Stories from the Shirt World

The greatest shirt ever made was produced in several countries at once, and no two versions are identical. A close look at five originals side by side.

Replicas have become good enough to fool most buyers. These are the details that give them away, from wash tags to stitching.

A thirty year old shirt needs different care than a modern one. Here is how to keep yours in the condition you bought it.

The term gets used across the collecting world, but what does it actually mean? And how does it differ from a match issued shirt? A complete guide.

Germany's leading vintage football fair brings together over 1,000 collectors from across Europe at every edition. Here is everything you need to know.

Thinking about getting into vintage shirt collecting? Here is how to start smart, avoid the common mistakes, and build a collection that lasts.

Vintage or retro, and which should you buy? A clear, no-nonsense guide to the difference, and why it matters for your money.

A pattern nobody noticed until it was too late. The story of the Fiorentina shirt that was pulled from sale, and why it became one of the most collectable kits ever made.

Bayern shirts are everywhere. Genuine match worn Bayern shirts are not. What to look for, what documentation matters, and why this club is a strong place to start.

A Certificate of Authenticity can be the difference between a shirt worth hundreds and one worth a fraction of that. Here is what a good one actually contains.

The single biggest reason people hesitate to buy vintage. How sizing has changed over the decades, and how to work out what will actually fit you.

Prices have climbed sharply in recent years. An honest look at what drives value, what tends to hold it, and why buying purely for profit is usually a mistake.

Where to find original vintage shirts in the Netherlands, what to watch out for, and why buying locally has real advantages.

Where the shirts come from, what we say no to, and why we would rather list ten good pieces than a hundred ordinary ones.

A number on the label instead of S, M or L. What the Adidas player sizing system tells you, what it does not, and why code 9 is not the same as a plain XL.