Is this a normal occurrence

[Scarlient]

I was playing splatoon (obviously) i noticed something strange i was in a match and splatfest ended 2 hours ago when this occurred and i saw some one wearing the splatfest tee and i was like didn't we have to give them back, the shirt wasn't the normal shirt it was gray and had the symbol that you see when you go to equip it on the shirt and i wanna know if anyone knows the answer.

 

[zmop]

no they don't let you keep it. the people who you see in inkopolis were just who you played with last.

 

[Scarlient]

no they don't let you keep it. the people who you see in inkopolis were just who you played with last.

no it is 2 hours since splatfest

 

[Tyrfing]

It was a European player. European Splatfest will last for ~9 hours
That also explains why you can't see the shirts design.

 

[Njok]

Can't be a european player since we still have splatfest (and therefor can't be in a match with you).

It's just another squidforce shirt.

 

[Ikieri]

After being forced to keep it on for an entire day you want to keep it on!? Maybe it'd be cool if you kept it as a souvenir, or you could just never play the game on that account.

 

[Tyrfing]

Can't be a european player since we still have splatfest (and therefor can't be in a match with you).

It's just another squidforce shirt.

It's not another squidforce shirt if he says it looks like the default splatfest tee.
European players can still post on miiverse so there is no reason as to why they might not appear. OP mentioned that he did not play with the person wearing the tee.
Our splatfest still going on does not exclude posting normal miiverse posts therefore it has to be a European player. And the plaza is in fact filled with people you have played with AND a lot of people you have not played with but that have posted on miiverse. By doing so your plaza is filled with their posts on your walls.
The only other option beside an European player would be a Japanese one. Howeverr, I don't think they can vote for the next Splatfest at the moment.

Edit: Welp it seems the japanese are able to vote? So in that case it is most likely a japanese player.

 

[Grafkarpador]

Splatfrst shirts from regions that you don't participate splatfest in appear as the default grey.

Europe's currently playing Splatfest.
America's Splatfest is just over.
A new Japanese Splatfest is underway for next week and the participants already have their Splatfest tees.

Ergo, you met a Japanese player who's leveling/showing their Splatfest tee. You don't see the design because you don't have a Japanese Wii U, so it appears grey.