Morrissey / The Smiths
If you type "the smiths store" into a search bar, you usually want one of four things: a band t-shirt, a print for the wall, a poster, or a small gift such as a keyring. This page covers all four, with rough prices and a few ways to tell a decent item from a weak one. Prices below are indicative and change from seller to seller.
What a Smiths Store Usually Stocks
T-shirts dominate. Expect to pay from about £20 to £30 for a licensed cotton tee, and more for limited runs. Prints and posters sit in the £8 to £25 range depending on size, with A3 and A2 the most common formats.
Keyrings, badges and tote bags fill the lower end, often under £10. They suit people who want something from the band without wearing a slogan on their chest.
The artwork matters more than the logo. Smiths sleeves were famously built around film stills and portraits, so the best merch borrows that look: a single face, a flat colour block, the band name in a plain typeface. Anything cluttered tends to miss the point.
The designs people ask for most
- Sleeve-style portraits from the singles, in black and white or a single tint
- Lyric slogans, short and plain, often one line on the chest
- Gig-style typographic posters with Manchester dates
- Solo Morrissey designs, which are a separate market from the band
The Morrissey Shyness Is Nice tee is a good example of the slogan approach. It works because the line is short and the print is restrained.
Smiths Store Questions: Licensed or Unofficial?
This is where most buyers go wrong. Unofficial prints are everywhere, and quality varies wildly. A licensed item usually carries a neck label or hangtag naming the rights holder, and the print is sharp at the edges.
Watch for blurry artwork. A scaled-up low resolution image gives soft lettering and muddy faces, and no amount of washing fixes it.
Fabric weight is a useful check. A heavier cotton, around 180 to 200 gsm, holds its shape and keeps a print crisp after many washes. Thin shirts under 150 gsm tend to twist at the hem.
Sizing is another trap. Many band tees run roomy and a few run small, so check the listed chest width in centimetres rather than trusting the label. A medium should measure about 52 cm across the chest.
Smiths Store Prints and Posters
Posters are cheaper but easier to ruin. Paper under 170 gsm creases at the corners and curls in a frame. Look for a matte or satin finish, since gloss throws back light and makes portraits hard to read.
Framing costs often exceed the print itself. A standard A3 frame runs around £10 to £20, so factor that in before choosing a size.
For a Smiths wall, keep it simple. One large print beats five small ones, and a black frame suits the monochrome sleeves better than wood.
Beyond The Smiths: Related Merch
Many fans collect across the Manchester and British scene. A Sex Pistols t-shirt sits comfortably next to Smiths pieces, since both lean on bold, stripped-back graphics and a punk-era attitude. The Entire music store catalogue is a handy way to browse Joy Division, New Order, The Stone Roses and Oasis alongside this range.
Tip: if you already own a Smiths shirt, pick something with a different colour base. Black on black looks repetitive, and a white or grey tee gives variety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official Smiths store?
Licensed merchandise is sold through a range of retailers rather than one single shop. The safest sign is a proper label naming the licence holder. If an item has no label and a very low price, treat it with caution.
How much does Smiths merch cost?
A t-shirt typically costs from about £20 to £30, posters start around £8, and small items such as keyrings are often under £10. Limited editions and vintage originals can cost several times more.
Is Morrissey merch the same as Smiths merch?
No, they are separate lines. Smiths designs draw on the band's sleeves and logo, while Morrissey items use his solo artwork and slogans. Some collectors buy both, others stick to one era.
How do I choose the right t-shirt size?
Measure a shirt you already like, flat, from armpit to armpit, and compare it with the listed chest width. Band tees vary a lot between printers, so the measurement is more reliable than the label. If you are between sizes, go up for a looser fit.
Will a printed tee fade over time?
Good screen prints last for years. Wash inside out at 30 degrees and avoid tumble drying, which cracks the ink. A shirt that fades after a few washes was probably a cheap transfer.