Everyone’s got that one T-shirt in their drawer that is hands-down their favorite. It’s been worn and washed so many times, the thread is coming unraveled and there are likely thin spots in the fabric. Perhaps it’s one that’s been owned for years … and years. In addition to being a favorite go-to T, these shirts often hold a lot of history.

That’s how one wearer felt about a college bookstore T-shirt.

Recently, Mark Gibbs of Swansea, Wales, “returned” a T-shirt he purchased while visiting the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver college bookstore. But what makes this story awesome and hilarious is he purchased it as part of the Cardiff college of education rugby tour in 1981.

For those not great at math, that’s 42 years ago.

Gibbs sent the faded yellow shirt back to the store along with a tongue-in-cheek handwritten letter and several photos, according to an article shared by Vancouver is Awesome. In the letter, he states sarcastically that he is disappointed in the shirt, noting that it’s worn, shrunk, and has several paint stains.

He also included photo evidence. One was taken in 1983 depicting a relatively nice shirt, the second in 2022 showing the wear and tear. “Simply not good enough,” Gibbs wrote on the back of the 2022 photo. “Replacement T-shirt please.”

Gibbs states in the article that he wrote the letter simply to bring a smile. The plan elicited an excellent response when current UBC Bookstore director Steve Alb wrote back. Alb took it one step further and included a new T-shirt with the letter.

The “vintage” shirt is now on display at the UBC Bookstore along with the letter and photos.