Seriously cool Shanghai T-shirts for this summer

Shanghai’s touristy fake markets often lead people to think that the city has no cooler T-shirts than the “ObaMao” mash-up or those emblazoned with pant-splitting Chinglish slogans.

To prove this wrong, we trawled the major shopping districts in Shanghai and found these 10 bright, original and thought-provoking numbers, made by the city’s best indie designers and T-shirt brands.

The design by Wang Meng for Volcom T-shirt.

Wang Meng for Volcom's Featured Artists Series

Price: RMB 180 (available at the end of July)
Gender: Male
This design from Beijing-based artist, animator and VJ, Wang Meng, was one of three winning entries in a competition on the NeochaEDGE website. Major themes in Wang's work include innocence and a yearning for childhood. The artist says: “I'm gonna regret the rest of my life if I give up my Transformers and be a mamma's boy.”

Where to buy: The Source, 158 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu 新乐路158号, 近东湖路, + 86 21 5404 3808, www.thesource.cn, Monday - Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday - Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

QQ Zhao's T-shirt design is fresh and youthful.

QQ Zhao for Adidas Be Faster Urban Artist Series

Prices: RMB 280
Gender: Male (other T-shirt designs in the series cater to women)
This is Adidas' first artist collaboration in China for its “Performance” apparel line. The theme of the series is “Be Faster.” All of the pieces –- including this dynamic and abstract example by QQ Zhao –- are fresh, youthful and relevant to local audiences. 
Where to buy: 5/F, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Jiangning Lu 南京西路1038号5楼, 近江宁路, +86 21 6218 1205, www.adidas.com, daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Nini Sum's design for cutting-edge Japanese Tee brand Graniph.

Nini Sum for Graniph Chinese Designer Project

Price: RMB 200
Gender: Unisex
It would be remiss of any “best of” Shanghai T-shirts list not to include an example from Nini Sum, one of the city's more imaginative and innovative artists and graphic designers. This adorable T-shirt is part of a collaborative series between young Chinese artists and Graniph, one of Japan's most cutting-edge streetwear brands.
Where to buy: Purchase through Graniph's website

A T-shirt you won't "wang le."

Wang Le from Let's Tee

Prices: RMB 88
Gender: Female
This round-neck Chinese and English graphic tee is one of the popular models from local streetwear brand: The Thing's affordable Let's Tee line. This timeless black and white number is perfect for fashionistas who want to proudly display their forgetfulness across their chest in two languages.
Where to buy: The Thing, 276 Changle Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu 长乐路276号, 瑞金一路, +86 21 6384 9229, www.thething.cn, daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

A tee for guys who dig anatomical-chic.

X-Ray from The Thing

Prices: RMB 188
Gender: Male
This design is one of many from The Thing featuring a preoccupation with weapons and skeletal structures. Known for their bleeding-edge coolness, designs from this line of streetwear stores are not for everyone, but a great choice for guys who aren't afraid of a little bit of gross, anatomical chic.
Where to buy: The Thing, 276 Changle Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu 长乐路276号, 瑞金一路, +86 21 6384 9229, www.thething.cn, daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.