Upper Playground

First let me say I’m a huge fan of the artwork and artists. However was very disappointed in the quality of the t shirts. Very thin material. But that’s not the worst part. The images look plastic and you can tell they won’t hold up very well. Would love to see a different method for making the images last.

Wish I could give five stars but I was quite disappointed with my experience and the selection. The designs are great and all my stars go toward them but the execution fell flat. They ran out of my size for one of the designs so I got it printed while in-store and this may have been my fault but I didn't notice that the print wasn't exactly centered on the shirt until after I'd run it in the laundry. I get that it's a 'handmade' piece so quality varies but for $28 before tax, I'd expect better. Also, I wish they offered more variety of fits because what they have for the womens is very tight and much more sheer than the mens/unisex.

Great clothing store. Prices are a little steep, but some prices are justified depending on the nostalgia of the item. Great gift ideas if you are visiting or want to find a perfect present for someone.

Cool place, cool art, low quality material on shirts. Everything I've bought from here shrinks, plastic cracks, fades, and breaks after a few wears. I've given them chance after chance and after years of trying I think I'm done.

Waited there for 30 minutes hoping they would open; sign said they were open at noon and nobody ever showed. Just so nobody thinks I’m lying, this was on Friday, 6/7 and is probably discoverable. I paid for a $12 Uber to check them out too. Super lame…

Unique SF clothing shop, especially if you want to get someone something from the city but not your typical, touristy SF gear. Great staff.

I could seriously go broke if this shop was close to home. All of their clothes are high quality, great original designs, and affordable for a small business. I have worn and washed what I've gotten a few times over and nothing faded or shrunk which is so rare and uncommon when every large brand sources cheap fabric. I realized they have an online shop with such a huge selection while leaving this review and my wallet is not going to be happy.

Great shop in SFs Lower Haight area with amazing artwork (with collaborations from local artists) on hats, shirts, hoodies, and paper. Love the walrus logo! Always playing great music and the service is attentive yet laid back! If you want something cool from an awesome SF Institution stop and shop here, you won't regret it!

First let me say I’m a huge fan of the artwork and artists. However was very disappointed in the quality of the t shirts. Very thin material. But that’s not the worst part. The images look plastic and you can tell they won’t hold up very well. Would love to see a different method for making the images last.

Wish I could give five stars but I was quite disappointed with my experience and the selection. The designs are great and all my stars go toward them but the execution fell flat. They ran out of my size for one of the designs so I got it printed while in-store and this may have been my fault but I didn't notice that the print wasn't exactly centered on the shirt until after I'd run it in the laundry. I get that it's a 'handmade' piece so quality varies but for $28 before tax, I'd expect better. Also, I wish they offered more variety of fits because what they have for the womens is very tight and much more sheer than the mens/unisex.

Great clothing store. Prices are a little steep, but some prices are justified depending on the nostalgia of the item. Great gift ideas if you are visiting or want to find a perfect present for someone.

Cool place, cool art, low quality material on shirts. Everything I've bought from here shrinks, plastic cracks, fades, and breaks after a few wears. I've given them chance after chance and after years of trying I think I'm done.

Waited there for 30 minutes hoping they would open; sign said they were open at noon and nobody ever showed. Just so nobody thinks I’m lying, this was on Friday, 6/7 and is probably discoverable. I paid for a $12 Uber to check them out too. Super lame…

Unique SF clothing shop, especially if you want to get someone something from the city but not your typical, touristy SF gear. Great staff.

I could seriously go broke if this shop was close to home. All of their clothes are high quality, great original designs, and affordable for a small business. I have worn and washed what I've gotten a few times over and nothing faded or shrunk which is so rare and uncommon when every large brand sources cheap fabric. I realized they have an online shop with such a huge selection while leaving this review and my wallet is not going to be happy.

Great shop in SFs Lower Haight area with amazing artwork (with collaborations from local artists) on hats, shirts, hoodies, and paper. Love the walrus logo! Always playing great music and the service is attentive yet laid back! If you want something cool from an awesome SF Institution stop and shop here, you won't regret it!

Man this placed lived up to the hype! Popped in close to closing on Sunday night and were warmly greeted by Matt. He didn't rush us and was very quick to help with any questions we had. Friend and I grabbed some shirts, book and patches while enjoying all the great art around the shop. You can definitely (and easily) drop a penny here but absolutely worth it!

It would be nice for this business to be open when they say their business is open. It's Friday at a quarter to 1 and the store is closed. And good luck with ordering on line because the last time I did that, it took a month to get my merch. To add insult to injury I live on the other side of the city. The worst part about it is the have nice stuff

Was really looking forward to checking out the shop since I just moved to the neighborhood but the employee who was smoking on the stairs said "your vibe is tripping me out" and pushed me out of the doorway. Very disrespectful and rude for no reason whatsoever. I imagine there is great art and clothing in there so this is by no means bashing the owners, artists, and creatives alike. I've never been disrespected like that in any store so I'm just shocked by his behavior.

I ordered through IG on a T shirt I liked. I placed the order forgetting the Promo code on the post. Once I realized it, I sent an email to customer service asking if it was too late to do anything about it. I just a few hours a representative named Olivia reached out & notified me that the promo code discount was still valid & that they would happily credit my card for the amount. Website was easy to navigate and customer service was on point. I love my "West Coast Offensive" T shirt with Bill Walsh on it!

Used to love them before the pandummmmy The last time I went in they had old designs - this was like 2 years ago. The other day I tried to go in no one answered made it seem like they were closed so I didn't waste the trip to sf from the town Went online to order- blah selection but the design they had was on point for me and my friend - so I copped but I had also accidentally put the wrong address and emailed them the instant I saw on my confirmation email - they didn't respond till 2-3 days after- and the shipment was sent - But they did say if it was returned they would reship with no charge which is great! I am happy with the service But over all I think the changes of times has taken its toll on this really cool boutique local shop. I hope they bounce back and come back stronger than ever cus I'm a big fan! Even tho my experiences weren't 100% awesome I definitely recommend cus this place they are pretty cool! I also once got sweater from their Portland location and the quality was bomb! Def worth it.

Ubered to get here but locked at 4pm on a Friday. Cool story bro. Tried callin but straight to voicemail.

Every time I am in the city, I drop by here and pick up something uniquely San Franciscan. Love this place, cannot recommend enough for your artistic, urban, street compadres. Loyal fan since 1998. Miss the Portland shop.

I am a diehard San Franpsycho fan, but I've grown to keep Upper Playground right up there with them. The nod to local street culture and artists means you can't walk into the shop and not find something great. As a guy who already owns twice as many T-shirts as I need, I struggle to keep from buying several more when I stop by. They have a lot available online as well, but always prefer to hit up the actual shop when I can. Staff is great, really helpful and make the process easy. I'm a big guy and had someone find a couple larger shirts for me a time or two, which keeps me coming back.

I come from a family of creativity so I've always appreciated art, music, and hella cool t-shirts. And if you know me, you know I have more unique t-shirts than underwear. Seriously I could choose a different tee for everyday of the month. Upper Playground to the rescue! Upper Playground near Haight in San Francisco is the mother of all. It's the original location, founded in 1998. This location is convenient for anyone as street parking is usually available within a couple blocks - remember it's in "not as busy" lower Haight. The company highlights the work of local and international artists such as Sam Flores, Alex Padre, Jeremy Fish, David Choe, and Estevan Oriol. UP has also partnered with Adidas for past collections. Upper Playground has more than just t-shirts, but also long sleeve, hoodies, headwear, caps aka lids, books, dvds, original art, and other "street art" inspired goods. Just note that although the merchandise is popular with the next generation it is not cheap, as t-shirts average nearly $30 each, tho sales are always going on too. One of my fav t-shirts from UP is a San Francisco Giants Baseball inspired of a large walrus styling a SF Giants lid tilted to the side. Haha! Okay you either get where I'm coming from or you don't. It's relaxed wear, so no one should be stressing it, playa! Just be who we want to be. I guess working in corporate America and forced to wear suits on the daily made me appreciate the relax wear of today. Just note there's a difference between being lazy and tossing on last Tuesday's t-shirt and actually choosing an artistic inspired creation for the day. I still have to "dress up" for work nowadays, but every chance I get I'm in t-shirt & jeans. Yes, the t-shirts are hella expensive at Upper Playground, but you have to admit it's hella dope! It's all about self expression & freedom...

UP you sure have grown up! It's been a few years since I went into the shop and I was blown away by how much it had grown. The artists showcased here, as well as the UP issued items, are top notch. Being Bay Area born and raised makes it nice to stop in and grab some home squad gear. The choices were overwhelming and I wanted everything. I dialed it back to just one tee - a SJ Sharks tee. The one downgrade - the customer service. Not as on point as it was back in the day. My wife spotted a card in the front case where the register is. I asked that the card be added to the order and the employee happily added it to my order. This morning I opened up the package to check out the card and it's a map. A map. Not what my wife had in mind as she requested a "greeting card" but apparently the employees don't really know what they sell. Price point for gear is standard for street wear so be prepared to pay boutique street wear prices.

UP has delivered in providing quality products celebrating what make the West Coast home. It introduced a generation to the ability to open up possibilities in style based on culture rather than the other way around.

Upper Playground is located in the Lower Haight on Fillmore between Haight and Waller. There is meter street parking in front of the shop and limited residential parking in the area. Upper Playground's items vary from books, hats, shirts, sweaters and other accessories. All items from here are made with very good quality printing and material used. Upper Playground has many original designs from various artists. There are plenty of creative designs along with pop culture and sports inspired designs. Check out their annual sales for great deals. If you cant make it out to this location then there is an online shop and another location across the Bay Area in Berkeley off Telegraph Ave. If you're in the area and looking for unique designs and good quality clothing then come by check out Upper Playground.

I'd give a zero if possible. Shitty customer service and zero response. Ordered online a month again and still didn't get anything.

I love this local boutique in San Francisco. I've been shopping here since 2003. The artist that create the designs represent the city right. Quality shirts for a good price. In the peak of covid they closed down their store, but you can get them online and shipped out within a couple weeks. I usually shop online because they have all the styles and sizes.

I loved this store the moment I saw a small exhibition of it at the (at the time) newly built and open for business, Metreon. I found their store online and repped the brand. Whenever I am in the Yay Area, I go inside and buy everything I am able to see right away with my big bug eyes. I buy Jeremy Fish art, Ron English books, sketch and drawing journals, prints, and pillows that say the strain of good weed such as AK-47 and Sour Diesel. I just adore this store and I remember that I have been a fan since I was 17.

I went here on a rainy Thursday night and spending time in this shop completely improved my mood! I loved the wide selection of designs. I came for the t-shirts but also found hoodies, baby clothes, hats, pillows, and other things. The store is very clean and well-maintained. It's easy to find things and the people that work there are super helpful. The two men that I interacted with were so sweet, patient, and helpful. There was even a design that I'd had my eye on for a while but it only came on men's tees and one of the guys printed a new one up for me on a women's tee on the spot! He even swapped out some of the colors in a way that suited my coloring and the t-shirt color I chose. I wasn't in the store for a long time but my time spent there was the highlight of my day. I came through for the art, and left feeling joyful :-)

My husband is a fan of this clothing line and asked me if I wanted anything during the Black Friday sale of 2019. I picked the California Love racerback tank and when it arrived, the item fabric was so poorly done: whoever serged the edge of the fabric left long tails of thread stitch. Definitely a rushed job. My husband emailed them and they admitted to rushing through orders because of the high volume and they offered an exchange or refund. I opted to switch the item to a t-shirt. When the t-shirt arrived, the screen print (which was done twice) was misaligned and pretty noticeable. Because the ink was yellow on a black shirt, I understand that you have to print screen it at least 2 times because it's a bright color on a dark fabric. But, this too, seemed rushed. I figure I've past the exchange/refund time but nonetheless I'm really disappointed in Upper Playground. My family is very supportive of local brands, but not if they don't meet basic clothing quality.

Only the best in men's clothing. This place has all the best designs you see around the city. The best artists and the best gear, not just for the guys. It's all fresh. My daughter is always looking good in her shirts. They also have some sick art in the shop most of the time, really great art shows. They have a sick hat selection. Most of my favorite t's have come from Upper playground over the years. I always get mad complements on the hats. They have great jackets and bags as well. Original styling and sick designs from a bunch of artists. If you need some local goods this should always be the first stop. Once in a while they have a killer sale so it's great to be on the email list and follow them on social media. I usually suffer economically at sale time.

Designs are still dope AF, but I bought a new hella fresh kitty t-shirt here like a month ago and the threads on the beck are already breaking from the fabric. Low quality ftl.

I ordered a book in november. After waiting for weeks, bombarding them with emails, asking for help or any kind of information.. 3,5 months later, i dont have a book, they have my 140 dollars and they are not responding to my emails. Is this a scam? Was I just scammed? Hello! :)

This is one cool store loaded with designer tshirts and badass prints from various local and non-local artists. They carry a larger selection of Sam Flores prints and sell them for pretty reasonable prices for the fact that they are original and signed! The store is bigger than I expected, as they have two adjoining rooms one of which is filled more so with more upper playground branded clothing and accessories, whereas the other room is solely dedicated to the artists and their respective lines be it tshirts, sweaters or prints. The staff here is very friendly and knowledgable about their artists as well as their clothing lines and can always help you find something that suits your tastes. I must agree though, the design of their male hoodies are way better than their female lines!

Very San Francisco, street art inspired gear in the Lower Haight. If you're looking for a gift for a dude, come here. They have hats, hoodies, tees, bags, accessories and art from the same artists that do the silk screened designs. They have sizes up to 3X (but those designs are more limited). Most all of them go to 2X. They also have cute hoodies and tees for chicks and kids tees from infant to 6T. My favorite designs are by Sam Flores. They also have some heritage designs that celebrate San Francisco's history. A cup with Mr. Bimbo on it. A doggie diner plate. A shirt with the bushman. Mugs with Alcatraz mugshots. Get on their mailing list to get a heads up on their 50% off sale (everything but the art) in the store and online they have every so often.

I have seen a lot of Upper Playground designs throughout the years on the internet. I was walking around the city, saw the sign and decided to wander in. They have some great print art on these shirts. I could not justify buying a lot of them because they are very Bay Area-centric and I can't be walking around Cleveland, OH with this stuff and no direct ties to the Bay. I will probably end up buying the Libra shirt although I am on the Scorpio cusp. Maybe I could do a half and half design of both, front and back. That is one of the true Libran characteristics that I display; duality and balance. They are running an online sale for Black Friday which I need to take advantage of.

I ventured on over to Upper Playground yesterday as I was working in the area and wanted to check out some of their clothing. Inside, the first thing that struck me was how clean and orderly the place was. That made a very good first impression with me. As I browsed the neatly stacked clothing (feeling a bit guilty every time I unfolded a shirt to look at the graphic on it), I was asked politely if I needed any help but never felt pressured into buying anything. I stated I was "just looking" and was told that if I had any questions, to feel free to ask. Very cool. I picked out a couple of shirts that caught my eye and asked if I could try them on. I was led to the dressing room and the salesperson said that if I required a different size, to just let her know. Nice. Several minutes later, I was ready to make a purchase. The shirts here run a little bit on the expensive side, but as interesting as the graphics are on them, I feel like I'm wearing art, and I love art. Sweet! I'll be back again some day. I recommend you check them out, even if you have no intention to buy anything. Just walk in and check out some of the cool stuff these artist's are putting on cotton.

Used to be a big fan and supporter of this company. I was just in upper playground on November 3rd for my birthday and purchased an usugrow hoodie. I'v only washed it once and the print is cracking so bad it's unbelievable. I paid $75 dollars for the hoodie which the Material itself is really good but the print is cracking really bad after having it one month and washing it one time and hang drying it. I'm Scared to See what it looks like after the next wash. So anyone interested in purchasing some clothing from this place just a heads up that the material is good but the print may like like crap after you wash it.

Been going here for years. Great products, great featured artists collaboration - David Choe, Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish etc, great costumer service. Local Frisco streetwear artist brand.

Great street art gear. Hoodies, tshirts, beanies, etc.... They even have original art in the store from a lot of their favortie artists (all the Sam Flores prints are for sale). Staff is super friendly and if their gallery two doors down is closed they will usually pop out an open it up for you if you'd like to take peek.

Unfortunately as much as I want to support local businesses, the pictures online of the products are not the best representation of the products in person. While they use "eco friendly ink" it looks completely faded, rushed and the ink itself spreads. I wish I had known that this eco friendly ink would look like this prior to purchasing rather than relying on a photoshopped image online. Tried reaching to customer service multiple times to no avail. Might have to resort to my credit card company to refund this item. Buyers beware!

Unfortunately, this company has decided to close for the duration of the COVID pandemic but did not close their online store. I ordered items over a month ago and have not received my items. No one is available on the phone, emails are not being returned and package tracking is of course not available. My guess is they decided to stop all services but they continue to accept payment and keep payments while this shut down goes on. It's a foul business practice, fraud in fact. I'm reporting to the BBB and to the CIty of SF.

This store is awesome. I think the hours listed might be off, it's 1115am and it's still not open. Was hoping to get a last round of tees before moving out of SF :/

Loved, loved, loved this super cool skateboard/art/cloths shop - in fact I wish I lived closer so as I could kit myself out with stuff from here regularly. Based in the Haight, they have a gallery showcasing amazing artists who then design T-shirts, bags and other fashion items for a limited time that you can buy. So basically everything is there for a very short space and some of the designs were totally awesome - I was also impressed with how good value the T's were - you're talking about $25-30 for most of them. Staff were super friendly, great tunes in-store and just a cool place to hit - can't wait to get back to SF and see what they have on offer next time!

This review is for the online ordering process. I ordered 3 shirts yesterday and they came today. I live 60 miles away but good damn that was fast! I'm super excited to rep the t-shirts especially the prints from Jeremy Fish, the raddest illustrator around. Also, I want to say if you have any questions, UP responds very quickly about any sizing, garment questions. Very pleased with their response time and the information they have handy. I will be ordering from these dudes again and will be dropping in when I'm in the city next!

Upper Playground is the way I expect heaven to be, as I stepped inside I instantly felt like a kid in a candy store. I have worn Upper Playground for years, there are not too many places that carry the Upper Playground brand, which is something I both love and hate. The selection of shirts, jackets, and hats available are so dope, it is really hard to not want to empty my wallet because I want everything they have here. You will find the artwork and t shirts of Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Estevan Oriol (my personal favorite, shirts are dope). There is a great selection of artwork here, a bit pricey, like the Estevan Oriol "West Coast'" framed piece for $5,000 (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aL926g_FXBYnxHXFsbrF-A?select=FLr3_PpY8tdwVOISLRHNjQ), 5X7 and 8X10 prints, and silkscreen posters. If you're into the hip hop/street culture you'll definitely love this place, and it is definitely great place to find a dope gift for someone you heart.

Always gotta come here everytime I'm in the Bay area.... Urban, unique, street wear...with swag... People that know Upper Playground...know. Love the clothing and shirts fit great too! Very chill and laid back employees and store. My favorite are the the urban artist stuff they carry...from books, shirt prints etc... Highly recommended if you are in the area!!!

I think it's hard for a guy is to go shopping during the holidays. You get dragged into a mall with ; screaming kids, rude pedestrians, and 22 year old retail employees showing you things that make you look like "old dude in the club". Top that off with low blood sugar and it's not a good experience for the guy or anyone else in his vicinity. I recommend guys do two things. 1. Don't wait last minute to by gifts. You'll be stuck in a store with your fellow procrastinators fighting over a Nintendo Wii for your nephew. 2. Shop at small stores, you know, mom and pop and independent businesses. One of my favorite small business in SF is Upper Playground. It's great for what I call the everyday "mindful/casual" look. This place has durable gear that fits me really well, it can be intermingled with basics I already have, and they can shift into streetgear you can rock at night. You may look like a bum but you get to show you have a little style. I did about a 3rd of my x-mas shopping there;) I bought two prints for 2 couples I know, a few T's for my hommies, a couple of mugs for clients, some baby clothes, and a couple of books. You don't have to be knee deep in Hip Hop roots to shop there either. It's all about urban dwelling. You'll see a big mix of folks in there and the staff is helpful and mature, meaning- you won't have to know the the real names of the Wu-Tang Clan to stroll in and have someone help you out. go...

I remember the day very distinctly. It was the summer after fifth grade and I was swimming in our backyard pool. One of my neighborhood friends called me over to the fence and in a very contraband way passed me a cassette tape through the links. All he said was, "Listen to this." We always had a jam-box playing while we were swimming, so I popped out the tape (which was probably Phil Collins) replaced it with the new and pressed play. I ran back and jumped in the pool before the song started. It was La Di Da Di by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. It was the first rap song I had ever heard. I honestly don't remember how many times I listened to it that day but I'm sure it was on repeat til I went to bed that night. I was mesmerized. Since that day, I've been a Hip Hop Junkie. There hasn't been a time in the last 23 years where I haven't been listening to it. It's not just rap that fascinates me but Hip Hop as a whole. You may ask, "Aren't they the same?" As a much smarter man than me once said, "Rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live." That was KRS One. Hip Hop is a lifestyle. It's that lifestyle that's on sale at Upper Playground. Shirts, hats, hoodies, prints, dvds, art. It's a great spot. Spacious and clean. I'll pop in every now and again and never leave empty handed. My only complaint here is that you are watched like a hawk anytime you are in the store. They have a side room and if you walk in there and no one else is in there... an employee will magically appear in that room in a matter of seconds just to deter shoplifting I'm sure. Which I understand, but I don't like being watched while shopping. That's actually a big grievance and it really does kind of irk me, but it really is my only complaint with this store. Otherwise this would be a glowing five star review.

While these cats have posts in SF, Sac, Portland, Seattle and even Mexico City... wearing their threads makes me feel like a real local. Whether or not I actually look like a local sporting their wears is a whole other question... but at least I feel like I'm contributing a small slice of my expendable income to a solid local operation like Upper Playground. Culture-wise, they're way too cool for me. I'd look like a complete ass wipe wearing about 98% of the stuff they have on their shelves, but I can get away rockin' the other 2% of their duds without looking like too much of a poseur. If you're more hip and stylish than myself (not hard), however, you'll dig the wide assortment of unique apparel they have on stock every day at their headquarters in the Lower Haight. From loud, vibrant hoodies (as the kids call 'em) to shirts that say things like "San Franfuckingcisco," if you have the huevos to wrap yourself up in their gear, you'll be rewarded with nods and inquiries as to where you swooped it up. But again, if you buy something that makes it look as though you're entering a 1/4 life crisis by dressing like a high school student, people will take you for a daft, desperate old man. In addition to clothing, they have a small assortment of local artwork and home accents like pillows and throw blankets. They all look pretty dope, and for what it is, they won't completely drain your bank account either. Also, if you're a fan of Blik, check out the Upper Playground decals available on their website!

As stated before, I am not a tee and hoodie wearing kind of girl. I like them on guys (except for the all over print hoodies) but I only need that stuff for the gym or if I don't feel like wearing my pj's around my neighborhood on a particular day. So I didn't really expect much when I walked into Upper Playground but I came this close to actually purchasing a hoodie. It had cherry blossoms and a pretty graphic that I could almost picture myself wearing but I decided in the end it was a little too Asian for me. They also sell prints of some of the designs and if they weren't out of the ones I liked, I would have bought one. The dressing room was covered by shower curtains that would look great in my bathroom but I didn't notice them for sale anywhere around the store. This is the first store with a much larger men's section than women's section I have seen in a long time. Take that for whatever it's worth.

THIS PLACE IS WACK!!!! What would appear to to be a store celebrating independent culture influenced by hip-hop, graffiti and skateboarding is nothing but a CORPORATE HOAX. Allow me to share a little story about this poorly managed store: For the holiday's I received a sick Jeremy Fish shirt. A friend of mine picked it up at "Weathering The Storm" show in Laguna Beach, the only problem was it was a size to big. I was like oh no worries I live 4 blocks from the shop on Haight. Im sure they'll just swap it out. So I went into the store and found this wonderfully, too cool for school, kid with big black glasses at the counter. I took out the brand new perfect condition shirt, told him my predicament and asked if they could swap it out. He explained to me that because It was from a show they could not swap it out. I asked "do you guys have this shirt" He answered "yes" I said "so cant you just swap it out for a smaller size" the clerk said "no cause you didn't buy it here I dont have the upc" I was like "dude it says upper playground on the tag" "still I cant" I promptly left without even perusing through the store. LET ME JUST HIGHLIGHT WHAT HORRIBLE SALES PERSON THIS KID WAS! Had he exchanged the shirt I would have A.) walked through the store and quite possibly found something else I liked and bought it. B.) Gone into the store and saw something I liked and came back for it. C.) Saw something cool and told a friend about it. D.) Told a friend what a positive experience I had with that store. But instead I went right in the door right out the door. That's just bad retail. You get someone in the door you make them comfortable. Tell them what's new, what cool, you don't send them right out the door they just walked in. Moral of the story: UPPER PLAYGROUND IS POORLY STAFFED AND CORPORATELY OPERATED! If you want mass produced graphic T's and arrogant sales people I recommend shopping there otherwise Id find a shop that values your business. And the staff actually comes out from behind the counter to help you while you shop. I am sorry but any real shop with roots in skateboarding, hip-hop and graffiti, would of exchanged that shirt in heartbeat. I might as well had been shopping at zumies or metro park. PS . I had some extra cash in my pocket from the holiday season I planned on spending there. But I most certainly took my cash else where. Which I recommend you doing as well!!!

The thing is... I can't get excited about spending $26 on a t-shirt. I don't care how much I love the creative designs. Well, I chalk my new purchase up to an indulgence. Everyone should check Upper Playground out for themselves. I get a sense that they're here to stay. The t-shirt designs reflect varying splinters of Sucker Free's (SF) Popular culture. This is made evident by the homage to Muni via beanie replete with the Muni logo and the brown/orange shirt with silkscreen caricature of a Muni bus with web of cables hovering above. But alas, $24-26 for a t-shirt? Oww, I have got to learn to silkscreen! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UPDATE I Love my Upper Playground Big Lebowski shirt so much. Everytime I wear it I make friends on the street, in elevators, bars...everywhere. Also, the cut of the girl's t-shirts are sooo flattering. The cut actually makes my pudgy arms look lean. A miraculous t-shirt indeed.

This place should be called Danger. It is very easy to walk out with a plethora of t-shirts that will cause your dresser drawer to become so full that it will no longer close, thus causing tees to wedge in the back of the drawer, which throws the runners on your drawer to fall off track and bend....requiring furniture repair, making that super super cool t-shirt cost you even more than what you already thought was too high of a price to begin with for a t-shirt. And you know what? I don't care!!

After hearing about their store and checking out their website, I was pretty stoked about coming here. However, upon arrival I was sadly less than thrilled. I honestly expected more designs and the one normal tank that I thought was decent...a plain gray one with a wittle unicorn on it....screenprinted on....$32?? Must've been a really magical shirt. I guess I'm jaded after living in Tokyo where there are tons of cool shirts to be found... but then again...$32 for a tank I might find at Target? Ummmm no thank you!

How much do I love Upper Playground? Half my shirts were purchased from Upper Playground. I didn't hurt that I've visited their other shops in Portland and Seattle. But the original is the one I love though parking is hell in the neighborhood. The t-shirts are typically around $25. They are original and the quality is amazing as they'll last beyond the normal lifespan of a te. . My only beef is that the sizes are difficult to figure out. Some will really shrink in the dryer. This may explain why depending on the t-shirt brand, they might be really oversized where a medium is really a large. This wouldn't be a problem if all the shirts shrank, but it's really inconsistent so sometimes I feel like it's a crap shoot on figuring out which size to get. But he real reason why I give Upper Playground five stars is that occasionally they'll have 50% sales. This is where I'll go hog wild and buy five to ten shirts and hoodies. There's nothing better than getting awesome t-shirts for super cheap, especially when you're asian!

Utterly amazing. One can frame and display each of these t-shirts in an art gallery. I spent an hour looking through all the shirts and walking out not buying a thing. I was even bold enough to grab the last free VICE magazine. I know I have no shame. Robert P. says: My advice: Come here on payday. . . . . . Upper Playground is EXACTLY where I will be on Fridays.

Shit son, here be some badass walrus Reppin' on your walls like his tusks could fight crime. Real crime, Like the lack of the Click Clack of spray paint cans and illy threads on your back. Hood ladies love it G-men scholars approve 3 year olds rock it to preschool. Say fuckyeahmenswear, and take it to the T TipTop, hip hop ya don't stop And give it real steez: Tees to take out wack trash 'Crombie Tees that would make even Don Draper more dappy Bet your sweet bippy, These Tees would black-eye-the-shit out of your American Appy. More Sour than the citrus report But Sweet like graffito Stencil your wire hangers, keep them crispy Slap up the pole wif your mail-label sticky. Ride the aerosol carousel Cause this shit is global, whirled ride Take your peasant wheatpaste And get paid, son. Street art is real art - Nah mean? Find me at the P-Ground, Swinging that black/orange bag. Uppers is tougher When you know you got swag.

Awesome, awesome store. The prices are up there, but the designs are incredible and showcases the work of some fabulous graphic artists. Friendly staff and constantly changing selection. UP totally captures the essence of the Lower Haight... unique, fun, and artistic.

Formula for street cred. 1. stop off at the BART station and pick up a route map 2. go to American apparel and buy them out of sky blue and lime green tee shirts. 3. go to Kinko's and have them enlarge your Bart map 250% 4. stop off at Blick art supply and pick up some screen printing ink, and stencil making material. 5. Go home and stencil the BART map on your shirts (Repeat this at least few times on each shirt) 6. Go to Upper playground and sell them the "art" you made. Bam, you're on your way to becoming the W. coast Russel Simmons. ps Monopoly money can be subsituted for BART map

Graphic t-shirts are like present day calling cards. They tell people who you are, what you believe, and generally what makes you tick. San Francisco is a mecca of graphic t-shirt wearers, and Upper Playground is an excellent resource for them, in fact the best I have seen in the city. Their graphics are varied so you'll find something for everyone. In addition to carrying a wide assortment of local artists, their store logo ones are awesome. There are actually 2 stores, right next door to each other. The larger of the two houses men's product, including accessories and artwork. The smaller of the two houses women's and baby products. It is SO HARD to find cool women's tees that I was pleased to have such a vast selection. When I was there, a mom and her teen-aged son were shopping and both ended up with an armload of shirts. I found the staff to be extremely helpful and kind, so my experience was different than other reviewers. Really, they could not have been nicer to me. Prices are pretty consistent - $24-30 for a tee. They also offer hoodies and hats. Quality is good - but what you really come here for is the artwork. Make sure you pick up a catalog - it's beautifully produced, and you can do some advanced shopping for next time. Or check out the website http://www.upperplayground.com/06/home.html A gift certificate from UP would be sure to please a wide range of people on your shopping list, especially those that live outside of our city. Spread the love!

This store still rocks my world. My friend mentioned in my original review, unfortunately passed away a few months ago, but with the love she had for all things Sam Flores, I had to go back and buy something from there for my wall. I found the piece I wanted at the store, but had to think about it for a bit. So, when I got home, I ordered it online! They have a huge warehouse of stuff that they sell at the online store as well. Now, whenever I look at my art, I will always think of Rubi. Jeremy Fish, Shepard Fairey, Sam Flores, and all sorts of other awesome artists rock this store, and rock my world.