Al Quaa Galaxy — Regular
Cut true to size — it sits on the shoulder and skims the body rather than hanging off it. The version to buy if you layer. The Milky Way as it rises over Al Quaa — the only Bortle 1, darkest sky in the Emirates. A subtle صحراء mark on the chest, the galaxy across the back.
- Unisex · S–XL
- 230gsm organic cotton
- Ribbed crew neck
- Taped collar & shoulder seams
- DTG print · embroidered logo
✦ Made for stargazing nights & desert camps under a Bortle 1 sky
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Al Quaa, the darkest sky in the Emirates
Deep in the southern desert, far from any city glow — a magnet for stargazers chasing the Milky Way. On a clear night the galaxy doesn't just appear. It throws a shadow.
Read the place storyThe scale runs 1–9, where 1 is the darkest sky on earth and 9 is an inner city. Al Quaa is the only Bortle 1 site in the UAE — which is exactly why this design belongs on black.
A night sky you can actually stand under
Most galaxy prints are stock art. This one starts from a real place on the map — the sky as it looks from Al Quaa, where there is no city glow to wash it out.
Built to be worn, washed and worn again
A tee earns its place by surviving. Heavyweight organic cotton, finished with the construction details that decide whether a shirt still looks right after a year.
True to size, built to layer
Take your normal t-shirt size. Regular is the one to choose if you layer under a shacket or jacket, if you run warm, or if you want the design to sit flat across the chest and back rather than drape. The shoulder seam lands where your shoulder actually ends.
Cut unisex — one cut worn by everyone, in S, M, L and XL. The measurements below are the garment, not a body, so use them rather than guessing from a menswear or womenswear size.
| Size | Chest | Length | Shoulder | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 19″ / 48.3 cm | 27.5″ / 69.8 cm | 17″ / 43.2 cm | 7.5″ / 19.1 cm |
| M | 20″ / 50.8 cm | 28.5″ / 72.4 cm | 18″ / 45.7 cm | 8″ / 20.3 cm |
| L | 22″ / 55.9 cm | 29.5″ / 74.9 cm | 19″ / 48.3 cm | 8.5″ / 21.6 cm |
| XL | 24″ / 61 cm | 30.5″ / 77.5 cm | 20″ / 50.8 cm | 9″ / 22.9 cm |
Classic regular fit to the US/international standard, with a 2″ chest step per size above M. The shoulder seam sits at your natural shoulder point.
How these are measured
- Chest — garment laid flat, measured straight across from armhole seam to armhole seam (pit‑to‑pit), 1″ below the armhole.
- Length — from the highest point of the shoulder, at the collar seam, straight down to the bottom hem.
- Shoulder — seam to seam across the back, between the shoulder seam points.
- Sleeve — from the shoulder seam to the sleeve opening edge.
Tolerance is ±0.5″ (±1.3 cm) on every measurement. Garments outside that are rejected at QC.
Keeping the print sharp
Nothing unusual — but these five habits are what keep a DTG print crisp and the cotton soft.
- Machine wash cold, inside out — heat is what fades a print fastest.
- Wash with similar colours, on a gentle cycle.
- Hang to dry. Tumble drying is the main cause of shrinkage and cracking.
- Do not iron directly on the print — iron inside out if you need to.
- Skip bleach and fabric softener; softener coats the fibres and dulls the finish.
Getting it to you
Orders usually ship within 1–2 working days. You'll get tracking by email as soon as it's on its way.
Returns are free within the UAE — you have 14 days from delivery to send something back unworn, unwashed and with tags on, and exchanges for a different size or fit are free too, subject to stock. Full detail is on the policies page.
Before you order
Is the print going to crack?
DTG ink bonds into the cotton rather than sitting on top as a thick layer, so it flexes with the fabric instead of cracking. Washing cold and hanging to dry — rather than tumble drying — is what makes the difference long term.
Are these unisex? Will they fit women?
Yes — every piece we make is cut unisex, in one run of sizes from S to XL. There is no separate men's or women's version and no difference in the cut. Because the size chart lists the garment measured flat rather than a body size, the reliable way to choose is to measure a t-shirt you already like the fit of and match the numbers. Plenty of people size down for a closer fit or up for a relaxed one — both are the same garment.
Will it shrink?
The fabric is pre-washed to minimise shrinkage. Wash cold and hang dry and you should see very little movement. Hot washes and tumble dryers are what cause shrinkage.
Is 230gsm heavy for UAE weather?
It's a heavyweight tee, so it's more substantial than a thin fast-fashion shirt — that's what gives it structure and longevity. It's 100% cotton and the DTG print keeps the fabric breathable rather than sealing it, so it stays wearable. For peak summer, the Regular fit breathes more than the Oversized.
What if I order the wrong size?
Exchanges within the UAE are free, subject to stock, within 14 days of delivery — as long as it's unworn, unwashed and still has tags. Email hello@sahraandbeyond.ae with your order number and we'll arrange it.
Will this design be restocked?
This is a limited first run. We may make more of a design later, but we don't promise it — when a size sells out in this run, treat it as gone.
