Vibe-Checking the $70 Tank Top Dividing the Internet

When you think of your dream top, does a basic white tank top come to mind? For Tiktok user, peachesandcre3m, it was, so she did what most eager shoppers do on social media: film an unboxing. In an 8-second clip with the text “unboxing my dream top <3”, a neatly wrapped mass of tissue paper is dramatically unfolded to unveil a plain white spaghetti strap tank top. The ensuing reaction was swift: “dream?” as the first comment reads with 11.2k likes (the second most liked comment “…a white tank?” has almost 8,000 likes). Amassing almost 380,000 likes, the unboxing went viral on Tiktok—but if one platform weren’t enough, the clip also found its way over to Twitter where the comments were just as controversial, “It’s like “I’m drinking my favorite drink and it’s just water”, ‘ said one user. Who knew a tank top could antagonize the internet?

Tank Air’s Studio Tank is 88% polyester and 12% spandex. There are no splashy logos like Loewe or Marine Serre’s fashion girl tanks. You may not also be able to discern whether it’s Hanes or The Gap, but those who own it don’t care and don’t seem to mind. “I remember seeing this tank top without realizing where it was from and thought ‘Wow, the fit on that is so good,’ says content creator, Aisha Farida. Living in New York City, Farida is a vodka distiller but also moonlights as an influencer documenting her daily outfits on Instagram and Tiktok. “I don’t take recommending a $70 tank top lightly, but I wear the tank tops on a weekly basis and am able to dress them up, dress them down, or wear them as an insulating layer when it’s very cold.”

Claire Robertson-Macleod is the power behind Tank Air. Born in Bangkok, the designer moved between London and Los Angeles before setting up Tank Air in downtown LA. The location puts the brand in close proximity to the abundance of artisans and garment resources that make the city (and downtown Los Angeles in particular) a mecca for budding fashion labels. Without much effort, Robertson-Macleod’s clothes have landed on celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid—the type of figures that can energize young people to sell things out. Of the tank’s divisive nature, Robertson-Macleod takes it in stride,”It definitely makes me a bit nervous reading or hearing people’s opinions about the Studio Tank as I’m quite a sensitive person lol. The tank was really a word-of-mouth thing—it’s a simple white camisole, it’s not eye-catching by any means but the effort we put into making it as close to perfect as possible has been recognized by those who have tried it and that’s really so gratifying,” she says.