Been sourcing and distressing shirts for a while now, and the biggest thing I've learned: 90% of what's sold as 'vintage' on marketplaces is just new blanks run through a wash cycle. You can tell instantly by the collar stitching and the way the print cracks (or doesn't).

Real vintage distressing happens unevenly — sun fade on the shoulders where it hung, grime in the seams, print that flakes at the edges but holds in the center. If you're buying or making 'vintage' pieces, that's the tell.

Started Faded Route because I got tired of the fake stuff flooding the market. Every piece I put out is hand-picked and hand-aged, not manufactured to look old. Happy to talk sourcing/techniques with anyone building in this space.