A white T-shirt is often seen as the most classic basic garment. But how "basic" is your basic white T-shirt?
I explored the construction of "basic white tees" from various brands, examining them from an inside perspective. By capturing the volumetric surface area of the insides, I hoped to bring out the subtle uniqueness of these shirts from the differences in linings and looming methods to the placement of tags and the varying hues of "white."
UNIQLO LEVI'S PROCLUB
HURLEY MATIN KIM MANGO
Approach
I collected white shirts people wear from different brands. I used a 360-degree camera to get a fisheye perspective of the shirts and edited them to upload into a spherical viewer. This approach allowed an immersive navigable experience, giving you a feel of what it's like to be inside these shirts and appreciate the details that set them apart.
Process
Setup: 1 Softbox, 1 Box Fan, 2 Foldable Panel Reflectors, 1 Chair dolly platform under the fan to allow airflow, 1 Rectangular Lightbox for even light distribution, clothespins, and string.
An expandable funnel was necessary to direct airflow and allow access to manipulate the shirts.
I uploaded the edited images to a JavaScript-based tool that renders and allows interaction with 360° panoramic images. Finally, to enable simultaneous navigation, I made an HTML website with all the shirts.
Summary
By only focusing on the inside of the garments, I highlighted the structural details that are often overlooked by the external appearance or branding.
This concept challenges traditional consumer habits, pushing back against superficial buying trends and the impact of mass production. It encourages consumers to think more critically about the construction and quality of the items they purchase.
