How it started (by accident):
SUM SHIRTS started the way a lot of good ideas do — after too many beers before a Cubs game and one wildly specific shirt that said:
Mustaches + Scotch + Cigars + Bacon = AMERICAN
It wasn’t meant to start a brand, just conversations. But when strangers started stopping us, photographing it, and asking where to get one, we knew we were onto something special.
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July 2009
Very First SUM + SHIRT
What we make:
We make shirts for people who speak fluent
Puns + Sarcasm + Nostalgia + Wit
(with a heavy dose of Fandom)
Every design is a wink — subtle, clever, and even more fun if you get it.
The kind of shirts that makes people smile… then ask where you got it.
Why people trust us:
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Family-owned and Michigan-based
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Designed by real people, not trend bots
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Printed on ridiculously soft tees you’ll actually wear
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Reliable shipping backed by real customer service (yes, that still exists)
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Built on community, not just clicks
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Worn by real people, in real life.
Meet the family:
SUM + SHIRTS is family-owned, family-run, and occasionally family-interrupted (by kids and a dog).
It’s Anthony and Alyssa — partners in life, parenting, and turning sarcasm, nostalgia, and inside jokes into ridiculously soft shirts. What started as a joke between the two of us slowly turned into something bigger… mostly because we couldn’t stop making shirts and people wouldn’t stop asking where to get them.
Our kids, Jake & Allie, pitch in with ideas, pass out stickers at festivals, and serve as our most honest focus group (they’re not subtle). And yes, our dog Punky Marie Barkster — the HBIC (Head Bitch in Charge) — oversees quality control, morale, and snack schedules.
This isn’t a big operation (yet). It’s a real one. Built at the kitchen table, tested in the real world, and powered by people who actually wear the shirts they make.
Built on community:
SUM + SHIRTS didn’t grow because of ads, algorithms, or chasing trends. It grew because of people — neighbors, friends, parents, fans, and complete strangers who got the joke and wanted to wear it.
You’ll find us at local festivals, school events, pop-ups, and sidelines. Handing out stickers. Talking shirts. Hearing stories. Celebrating hometowns, inside jokes, and the small moments that make places feel like home.
From Local Legend shoutouts to Free Tee Friday, this brand has always been about connection first and clicks second. If you’ve ever worn one of our shirts and had someone stop you to say “okay… where did you get that?” — you’re already part of it.
Community-built. Conversation-powered.
We make clever shirts.
You look clever wearing them.
Teamwork makes the math work.