A Star Has Fallen - Flat On It’s Face

Okay, hmm, what can I say, here’s a lesson in what not to do in the t-shirt industry. Justin’s email was brief to the extreme, he included a few photos, but that was about it. The t-shirts are far from inspiring, and rather than brush the guy aside and let him make the mistake of setting up business and watching it fail, I think it’s only fair to show him why his range won’t make it. Sure he says it’s launching in 2009 so there’s still time to save face, but somehow I don’t think he’s going to appreciate this.

Perhaps it’s because it’s 5:30am in the morning, maybe it’s the lacklustre designs, it might be that I’m being “cruel to be kind”, but there’s a lesson here for anyone considering breaking into the industry, and it looks like Justin and his label Starfire Clothing are going to have to take the brunt of it. The fact is I can’t find anything good to say about their range of tees, the designs, the company name, anything, but I did check out his Myspace and he seems to have a loyal crew, waiting patiently in the wings, with fingers crossed, even praying that Justin might just have a flash of inspiration and get his **** together, so here goes, a critical review… Read more

Hendricks’ Happy Birthday Sale at CollarFree.com

Jimmy Hendricks (perhaps one of the coolest names of all time) is celebrating his 28th birthday (oh to be youngish) by offering a whopping 28% off all tees, available at his fabulous t-shirt crowd sourcing site CollarFree.com. I’ve watched this company leap from strength to strength over the last year with a mix of fond admiration and a tinge of envy. If you’re going to run a successful t-shirt label, Collar Free offers a textbook story of achievement and expansion that’s sure to make any CEO raise an eyebrow. With a strong range of graphic tees, a faithful band of designers and fans, and a savvy technical and business team working all hours behind the scenes, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s as near to t-shirt nirvana as you can get.

First things first, happy birthday Jimmy, may your all your birthdays be celebrated with as much success if not more! It does make me wonder if Mr. Hendricks lives to a ripe old age will the discount climb with him? It’s a long time to wait, but I’m sure it’d be worth the wait to celebrate Jimmy’s centenary on the planet. Although I’m sure by then accounting department for his multi-million dollar global fashion corporation (yes - I’m sure it could be if we wait long enough), will be shaking their heads as they wheeled him to the retirement home. Back to the present, and despite the fact it’s his birthday, here’s Jimmy’s gift to all of you! Just pick what you like and punch in the code “28on28” at the checkout.

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Boston Tee Party @ Viva Ortegacy

My apologies to Dave Ortega of Viva Ortegacy for taking so long to get around to this, I’ve spent near enough a day tracking down links and information for another review that turned out to be rather a waste of time. The problem with receiving requests from PR agencies is they simply don’t know the industry as well as the designers they represent. to cut a long story short the site was great, professional, nice graphic designs, but they had no way of letting their readers buy their gear, well there was probably a phone number somewhere and perhaps they could take your credit card details, and they did have a few for sale in boutique in Georgia, but really, if you want a review, remember my readers are global, they need closure! Luckily Viva Ortegacy is a different story altogether, and then some.

Not only do have a shopping cart (phew) but what’s more they’re throwing a party, and it’s free, and there’s food and drink and everything you could imagine!! Okay maybe I’ve gone a little too far there, but it still sounds fun to me, although I maybe rather out of the loop here on the blustery wintry south coast of Britain. If you want to join in the fun be at The Grand, 374 Somerville Avenue, Union Square, Somerville, Boston on December 4th between 6pm and 8pm or be square!

Besides it will get you away from that damn screen, so if you’re not here, on the other side of the world then you really should join in the celebrations for Ortega’s new Tees of The Future. Now don’t ask me why they’re from the future, I’m sure Dave will have a convincing argument for you when you get there.

His latest offering is his Geoskullz Tee, which is available in both olive and brown, and for some strange reason remind me of Argyle patterns, yes you probably need to be me to see that one. Read more

Word Up To Word Apparel

Deamn Right! Here’s a fresh young label straight from the street for all you homies out there looking for something laid back yet sharp, slick but with a nice line in self-deprecating humour. Great for a night out downtown, or chillin’ with your bro’s, your first stop should be Word Apparel; created, owned and run by Levi based in Houston, Texas. His style, distinctly ghetto, his humour, toon surrealism with a great eye for colour and a great knack for one-liners. This t-shirt collection is not your usual funny ‘ha ha’ eclectic range of old tired japes you’ll normally come across. As you might (or might not) expect from the freshest of the fresh, there’s a distinct blend of the underground street about Word Apparel. Bold prints peppered with touches of pathos and cheek, backed up by an illustrative edge that any self-respecting graffiti artist would have to lay down his cap to, that’s the order of the day at WP. You should expect big things from this lad, and you won’t be disappointed…

As Levi puts it at his popular Myspace joint, “We are always doing something new, focusing on new items to release, and many more things. So check back everyday, you never know what you could miss out on if you don’t! We have your biggest concerns in mind: Quality, Comfort, a “true to size fit”, and LOOKIN’ GOOD! That’s why we only use the highest quality prints and shirts, American Apparel!” Read more

Tees and Tats - Where East Meets West

Tattoo T-Shirts have always been a firm favourite in the graphic art t-shirt scene, and Tees and Tats (TeesAndTats.com), a relatively newcomer has recently released its first offerings, all of which have been designed by one of the world’s most celebrated tattoo artists, Marco Serio. Marco Serio began tattooing in a small town on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal. He always had a dream of building a reputation as a world class Japanese-style tattooist, before long Mario relocated to New York where he perfected his style further, garnering the admiration of both the global tattoo community and eventually the arts world as a whole.

As word spread throughout the close-knit New York arts scene, two forward thinking and highly ambitious modern Jewish Orthodox cousins (Jeremy and Ben Parker) hooked up with Marco and convinced him that his work was what the fashion industry had been waiting for. Mario spent considerable time designing each exclusive print at the prestigious Invisible NYC art gallery and tattoo studio on Orchard Street. As soon as the artwork was completed for the Parker brothers’ seven original and licensed t-shirt designs, commissioned specifically for Tees and Tats, Jeremy and Ben soon launched and began to promote their tattoo print collection of signature contemporary art shirts.

Jeremy in particular was proverbially ‘over the moon’ at the formation of the label ‘Tees and Tats’, having been fascinated by the intricacy and superb illustrative style of Eastern tattoo art. Soon the two fashion entrepreneurs continue to build the brand and showcase their revolutionary collection of high-art streetwear, setting a new standard, previously unseen in the industry. Every shirt is as I have stated, an original design, forming a fabulous and unique limited edition (700 numbered shirts for each design). Each tee is signed by the artist, printed to the most impeccable standards, made from the softest 100% combed ringspun cotton, and as you would expect, centred around Serio’s glorious Japanese tattoo artwork Read more

JukuPop.com - A Refresher Course In Style!

If you’re looking to add a little more pizzazz to your t-shirt collection, then you should head on over to JukuPop.com - a British-based urban clothing store for the highly glamorous and ultra fashion conscious amongst you, which should at least include all our female readers! If you’re looking for a revamp this Winter Juku Pop are guaranteed to school you in the fine art of street style, featuring some of the greatest international and underground labels on offer, if you’re into celebrity spotting you no doubt have seen a few of their best sellers in the gossip magazines! Read more

Nonoloa T-Shirts - International Art Meets Fashion

Nonoloa.com describe themselves as a ‘creative platform designing clothing from urban art’ - in other words they take from the streets, in this case the whole world of urban life, and transfer their unique art collection to a range of spectacular short and long-sleeved tees, polos, hoodies and sweatshirts. I recently visited their site for the first time and have to admit it is stunning in more ways than one. Apart from the beautiful and highly interactive design of the store, the products certainly do produce the wow factor, a very individualistic and inspiring range of t-shirts drew me in further

Enrique Flores, one of the people behind the Nonoloa label directed me towards Issuu.com which reveals more of the story and concept behind this avant-garde collective. Essentially they are as international as you can hope to find, their artists hark from every corner of the globe, ranging from as far and wide as Spain, the United Kingdom, Lebanon and even Tehran. I was astounded that a label could source so diverse a community of artists, each with their own pertinent input, both visually and conceptually, towards the Nonoloa platform. Incidentally some of their artists have even exhibited at the famed Tate Modern Gallery in Britain. You can see their works at Tate.org.uk.

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