News on the t-shirt front.

Just a few pieces of news to pass your way. First of all I am building a queue of expectant t-shirt reviewees here (will review them all eventually - I promise!), that old Internet magic must be kicking in, I’ve never understood how you make a site popular, so I’ve stuck with providing as much original and worthwhile content as I can. I know there are a few reviewers out there who might not appreciate my approach, as the old school of t-shirt junkies seem to like the pic and link format, or rather they like to avoid whole concept of reviewing t-shirts altogether. Which to me seems ridiculous. Why treat t-shirts any differently than any other art form? People will read reams of detailed notes on which celebrity wore what and where. I found myself lost on a very girlie celebrity-obsessed blog the other day, I can’t even recall the name of it, I was trying to locate a useful article about t-shirts (which had been deleted by the looks of it) and found myself faced with a piece on Johnny Depp and his new clean cut look.

The user comments obsessed about his clothes, where did he get his haircut, what jewellery is he wearing, and the saddest of all, “I really really wish I knew what shoes he’s wearing, the photo has been cropped too short”. If there’s a woman out there suffering distress because she doesn’t know which shoes Johnny Depp’s wearing, then there must at least be a million lost souls on the net who want to know more than simply how much for the tee and where.

Sure I stray from the central point, I’m human, I see metaphor, I equate it to my personal experience, but from the emails I receive the vast majority would prefer a good read over a single-sentenced fact any day. I’ve even had a comment at one of the many fashion networks I’ve joined, from someone who actually hates t-shirts but loves my blog! If that isn’t a ringing endorsement the world must be deaf.

And now for the news…. (shuffles papers, clears throat).

Retro Campaigns have been doing the rounds on the net, their press page is packed with reviewer’s links, I’m guessing they have quite a bit of coverage by now, but one more mention won’t do any harm. Christine Lusey asked me to give a quick mention to their unique line of political t-shirts. These aren’t your usual anti-Bush, Stop The Streets, We Can Change range of tees you’ll find at most stores these days, everyone is on their soapbox now; artists, musicians, perhaps the whole idea of government needs to be reassessed, but I’m not the man to provide the answers and I have a horrible feeling that no one ever will, not even the mighty Barrack.

Think about it, in the main most democracies are only really taking notice of two parties and the spectacle they cause every time they debate an issue. If you’re not in power of course you want change, but if change involves you leaving, then it’s a different matter. Tony Blair made plenty of promises and instead he hung onto George Bush’s shirttails all the way through his leadership. He’s left a devastated economy, a war torn Middle East, and a coronated PM Gordon Brown to count the pennies and lick his wounds as he loses one local election after another.

Before any Republican starts assuming this old Limey is pro McCain, you’re wrong, I’m not, I’m just a tiny bit anti-everything, perhaps I’m a lazy Marxist who enjoys the comforts of capitalism too much, perhaps I am a cowardly Anarchist who wants another revolution, but doesn’t want to fight in it, or clear up the mess afterwards.

As a very wise Irishman (actually he was born in England) said to em once, ‘you don’t want revolution, you want evolution, because revolution takes too long to pick up the pieces’. Such true words indeed. What’s funny about Retro Campaigns ’s collection is that in the fullness of time, with the benefit of hindsight, many of the past political campaigns seem almost pleasant compared to the sniping and back-stabbing tactics used today.

Take the McGovern ‘72 campaign tee for instance, could you be (pronounced with a Chandler Bing affectation) more hippy? I’m guessing this has to be for the Democrats, yes I don’t know my American political history, though I doubt most of the USA realise our ex-PM Blair has been booted out either lol. I think we should take a fresh look at this style political campaigning. How about a t-shirt that says ‘Yes, Sorry I’m a politician but…’ or perhaps ‘I know we really screwed up last time, but please, please, give us another chance’, or even ‘Don’t worry about politics, look at this lovely rainbow’ - oh no it seems that McGovern has already done that one. I just looked it up, McGovern was Kennedy’s Hilary. Yes I guessed as much, ‘please vote for me, I’m nice’ doesn’t work anymore. I seriously think the apology approach is the best option for Gordon Brown. Who knows maybe one day they’ll add another option at the voting booth, a vote of no-confidence’.

It’s great to see SpreadShirt answering the call for more eco-friendly t-shirts - now offering an option of hemp t-shirts. The t-shirt is 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton and comes in two colours - black and natural. The t-shirt is made by HempTraders. I just think the onus is on SS (oh dear better not abbreviate that again) to lead the way in ethical t-shirt production and distribution. They have definitely answered the call by offering two sites, one in America and the other Europe which reduces their carbon footprint, though I doubt by very much. As with my intentions for TshirtPrinter.org, I think they should seriously consider localising their distribution much further, or at the very least offer a Far East and an Australasian service, which would surely reduce the impact on the environment by a lot more. I’m assuming that a majority of their customers are from America and Europe right now, or I’m sure they would’ve considered it.

Something else they might have a think about is getting themselves a printer with a Soil Association mark or the equivalent, organic can mean a variety of things, standards differ from country to country, and by the way why not deal more with fair trade suppliers? Well the answer is obvious, it’s profit, it’s the bottom-line for any business, supply and demand. So, why not simply steer rather than corral the public towards more ethical purchasing? Each time they have a promotion, a sale, send out a newsletter, provide a referral banner, look for an ethical option, a footnote.

Say there was a points system, if we help Spreadshirt reduce their carbon footprint, they reward us. Even buying more t-shirts at once can reduce it, and that must work to their advantage, the less miles each product travels, the better the it is for the planet. How about something even more radical, team up with all the delivery companies that deal with catalogue clothes and get them to deliver, they usually drive past here every few days, regardless of whether Christina has ordered something or not. So take advantage of other companies’ wasted resources, offer more organic and fair trade promotions, offer a ‘green points’ voucher system (most will donate them out of guilt if you choose a worth charity to sponsor), and besides all of that, grade the t-shirts by ecological ratings as well as every other under the sun.

Finally the sex and death section of this post, don’t get too excited (or worried). I’ve had my submission for the Threadless.com/Fray.com competition accepted - the theme is Sex and Death (there you go), and I would love to know at least a few of those anonymous ratings were from people who appreciate my work. If you don’t then don’t read on lol…

See Ballbearers at Threadless.com if enough people Vote for it it should get printed.

Ballbearers pays homage to the tenuous relationship between sex and death. The funeral march carries a “Love Egg” to the grave. The egg is a symbol of birth, yet technology and our artificial environment pave the way for a future of mechanical reproduction. (It’s also funny!)

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