Sutsu Sir

admin    T-Shirt Reviews     Sutsu, Sutsu.com, extreme sports, extreme tees, skate, skater tees, ski, snowboarding, surf, surf t-shirts, urban

Sutsu are perfectionists, it comes with the trade, every aspect of their site and label is so well done I’m a little at a loss what to say here. I suppose it’s all down to perfect balance, if you live on the edge, if you love the extreme ends of sport, if you don’t want to break your neck you have to know what your doing. There are no second chances when you’re somersaulting through the air, standing on the crest of a wave or traversing a monster ramp on four tiny wheels just for the hell of it. It makes sense that you’d need the best of the best, the best tools, the best equipment, the best clothes, the best style.

Expect the highest quality graphic designed prints on the best of the best organic t-shirts, geared and marketed to an √ºber cool audience who know what they want and where to get it. Sutsu really have got it going on, and they know it, but yet there’s still that Zen-like quality to everything on the site, there isn’t a hint of arrogance about this label, they are great at what they do because they know how to do it, end of. I’ve always been jealous of people like the guys at Sutsu, I used to think it was merely a result of a charmed life, but as the years have passed me by I’ve realised it’s all down to self discipline – you can kick up a ruck, you can battle with the forces of nature, tip the balance of consequence, but if you don’t have complete and utter confidence in yourself and what you do, you will trip up, and when the odds are mounted this high, that’s literally a life or death situation. A time and place that sorts the men from the boys, a moment that can make or break you.

The moment you arrive at Sutsu.com you know you’re in the right place, as in extreme sports, on-line fashion retailing is not a place to make mistakes. A common misconception in the industry is that a few well designed products will pave the way to success, it’s true that a strong line in designer items will raise your game, but there’s so much more to it than that and Sutsu are obviously well aware of that fact. Without even scouring through the site I’m immediately made aware of their market, their goals, their philosophy, as well as bowled over by the clean cut design. There’s even a Facebook applet slap bang on the homepage if you want to start chatting with the team and other customers, now that’s interactivity. Ecology, style, extreme sports and fashion all meld into one at Sutsu…

First off almost everything that Sutsu makes is organic, you can read about their eco-philosophy here – the fact is they have more than a vested interest in the environment, imagine extreme sports on a snow-less mountain or an ocean filled with sewage and oil? So you know you can take Sutsu at their word when they proudly proclaim their environmental credentials – they even have a carbon neutral factory and have been accredited by the Fair Wear Foundation! They wherever possible make their garments from organic cotton or bamboo, and are aiming to be 100% organic by the end of 2009, now that’s an impressive step for an extreme sports fashion label.

The store is well laid out and although I’m not a great fan of logo tees I do have a fondness for their branding, Sutsu have carefull arranged their collections in easy to find categories starting with logos, as well as graphic, art, limited and collaboration t-shirt designs plus a fine array of polos.

Sutsu Organic Logo Tee (Black)

The festival of Sutsu (or Shitsu) Upanaka is the climax of the Japanese annual ritual cycle, in effect it marks the changing of the seasons, and in the light of this knowledge seems absolutely appropriate as a name for an extreme sports fashion label with a deep commitment to the environment. As I’ve mentioned (many times before) I am not a great fan of logo t-shirts, however I do appreciate the modular ‘feel’ of Sutsu’s design, the highs and lows of extreme sports, the terrain of the mountains and the sea are exemplified by the abstracted shapes of this image. It’s a powerful piece of branding, worthy of the world’s attention and is accompanied by a whole selection of variations on a theme, each dealing with a different aspect of nature, sport or the brand itself. As with many of their tees this is printed on organic cotton in a limited run of just 50. You can buy the Black Sutsu Organic Logo Tee and any of their other logo tees for £25 in sizes small to XL.

Thought of a Skater Tee (Sport Grey)

I was surprised to find this design at Sutsu, it’s rather poetic and melancholic, it’s on sale at the moment for just £15 (M to L), however if you want it you’d better hurry as they only have 9 left! Thought of a Skater offers a nicely composed abstracted vision of a brief and most likely rare moment of reflection for a skater. As with all extreme sports, those who take on the world in such a fashion must survey everything around them as a potential challenge, can I ride it, can I jump it, how many bruises and broken bones am I risking with this momentous feat? Extreme sport for many expresses their existential desire to both be at one with and at the same time conquer their surrounding environment. One man against the world, and impossible odds, cogitating on past thrills and future opportunities for an adrenalin buzz unmatched by many aspects of everyday life. Thought of a Skater is also available in lemon (whilst stocks last in sizes M-XL) for just £12.50!

Heart Hand Organic Tee (Black)

This is a very snazzy little number, the Heart Hand Organic Tee is available in black for £25 as a limited run of just 50. I particularly appreciate the half-tone printing techniques used in this shirt. Design wise it reminds me of various Modernist exposition poster design throughout late 30’s to 60’s Europe, and has a very “international feel”. Elemental and organic as both illustration and product I love the way that Sutsu have continued the theme with an almost Venn Diagrammatic heart composed of the two “natures” of extreme sports. The close connection the landscape of our natural environment and the battle against the elements that have over millions of years helped to form it. Once again a very poetic design interpretively counter-balanced by a forceful and direct minimalist style. A real cracker in my opinion. Available in sizes small to XL.

Shark Men Organic Tee

This has to be my favourite tee at Sutsu, terrifying, funny, pithy and very nicely illustrated all at once. This must be a major fear for a lot of surfers out there, although it’s not at all as common as some may think, if you do find yourself about to be served as a shark’s dinner I’ve heard you’re supposed to bop it on the end of it’s nose. I remember doing that to a Rottweiler as a kid which was pretty ballsy of me and seemed to have got away with it, not sure if I’d hang around to try it on a shark. I’d say your best best is to jam your board in its mouth – then again that depends on much you spent and how much you love your board lol. Loving the faux movie poster style of this tee, Shark Men is again organic and printed in a limited run (just 28 left) and you can buy it for £25 here. Love it.

Check out all the rest of this very smart, very slick, very cool label at Sutsu – an extreme sportswear label that is fast catching on in the urban market. As for the title, if it’s left you confused, well you obviously aren’t a Fast Show fan :p

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