Filson T-Shirts

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Filson t-shirts are heavier than most, in cotton jersey cut for work rather than for a slim fit, with the graphics drawn from the company's own archive — the bear, the frontier logo, the fly-fishing

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8 products

What a Filson t-shirt is

A heavier cotton jersey than most brands use, generally cut with a fuller body than a fashion tee. Filson has been making work clothing in Seattle since 1897, when Clinton C. Filson opened on First Avenue to supply prospectors heading for the Klondike, and the t-shirts are the least complicated thing it makes — but the weight of the cotton is the reason they last, and the reason they do not cling after a wash. Check the measurements on the product page if you want a close fit.

The graphics on Filson tees

Most of the range carries a print rather than a plain chest logo, and the imagery is company property rather than decoration. The bear and the fly-fishing marks come from Filson's hunting and angling side, the frontier logo from its outfitting one, and the scenic prints from the Pacific Northwest landscapes the brand has always drawn on. They are printed small on the chest or across the back rather than sized to be read across a room. Colours run to bourbon, chilli oil, basswood and olive drab — earth tones rather than brights, which is consistent with everything else Filson does.

Waffle-knit thermals are not t-shirts

Two pieces here are not t-shirts and are priced accordingly. The waffle-knit thermal crew is a long-sleeve top in a raised grid knit: the structure traps air in the pockets between the ridges, which is what makes it warm for its weight, and thermals of this kind are normally worn as a base layer under a shirt or jacket. It costs more than double a graphic tee because it is doing a different job. If you are buying for summer, the short-sleeve tees are the ones you want; if you are buying to layer under a Mackinaw jacket in December, the thermal is.

See Filson shirts, browse Filson jackets and coats, or look at Filson caps and hats.

Filson T-Shirts FAQs

A long-sleeve top knitted in a raised grid, so the fabric holds air in the recesses and insulates for its weight. It is a base layer, meant to go against the skin under a shirt or jacket rather than on its own. Useful in genuinely cold weather and unnecessary the rest of the year, which is worth knowing given it costs more than twice a graphic tee.
The bear, the fly-fishing marks and the frontier logo are all long-standing Filson imagery, tied to the hunting, angling and outfitting sides of the business. The prints are applied small — a chest mark or a back print — rather than dominating the shirt.
Cool machine wash and dry flat or on a line rather than tumble drying, which is the main cause of shrinkage in heavier cotton jersey. Turn printed shirts inside out before washing to keep the graphic from cracking. Waffle-knit thermals are best washed cool and reshaped while damp, as the knit structure can pull out of shape if wrung.
Both Yards Store shops stock the brand: 13 Old Bank Street in Manchester and 86 Pinstone Street in Sheffield. Ranges differ between the two, so ring ahead if you want a particular size or print.