this month.

Girls With Wings 

Girls with Wings promotes the awesome idea of getting little girls to realize how much cooler being a pilot is than being a princess. While the Ann Arbor T-shirt Company is a male-owned company, we whole-heartedly support the advancement of cool women and the appreciation thereof (Jerry is dating a rock-climbing lawyer). Less Lohan, more Earhart!

Our good friend and lady-pilot Pam Palmieri brought this group to our attention, and will be flying in the Air Race Classic next week to raise money for them. We are proud to have opened our wallets, and encourage you to do the same!

The Journey of Hope

The Journey of Hope is a two month, 4,000 mile bicycle ride across the continental U.S. made by a team of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity brothers from around the nation. It raises over $500,000 for people with disabilities, and the riders stop in a new town every night to spend time working and playing with the grant recipients. 

Ann Arbor T-shirt Company co-owner Jerry Kozak rode the Journey from San Francisco to Washington D.C. in 2005, and we are proud to donate his bicycle + a cash gift to the University of Michigan's Sean Hazaray for this year's trek. 

Rad Fact: Bull sharks, otherwise known as the shark most likely to attack humans, have been found as far as 2500 miles up freshwater rivers. One was found in the Mississippi River in the St. Louis harbor.  

SuperRad T-shirt Fact: Bull sharks hate t-shirts. Scientists have never observed a single specimen wearing one, and it is speculated that a swimmer was attacked in Daytona Beach, FL in 1981 simply because he was wearing an ABBA t-shirt. It is also postulated that bull sharks, like the rest of nature, simply hate ABBA.

Rad Fact: Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was one of the key witnesses in the 1979 Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for home video recording, testifying that he liked the thought of families recording his show to watch together at a later date.

SuperRad T-shirt Fact: If by chance you were to sneak a peak under Fred's trademark red cardigan, you would find a t-shirt printed to look like a red cardigan. It was a little sweatier than the real one.

We get asked a lot of questions about our shirts, and have decided to set out to answer them in a series of blog posts titled "Know Your Shirt."

T-shirts aren't rocket science, but there is a wide array of options available on the market and a knowing a few key attributes can determine whether your next one finds its way into the Goodwill bin or the bottom of the laundry basket.

Fabric Weight

When dealing with 100% cotton shirts, the quality of the garment is largely determined by the fabric weight. Shirt fabric is measured in ounces per square yard. For the large generic brands (Gildan, Hanes, Anvil, Port and Co, Jerzees, Fruit of the Loom) you can choose between 5.3 oz and 6.1 oz fabric. 5.6 oz shirts tend to be light and wispy, yet somehow also scratchy. They shrink to a greater degree and generally end up feeling like a rag after several washings. They are also cheaper, and many printers use them as a default. Be sure to ask! ....we obviously default to a 6.1 oz because we love our clients and would like to see them again.

The exception to this rule is fashion shirts, like those found in American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, etc. these tend to be in the 3.8 - 4.5 oz range, but are sewn in a fine jersey knit (flat, tightly bound fibers) and use ringspun (ultra-soft) cotton. They are not as durable in the sense that they would make a poor choice for a carpenter working around protruding nails, but they will not fall apart or fit poorly, either. On the contrary, they are some of the most comfortable shirts on the market. 

We recommend choosing your shirt weight based on it's intended use:

Vintage-Feel / Sheer Fabric: 3.7 oz

Characteristics: Extremely soft and light. Great in hot weather.

Example: American Apparel Tri-blend

Use: Being the comfiest mofo on the block.

Fashion-fit Ringspun Cotton: 4.3 oz

Characteristics: Softer and lighter than standard shirts, but more durable and warmer than vintage fabrics.

Example: American Apparel 2001

Use: Everyday wear around town - nothing heavy duty

Light-weight generic cotton: 5.3 oz

Characteristics: Cheap, scratchy cotton. This is because few, if any, companies make a fashion 5.3oz, but rather offer it only as a cheaper alternative to the 6.1oz. These tend to be the least expensive shirts on the market, and thus many non-quality minded printers' first choice.

Example: Gildan 5000

Use: Spending as little money as possible on your shirt order, preferably if someone else will be wearing it. 

Heavy-weight generic cotton: 6.1oz

Characteristics: Warm, durable, and comfortable.

Example: Gildan 2000

Use: Athletics, yard work, cooler weather.

Super heavy-weight cotton: 7oz

Characteristic: Very warm, very durable. Typically spec'd out for military use. May be able to stop bullets, but don't quote me on that.

Example: American Apparel HJ401

Use: Hunting in the Arctic. These are the warmest and most durable tees on the market.

9+ oz fabric: Congratulations, you're wearing fleece! We print that, too!