Pop culture T-shirts dominated by American company, 80sTees.com

By April MacIntyre Nov 27, 2009, 23:18 GMT

Are you a "Sunny In Philadelphia" fan? You may have noticed the very cool Paddy\'s pub t-shirts and other inside jokes splayed on graphic shirts featured on the FX comedy, all courtesy of 80sTees.com.

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Are you a "Sunny In Philadelphia" fan?  You may have noticed the very cool Paddy's pub t-shirts and other inside jokes splayed on graphic shirts featured on the FX comedy, all courtesy of 80sTees.com.

The robust American company is the top online retail source for pop culture T-shirts from the 80s and other decades too.

80sTees is an online retailer of licensed T-shirts from movies, TV shows, cartoons, videogames, comic books, and rock stars. The owner, Kevin Stecko, launched 80sTees.com in January '00 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, which is just outside of Pittsburgh, PA.

Stecko was obsessed as a kid with 1980s toys such as the Masters of the Universe collection. The 80sTees business idea really started in the summer of 1999 when Kevin wore a He-Man t-shirt to Kennywood, a Pittsburgh amusement park. Throughout the day so many people approached him and asked, "Where did you get that shirt?".

He realized that these shirts obviously were not easy enough to find, and he changed that by creating 80sTees.com.

80sTees.com currently has 8 T-shirts officially licensed by the producers of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" hit series on FX.

Monsters and Critics' smallscreen editor April MacIntyre caught up with Kevin and had some questions for him.

Kevin Stecko

What is the process to create a graphic design for a t? How do you decide if something is going to sell, or catch?

Kevin Stecko: The creative process starts with the idea, the we look timing.

We go over our list of available licenses, get a sense of whats going to be popular, and then we see if we can time it to a holiday or movie release.

By way of example - during the summer, when the Transformers and GI Joe movies were raising awareness, we made sure to a good solid and varying selection of of retro designs out.  Then, during Halloween we try to design shirts that can be used as costumes for the characters.

It is definitely more art than science in terms of figuring out or predicting what is going to sell.

We try to design for the hardcore fan since that is one really good niche for us.

Sunny in Philadelphia has grown in audience, wrapping their 5th season.  Which of their t-shirts is the best seller for you?

Kevin Stecko: The Paddy's Irish Pub t-shirt is our top number one selling Always Sunny shirt. 

Its a shirt that works on so many levels. It was worn on the show, so it works as a costume. 

Its also a great St. Patrick's day shirt - because it's green and says IRISH PUB - and ultimately it's a kind of “secret handshake” that only other fans of the show will get.  If someone comments on your shirt it's a way of connecting, knowing they are members of the fan club so to speak.

What color t-shirt is the most sold, for your company?

Kevin Stecko: Black is the new black for us as its our number one color, mainly because artwork looks so good on black shirts.

How have the styles of t-shirts changed over the years? Are the retro ones still the favorites?

Kevin Stecko: Ringer shirts were all the rage when we started in 2000.  Now, the trend is back to solid color tees with a softer fabric and slimmer fit.

The retro shirts still comprise the majority of our sales, but the current shows and movies like Always Sunny, How I Met Your Mother, and The Hangover are also strong sellers. 

There are also a lot of "new retro" movies and shows that are popular.  Big Lebowski, Seinfeld, Anchorman, and Tommy Boy are good examples of "new retro" properties that we do well with.

How big is your company?  When did it all begin?

Kevin Stecko: Well, I’ve always been into cool looking T-shirts with characters since I was a little kid, so I guess it really did begin in the 80s. We started 80sTees.com the company in 2000 and we now have 15 full time and 14 part time employees, and the company is run out of a 45,000 square foot warehouse.

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Hook up a friend with a cool 80sTee here: HERE