Giant T-Shirt Tags: History and How to Date Them
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Giant was the merchandise arm of Giant Records and Merchandising, a joint venture founded in 1990, and its tag appears on many of the best-known 1990s rock and grunge tees. A Giant tag therefore points to 1990 or later, and the blank maker named on it helps narrow the date.
Company history
JoeTheCollector's Giant history records that rock manager Irving Azoff left MCA Records in 1990 and launched Giant Records and Merchandising as a joint venture with Warner Music Group. Unlike some rivals, Giant put its blank suppliers on the tag, mainly Anvil, Tee Jays and Tultex, so a shirt reads "Giant by Tultex" or "Giant by Anvil". Its licensed artists included Nirvana, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails, and the same source gives 2013 as the end of production.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Giant tag | From 1990 | Nothing earlier carries it |
| Co-branded tag ("Giant by Tultex", "Giant by Anvil", Tee Jays) | 1990s | The blank maker named on the tag |
| End of production | 2013 | Later Giant-style tags are not original |
What it helps date
- Our band tee values and fake vintage band tees guides list Giant among merchandise tags that date 1980s and 1990s shirts; check the tag style against dated examples.
- Compare with Brockum and Winterland.
Sources
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Related
- Brockum T-Shirt Tags: History and How to Date ThemDate a Brockum band tee: founded as Krimson in 1974, generic RN 69761 tags under CPI from 1984, silver Brockum tags from 1988, and 1980s tour tee values.
- Winterland T-Shirt Tags: History and How to Date ThemWinterland Productions history: concert t-shirts from 1974 in San Francisco, the Rock Express retail arm, the 1988 sale to MCA, and Grateful Dead tee values.
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