Bruno Blum Tees @ I’n'Eye

admin    T-Shirts     Bruno Blum, French designer t-shirts, French tees, I and Eye, cartoon t-shirts, funny tees, music tees, reggae t-shirt

Bruno Blum is something of a legend in France and the world of reggae, being a singer-songwriter, guitarist and music producer (nicknamed ‘Doc Reggae’) you’d think he’d have little time for anything else. Think again. He’s also a celebrated cartoonist, illustrator, painter, photographer, writer and lecturer. What’s more a brand new French fashion label I’n'Eye who are heavily influenced by the reggae scene (can’t you tell?) have chosen 3 of Blum’s magnificent illustrations for their first release. A set of 3 tees, all of which are also available individually, screen printed with loving care, (although the designs are a little bit small for me I guess that’s the way they do things in France), and on offer in sizes L/XL at €20 each or 3 for €50.

The Dread Brothers Tee

A very furry freaky design, can’t help thinking the prints should be far bigger though. Anyone remember the Freak Brothers? When the hell is that coming out as a movie? Anyone? Okay give me the money and I will make it :p

Don’t Drink and Drive Tee

…Smoke and Fly! Sounds good to me, bad to most of you I’m sure, but it’s one of many reasons I think I might have been French in another life, I love the  arts quarter café culture there. If only they could add a little Amsterdam shenanigans into the mix, I’d probably emigrate!

Mystic Vibes Tee

Yeah man, peace out, groovy. One big happy family of freaks, this is the way life was meant to be.

Let’s hope for larger prints for the next series, until then buy one Bluno Brum shirt or the lot at www.ineye-shop.com or keep up-to-date via their blog at www.ineyeblog.wordpress.com. Make sure you brush up on your French (or at least Franglais) first though!

Meet Mr. Poulet

admin    T-Shirt Reviews     France, French T-Shirts, French tees, Monsieur Poulet, Mr. Poulet

Even though the French t-shirt community Mr. Poulet sports the tag line “Original Chicken Clothes” I am almost 100% sure that this is just a taste of French humour, which has had its detractors in the past. After all France thought Jerry Lewis was a funny man. Still, sociological history aside the site looks fun, and for those a little rusty on their Franglais you’ll be relieved to know there is an English speaking version too. What’s even more enticing is their whopping great €2000, although that’s not guaranteed, it all depends on how many of your tees they sell, which is fair enough really. The small print states you earn €2 per t-shirt sold up to 1000, they do promote their shirts so you should receive a healthy slice if their customers bite. Each t-shirt vote is in the running for 7 days so it’s a pretty fast turnaround from submitting to voting to selling.

What you should first notice about the collection is just how different their winning designs are to the usual selection at US sites like Threadless. Plenty of surreal comic art with a subtle sense of humour, some might say there are similarities with Japanese art on show, the French and Japanese do share a lot of sensibilities, especially in the area of illustration. What’s really nice is how many of the prints appear to be hand drawn, which is a welcome change. Take a look at some of my top picks from their store:

Come On! T-Shirt

Available for men, the Come On! T-Shirt by by Môd offers up a surreal slice of cartoon chicanery. I love the premise, your daughter is a freak and the circus will probably take her away. I used to know a kid who really did run away with the carnies, he ended up working on the dodgems, by the time I knew him he was washing up in a hospital kitchen. So much for the glamour of the open road. Available for €25 i nsizes XS,S,L and XL.

Escape T-Shirt

The Escape T-Shirt by pstole is incredibly retro, it reminds me more of Soviet animation from the dark recesses of the Eastern Block than French design, I really like it. Almost like an homage to oppressive governmental propaganda and the failed promises of an Atomic Age, this superb illustration has to be an instant classic in the world of tees. Do make sure to check out their other designs including Autumn Time and South North. Escape is available in S/L/XL for €25.

Quai de la Seine T-Shirt

I love the way the Quai de la Seine tee by Miguel is so French, I mean it’s French beyond imagination. I use to get worked up when Americans came over to the UK looking for Dick Van Dyke chimney sweeps and horses and carriages on the cobbled roads of London. Sometimes an image sticks. Then I went on an exchange with my school and realised that France, and especially Paris, isn’t full of berets, striped long-sleeved t-shirts, onions on strings and bicycles. I have to admit I was a little disappointed, but it did make me realise very early on how much one’s culture stereotypes others for convenience. The truth is the moment we got off the ferry the place was crawling with Goths covered in Depeche Mode tattoos, but that was the mid-eighties after all. Anyway, way off point. Get this painfully stylish slice of French nostalgia in t-shirt form for €25 in XXL (yep almost sold out!).

Home Sweet Home T-Shirt

The Home Sweet Home T-Shirt by Flambi is fascinating. Flambi’s style, a shroomy mix of Americana arts and crafts meets the Blue Meanies from The Yellow Submarine, with a dash of Alice for good measure, makes up for a totally mad t-shirt design. No idea what’s going on, no need to. One word… great. Only available in XL for €25. Yep another design to sell out and fast.

You’d better get down there before they all sell out: www.monsieurpoulet.com

New Ironic T-Shirts From Monsieur Steve

admin    T-Shirt News     French, French fashion, French tees, Israel, Monsieur Steve, Muslim, Palestine, WW3, War, controversial t-shirts

Now… if you don’t have an ironic bone in your body you’ll probably find the sentiments of at least one (if not all) of Monsieur Steve‘s t-shirts offensive on many cross-cultural levels, however I’m not the guy to complain to, I’m just the messenger remember. Any complaints should be directed to MonsieurSteve.com…

I’ll start with the worst offender, and although Steve is aiming for perhaps one of the most ironic t-shirts ever made, I somehow doubt the message will come across as such (preparing for WW3 as we speak). I’m guessing that Steve is doing this for all the right reasons (but not necessarily in the right way), seeing as he’s offering a discount to both Muslims and Jews. However, I won’t be making any critical references for any of these t-shirts, because I know I’ll be drawn into the political quagmire that is cultural division and diversity. read more