Defunkd

[Classxsick12]

Can I get some help with legit checking this shirt? I’ve had some people said it was fake because the neck band is thin and the tag looks retagged. Any help would be appreciated.

[camis_wapas]

You good here!

[Classxsick12]

Are you sure? I’ve had multiple people say it looks retagged and that the neck band is a dead give away?

[jimmyj]

We looked into these not long ago:

viewtopic.php?p=21368&hilit=metallica+fuel#p21368

There are legit reasons for that sewn in tag and the other's I've found with the sewn in tag have same neckline.

Also found it on other branded tees.

Counterfeitters would not do justice to this print, so many fine details - the metallic effect on the back.

[Classxsick12]

To clarify, this Metallica shirt is different from the one I posted last time. So are you saying the neckline and tag is legit ?

[jimmyj]

Yes. What exactly are you referring to with the neckline? HA I didn't realize that was your post!

So the sewn in tag - helps to explain why the base shirt might be different, they were adding the tag to various blanks being used.

[Classxsick12]

The neckband is thin and wide. Where as the ones I’ve seen on Grailed are thicker and more narrow. (Pictures attached) I cannot see how the tag seems resewn? Sorry I’m not very verse in these things lol.

In addition, I do see another one that’s for sale on eBay that looks identical to mine in terms of the tag and neckband. (Picture attached)

[Classxsick12]

When I asked the seller about the neckband and tag, this was his response

“Hey, I can see the doubt based on the unusual collar width for this tee and the stitched in tag. There is a few good resources online that talk about all the variations of giant tags and t-shirt blanks used. They range from sewn in on blanks to manufactured tees with the tag attached during manufacturing. Most all the fakes that have surfaced recently are out of Thailand and made with the tag sewn in at production. I have never seen a bootleg 90s Giant tee from this era that wasn’t made in Thailand the last few years. Those the collars look good. They are single stitch and have everything you want but the fonts on the tags and the feel in person is just off. White is also a less common color for Giant tees. There is one other Metallica tee just like this on eBay now. But basically Giant used a ton of different tshirt to print on and they are all over the place. The designs all should match other identical tees with tag, color, etc. This Metallica one doesn’t seem to of been produced in large quantities and therefore has this look and method of production just like the other one listed on eBay right now.

“The ones on grailed are a Giant x Tultex label and that is a typical Tultex collar, thick like that. Mine was a Giant label where there is no brand of blank tee listed on them. So they would have sewn in the labels to random blanks.”

I don’t quite understand what he means.. So his has sewn on labels (giant tags?) to blank t shirts ? So any input would be helpful.

[jimmyj]

So in the first shot you posted above with the nickle beside it, that's a "sewn in" or "sewn over" tag - where it was done aftermarket- you can see there's just a basic stitch diretly into the shirt, rather than being neatly embedded under the flap, like in the instance of the other two photos you posted.

More info here: https://www.defunkd.com/sewn-in-tags/?s ... 8GqwoNJDE8

I did find the other match to yours too.

If we ignore the tags/t-shirt construction entirely, you're left with a complicated print that matches with known originals.

Check for yourself, you own two right? Look at them side by side and if you can spot any differences between the two prints.

[Classxsick12]

I ended up returning the other Metallica shirt, so I don’t have it to compare side to side. I am still unsure as if the one I have now (retagged) is legit. I see 1 on eBay and 1 sold one on Grailed that looks similar to mine (neck band is thin) with the tag being retagged. So there seems to be multiple of what I have..? But more importantly, is it legit ? lol

[jimmyj]

YES.