Guide · Streetwear essentials
Shaka Wear in AustraliaMax Heavyweight
The LA heavyweight blank, on the ground in Sydney. Six cuts, one 255 GSM fabric, printed or embroidered with your artwork from a single piece.
What it is
Heavy on purpose
Shaka Wear is LA-created streetwear built around the basics. Max Heavyweight is the tee the label is known for: thick cotton, a boxy body and a lycra-ribbed collar. It is a go-to blank for brands, bands and crews who want merch that feels like retail.
It is not widely stocked in Australia. We carry six cuts and decorate them in our Sydney studio, so you get the real thing without importing it yourself.
- 7.5 oz
- Fabric weight
- 255
- GSM
- 100%
- USA cotton
- 6
- Cuts in the range
The lineup
Six cuts, one fabric
Same 255 GSM cotton across the range. What changes is the shape and the finish.
Fit finder
Which one is yours?
Pick how you want it to sit and how you want it to look. We will narrow the six down.
The weight
What 7.5 oz means
Fabric weight is how much a square yard of the cloth weighs. 7.5 ounces works out to about 255 grams per square metre, the figure you will see on Australian spec sheets.
In the hand that means a tee that hangs straight instead of clinging, holds its boxy shape, and is not see-through in white. It also gives a print a flat, dense surface to sit on.
Typical lightweight tee~150 GSM
Typical everyday tee~180 GSM
Shaka Wear Max Heavyweight255 GSM
Lightweight and everyday figures are typical for the category, for comparison only.
The finish
Garment dye, explained
Most tees are sewn from fabric that was dyed on the roll. A garment-dyed tee is sewn first, then dyed and washed as a finished shirt.
That is where the faded, already-worn colour comes from. The dye settles differently around the seams and collar, so no two pieces are exactly alike. That variation is the point, not a fault. Shaka Wear describes its garment-dyed tees as shrink-free washed.
Black
Shadow
Cream
White
Cement
Denim
Moss
Mustard
Size and fit
How each cut runs
Every cut has its own measurements. Open a style for the fit notes and the size chart.
Max Heavyweight TeeStandard fit
- Fits true to size — take your normal size for a tighter fit.
- For an oversized look we recommend going one size up.
- Standard width and length.
- Customise the Max Heavyweight Tee
Oversized TeeOversized
- Take your usual size for a relaxed oversized fit.
- Prefer a slightly cleaner shape? Size down for a trimmer body while keeping the signature wide sleeves.
- Oversized width, shorter length.
- Customise the Oversized Tee
Garment Dye TeeSlightly oversized
- Fits slightly oversized on the chest and length — take your normal size for a slightly looser fit.
- Slightly oversized sleeves.
- Customise the Garment Dye Tee
Garment Dye Drop ShoulderDrop shoulder
- Oversized width and shoulders with a shorter length.
- We recommend sizing down for the ideal oversized look.
- Customise the Garment Dye Drop Shoulder
Cropped TeeCropped
- True to size for a relaxed, cropped and boxy fit — size up for a more oversized look.
- Redesigned in August 2026 with a more relaxed, boxy silhouette than previous releases.
- Customise the Cropped Tee
Long Sleeve TeeStandard fit
- Keep it true to size for a tailored feel, or size up for a slightly oversized look.
- Customise the Long Sleeve Tee
Make it yours
Printing on Shaka Wear
All-cotton heavyweight takes every method we run. Which one suits depends on your artwork and how many you need.
From one piece
Full-colour print
A digital transfer pressed onto the tee. Handles photos, gradients and as many colours as your artwork has. The way to test a design or run a small drop.
From 25 pieces
Screen print
Ink pushed through a screen, one colour at a time. Soft, light feel and the classic choice for bold one to three colour graphics on a bigger run.
Why screen printing has setup costsFrom one piece
Embroidery
Your logo stitched into the fabric. Heavyweight cotton holds stitching well, so a small chest logo tends to sit flat.
Quick answers
Shaka Wear FAQ
Can you get Shaka Wear in Australia?
Yes. SC Prints carries six Shaka Wear Max Heavyweight styles, printed or embroidered in Sydney and shipped Australia-wide. You can order a single piece.
What is 7.5oz in GSM?
7.5 ounces per square yard is about 255 grams per square metre. A typical everyday tee is closer to 180 GSM, so Max Heavyweight is noticeably thicker and holds its shape.
What is Shaka Wear Max Heavyweight made of?
100% USA cotton, in a dense heavyweight knit.
How does Shaka Wear sizing run?
It depends on the cut. The Max Heavyweight Tee and Long Sleeve are true to size. The Oversized Tee is cut wide and short, so take your usual size for a relaxed fit. The Drop Shoulder runs big and is usually sized down. Every style has its own size chart on this page.
Is there a minimum order?
No. Full-colour prints and embroidery are available from one piece. Screen printing starts at 25 pieces.
Put your name on it
Pick a cut, drop your artwork on it in the customiser and see it before you order.