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About this design
A fractured Big Brother eye watches from behind bold 1984 lettering, a clean, striking design that anyone who has read Orwell will recognise at a glance.
Nineteen Eighty-Four was published in 1949, and its picture of surveillance, propaganda and rewritten records still feels close to home. A thoughtful gift for readers, students and anyone who likes their T-shirts to start a conversation.
The story behind this shirt
George Orwell published Nineteen Eighty-Four in 1949, and his Winston Smith spends his days at the Ministry of Truth altering old newspapers to fit the Party line. Rewriting the past was not a new idea. In medieval England the monasteries ran the scriptoria, the only institutions with the literacy and resources to produce and keep written records. Chronicles, charters, land grants and saints' lives all passed through church or royal hands. The people who gained most from a particular version of history were often the same people writing it down and keeping it safe. When a king needed a conquest made legitimate, the chronicles obliged. Orwell imagined a future. He was also describing a very old habit.
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).
- White: 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).
- White can look slightly off-white because of the natural cotton.
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









