An original painting on canvas from the VanArtHub gallery at 1242 Davie Street in Vancouver.

Objects & textiles · Vancouver

Jersey & Sports Shirt Framing

A signed jersey framed in a shadow box deep enough that nothing is pressed flat, mounted so the fabric hangs and can be taken out again undamaged. Framed in Vancouver at 1242 Davie Street.

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A jersey is fabric, and fabric framed badly dies slowly. Pressed flat against glass it loses the texture that made it worth keeping. Hung from two points at the shoulders it stretches out of shape over a few years under its own weight. Both are avoidable, and both are what a shadow box is for.

How we mount one

The jersey is laid out on a padded, acid-free board and stitched to it at several points across its whole area, so the weight is carried everywhere rather than at the shoulders. The thread is fine and it is chosen so it can be cut later without marking the fabric. Nothing is glued, nothing is pinned through the cloth, and nothing is trimmed.

The box is then built to the depth of the jersey itself, with spacers holding the glazing clear of the highest point. A signature or a number sitting proud of the surface decides that depth, not a stock box size.

Signatures and numbers

If the jersey is signed, say so when you bring it in. A signature in marker is one of the fastest-fading things we handle, so that piece gets UV glazing as a floor rather than an upgrade, and it is positioned so the signature is not sitting in direct light from a window.

What we need

The jersey, and a sense of how you want it to read: laid flat and square, or folded to show a number, or angled. Bring it in to 1242 Davie Street and we will lay it out with you, because it is much easier to decide with the thing in front of you than from a description.

stitched at six points, nothing glued spacerholds glazingoff the fabric
A jersey is supported across its whole area rather than hung from the shoulders, because fabric carrying its own weight from two points stretches out of shape over years. It is stitched to a padded, acid-free board with a fine thread that can be cut later, never glued or pinned through the fabric.

How it works

  1. 1

    Bring it in, or send photographs

    Walk in to 1242 Davie Street during opening hours. If you are not in Vancouver, send the dimensions and a photograph and we will work from that.

  2. 2

    We look at the actual piece

    What it is made of, what condition it is in, and where it is going to hang all change the answer. You get a straight recommendation and a price for your piece, not a rate card.

  3. 3

    It is made by hand and fitted

    Cut to the piece, using conservation materials, and finished with hanging hardware rated for the actual weight.

Common questions

Will framing a jersey damage it?

Not the way we mount one. It is stitched to a padded acid-free board with a fine thread that can be cut later, so nothing is glued, nothing is pinned through the fabric and nothing is trimmed. The piece can be taken out again intact.

Why does a jersey need a shadow box rather than a normal frame?

Because fabric has depth and texture. Pressed flat against glass it loses the texture that made it worth keeping, and in a humid room fabric in contact with glass is also where mould starts. A shadow box gives it depth and an air gap.

Can you frame it so the number or the signature shows?

Yes. It can be laid flat and square, folded to show a number, or angled. Bring it in and we will lay it out with you, because that decision is much easier with the jersey in front of you than from a description.

Does a signed jersey need special glazing?

Yes, and it is worth insisting on. A signature in marker is one of the fastest-fading things we handle, so a signed piece gets UV glazing as standard and is positioned so the signature is not in direct light from a window.

How heavy is a framed jersey?

Heavier than it looks, because the depth adds frame and glazing. We fit hanging hardware rated for the finished weight rather than the usual two hooks, and on drywall that often means finding a stud or using a cleat.

Can I take the jersey out later?

Yes, and that is the point of stitching rather than gluing. The thread is cut and the jersey lifts off the board undamaged. Anything glued or dry mounted cannot be reversed.

Other things we frame

Where to find us

VanArtHub Gallery 1242 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1N3
Canada
Monday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Get directions Call (604) 401-9499

Not sure what yours needs?

Send the measurements, what it is made of, and a photograph. We will tell you what it actually needs, including when the answer is that it needs less than you expected.

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