Matthew 8:18-23 “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.” In case you’re wondering if Jesus had managed to train zombies to clear up their own mess you’ll be somewhat off the mark. Essentially the indie fashion label DeadBuryDead take inspiration from this message that life is for the living, we shouldn’t get bogged down with the practicalities of human existence, and that ‘life is a gift’.
Still, even if t-shirts won’t save the world they’re a nice distraction from the drudgery that is for many of us a daily experience. DBD’s passions for art, social conscience and a joie de vivre are embodied by their core brand experience, never prettifying or obscuring the truth, but almost taking it head on in a battle for the rewards of self enlightenment. It’s a fight worth fighting, and as they say it’s the journey that matters not the destination.
Having recently launched their new site and a few more tees it’s obvious that all guns are blazing at DBD’s marketing department, they come across as an extremely savvy label with a strong hold on design and brand message. The whole concept might be a little high falutin’ for some but stick with it, there’s a great set of tees behind the grandstanding. All of which are designed and printed in the US and available (asides kids’ tees and sales items) at $23.99, many of which are limited editions.
Wasted Youth Tee
First off one of the two new tees, this one’s aptly called Wasted Youth and features the slogan “Sorry, We’re Bored”. I love the appropriation of a generic “shop closed” sign for the design. The message is clear as day, I remember a saying as a kid that went along the lines of something like “Only the stupid suffer from boredom”. A great opt out for an impoverished single parent, but for me it meant learning to amuse myself in a cornucopia of ways. Nowadays infinite choice is handed on a plate, the youth want to be famous for being famous, and however much respect you might have for your “skills” most people on the street would rather buy than create. That’s the crux of an overpoweringly consumer society, true originality of thought is the rarest of commodities. The other new release is the Born Free Tee which you can see here.
Crazy Horse Tee
Not so crazy if you ask me, I love the subject matter and the message. “Some things are worth dying for.” Limited edition – very few left in stock!
Shallow Grave Tee
This is one from DBD’s classic collection, an outstanding piece of branding, it wouldn’t look out of place on a zombie movie poster, a posh art house zombie flick of course!
Maggie’s Pharm Tee
I thought I’d finish off with one of DBD’s sale items, there are only a few left of this tee but seeing as it’s so cool (and cheap at just $9.99 each) I had to feature it. A lot of people think that the rise of street drugs is a bad thing, but prescription pharmaceuticals have done more to zombify and stagnate culture than anything a kid gets up to at a festival. I’ve had my stints in the loony bin and the crap they filled me with almost left me comatose. Truth is there is no miracle pill out there to cure a broken heart or mind, you have to fix those yourself.
See more at www.deadburydead.com or check out their primer here.