Quick answer
You can often reduce the appearance of fading on your Age of the Stars shirt by switching to cold water, gentle detergent, and air drying, but a fully faded print cannot be restored to its original vibrancy.
Why the Age of the Stars print fades faster than you expect
The Age of the Stars shirt is printed on soft, light gray, 100% cotton shirts from Canvas and District. Cotton fibers are absorbent and can pull ink away from the surface over time, especially if you wash in warm or hot water. The screen print itself is durable, but the contrast between the light gray fabric and the dark ink makes any loss of density more visible.
There is a trade-off: the soft, garment-dyed feel that makes this shirt comfortable also means the fibers are more relaxed and can release pigment with repeated washing. You cannot have both ultra-soft hand feel and permanent print vibrancy on 100% cotton.
Diagnosis and corrective steps
- Symptom: The dark areas of the print (especially the Elden Ring text and rune details) look lighter, patchy, or have a white haze on the surface. The shirt itself may feel slightly stiffer in the printed areas. If the print has a white haze but the fabric is still dark underneath, you may be able to improve it.
- Likely cause: Residual detergent or fabric softener trapped in the cotton fibers, combined with warm water washing that gradually lifts the ink. The soft cotton fibers also abrade the print during the wash cycle. Stop using fabric softener and switch to cold water immediately.
- Corrective action: Turn the shirt inside out. Wash on cold with a gentle, liquid detergent (no bleach, no softener). Do not use any stain removers or pre-treatments on the print. Air dry flat, away from direct sunlight. This will not restore lost ink, but it will stop further fading and may remove the white haze from detergent residue. After 2-3 cold washes, the print should look as good as it will get. If you still see significant fading, the ink loss is permanent.
- When to stop or choose another option: If the print is cracked, peeling, or the fabric has pilled, no washing technique will fix it. The shirt is still wearable as a casual piece, but the graphic will continue to degrade. At that point, the most practical solution is to buy a replacement Age of the Stars shirt from Fangamer. Accept the worn look or replace the shirt. Do not attempt DIY ink reapplication or iron-on patches on a screen-printed cotton tee.
Product facts
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Age of the Stars: This official ELDEN RING shirt is printed on soft, light gray, 100% cotton shirts from Canvas and District. The light gray background makes any fading of the dark ink more noticeable, and the soft cotton construction means the fibers are more prone to releasing pigment over time.
Age of the Stars
