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About this design
A close-cropped, high-contrast eye in black and white beneath BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU in distressed red type.
Orwell's phrase from Nineteen Eighty-Four has followed surveillance from the poster to the phone screen. Uncomfortable in the right way. For readers of Orwell and anyone who keeps an eye on who is watching.
The story behind this shirt
Orwell's Party fills its people's days with slogans and the Two Minutes Hate. Medieval England had its own broadcast system: the Sunday sermon. In a largely illiterate society, the parish priest stood before the whole local population week after week, blending theology, social instruction and political messages. In times of rebellion or unrest, the Crown routinely told the clergy what to preach: loyalty, obedience, the divine approval of the existing order and the sin of resistance. Excommunication, meanwhile, cut a person off from the sacraments, from burial in consecrated ground and, in practice, from much of ordinary life. It amounted to a form of social death. Big Brother had older relatives than Orwell let on.
Read the full story: Orwell Wrote About the Future. He Also Wrote About the Past.
Fabric and fit
Every shirt is printed to order on a Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-shirt.
- Medium-weight fabric, 180 g/m² (5.3 oz).
- Black: 100% cotton.
- Classic unisex fit with a crew neck. Between sizes? Go up for a relaxed fit.
- Tear-away label, seamless body, ribbed collar and taped shoulders.
- Printed directly onto the fabric (DTG printing).
Size guide
| Size | Chest width | Length | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 18 in45.7 cm | 28 in71.1 cm | 15.1 in38.4 cm |
| M | 20 in50.8 cm | 29 in73.7 cm | 16.5 in41.9 cm |
| L | 22 in55.9 cm | 30 in76.2 cm | 18 in45.7 cm |
| XL | 24 in61 cm | 31 in78.7 cm | 19.5 in49.5 cm |
| 2XL | 26 in66 cm | 32 in81.3 cm | 21 in53.3 cm |
| 3XL | 28 in71.1 cm | 33 in83.8 cm | 22.4 in56.9 cm |
| 4XL | 30 in76.2 cm | 34 in86.4 cm | 23.7 in60.2 cm |
| 5XL | 32 in81.3 cm | 35 in88.9 cm | 25 in63.5 cm |
How we measure
- Chest width: across the chest, one inch below the armhole, with the shirt laid flat.
- Length: from the highest point of the shoulder to the bottom hem.
- Sleeve: from the centre back of the neck to the sleeve hem.
- Tolerance: measurements can vary by about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Fit advice
- For a more relaxed fit, size up.
- Compare these measurements with a favourite T-shirt you already own.
- If you are between sizes, the larger size is usually more comfortable.
Care
- Machine wash cold, at no more than 30°C.
- Non-chlorine bleach only, if needed.
- Tumble dry on low heat.
- Do not iron.
- Do not dry clean.
Delivery
Estimated delivery to you: 4 to 9 working days.
Delivery is free worldwide. Each shirt is made to order, and these times include production:
- United Kingdom: 4 to 9 working days
- United States: 4 to 10 working days
- European Union: 4 to 10 working days
- Rest of the world: please allow up to 45 days
Times are estimates, not guarantees, and can be longer around holidays. You will get tracking details by email when your order ships. Orders sent outside the UK may be subject to customs duties or import taxes, which are the customer’s responsibility.
Returns
Changed your mind? You can cancel for any reason within 14 days of receiving your shirt. Email sales@historiesandcastles.com with your order number, then send it back unworn and unwashed within 14 days. You pay the return postage, and we refund you within 14 days of receiving it back or receiving proof of posting, whichever is sooner.
Wrong size? Each shirt is made to order, so a different size is a new order: cancel and return the first shirt as above, and order the size you need.
Faulty, damaged or misprinted? Tell us as soon as you notice, with photographs if you can. We pay for the return, and you can reject it for a full refund within 30 days of delivery. After that, and for up to six months, we will repair or replace it, or refund you if that is not possible.
Product safety (GPSR)
- Product
- Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-shirt, printed to order
- EU authorised representative
- HONSON VENTURES LIMITED
3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, Cyprus
gpsr@honsonventures.com - Warranty
- Two-year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
- Warnings
- For adults
- Care
- Machine wash cold (max 30°C), non-chlorine bleach as needed, tumble dry on low heat, do not iron, do not dry clean
