Front Loaded220gsm · DTG£27
SLAM AW26
The new RIP drop. Heavyweight tees, hoodies and everyday layers.
Shop the drop →
RIP Industries220 GSMCombed cottonSlam AW26Real In Progress
Slam AW26 / built from the garment up
HeavyweightT-shirts
Proper weight. Good shape. Built to stay in rotation.
Slam / 220gsm
The heavyweight pair.
Two Slam AW26 tees use our verified 220gsm Premium Heavy Tee profile: substantial combed cotton, a structured regular fit and construction designed to keep its shape.
Front Loaded220gsm · DTG£27
Abducted220gsm · Embroidery£27
Slam is the current drop. The guide below stays useful after the season changes: it explains what the garment specification actually means.
See all T-shirts220
grams per square metre
The number explained
What does 220gsm actually mean?
GSM means grams per square metre. It measures the mass of the fabric across a fixed area. In practical terms, a higher GSM usually feels more substantial than a lighter fabric of similar construction.
Our Premium Heavy Tee uses 220gsm combed cotton with a regular unisex fit, ribbed crew neck, side seams, shoulder-to-shoulder taping and double-needle hems. It gives the shirt more structure without turning it into armour.
GSM is useful. It is not a quality score by itself. Fibre, construction, finish and fit still matter.
Find your weight
Not every good tee should feel the same.
GarmentWeightCottonFit & feel
Premium Heavy Tee220gsmCombed cotton*Structured regular unisex fit
Women's Heavy Tee240gsmCarded cottonRelaxed boxy fit, garment-dyed finish
Classic Tee193–203gsmCottonClassic regular unisex fit
* Premium Heavy Tee marle colourways contain 15% viscose. Classic Tee: white is 193gsm; colours are 203gsm. Check each product page for the exact garment specification.
How the artwork gets thereEmbroidery DTG
Embroidery or print?
Thread stitched into the garment gives a tactile, raised finish. We use it where a smaller, restrained mark benefits from texture rather than more ink.
Direct-to-garment printing puts ink directly into the fabric. It gives detailed or larger artwork room to work without forcing every design into the same treatment.
Fit without bullshit220gsm Premium Heavy 240gsm Women's Heavy 193–203gsm Classic
Structured. Relaxed. Classic.
Structured
Regular unisex shape with enough fabric weight to hold a cleaner silhouette. Choose your normal size for the intended fit.
Relaxed
A boxier women's fit with dropped shoulders and a garment-dyed, lived-in finish.
Classic
Regular unisex fit with a slightly lighter everyday feel than the Premium Heavy Tee.
Why RIP tees
The T-shirt isn't an afterthought.
Good artwork on a weak garment is still a weak T-shirt. We start with weight, shape and construction, then decide what belongs on it.
01Weight
02Shape
03Construction
04Artwork
05Decoration
Useful answers
Heavyweight T-shirt FAQ.
What is a heavyweight T-shirt?
A heavyweight T-shirt uses a more substantial fabric than a lighter everyday tee. GSM is one useful way to compare fabric weight, but fibre, construction, finish and fit also change how a shirt feels.
Is 220gsm heavyweight?
For RIP, 220gsm is our Premium Heavy Tee standard. It gives the combed-cotton fabric a noticeably substantial, structured feel while still working as an everyday T-shirt.
Are all RIP T-shirts 220gsm?
No. Our Premium Heavy Tee is 220gsm, the Women's Heavy Tee is 240gsm, and the Classic Tee is 193gsm in white and 203gsm in colours. The product page shows the exact garment profile.
How should a heavyweight T-shirt fit?
There is no single heavyweight fit. RIP's 220gsm Premium Heavy Tee uses a regular unisex fit, while our 240gsm Women's Heavy Tee is relaxed and boxy. Choose based on the silhouette you want, not the GSM number alone.
What's the difference between an embroidered and printed T-shirt?
Embroidery uses thread stitched into the garment, creating a tactile raised finish. DTG printing applies ink directly to the fabric and works well for detailed or larger artwork. RIP uses both depending on the design.
How should I wash a heavyweight cotton T-shirt?
Follow the care information on the individual product. For our 220gsm Premium Heavy Tee, wash inside out with similar colours, line dry and do not iron directly over the decoration.