You are here: Home / 2011 / Archives for November 2011

Kickstarting a new T/shirt

November 30, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

 

People are very creative and think of new ways to do things every day.  T-shirts are an item that hasn’t been given much alteration since the 19th century, but the T/shirt Issue is changing that.  They are a group of people based in Berlin, Germany who want to recreate the way we see T-shirts.  A new shirt for a new generation is one of their mottos.  They want to make something fresh for the new breed of t-shirt users, and since nobody else has done it, they are taking the leap with their unique t-shirt art.

They’ve taken the original design of the t-shirt and by cutting it into it’s four pieces through a computer, used 3D software and redesigned it into different shapes.  They then placed the designs on 2D renders of human beings and then figured out the method to make them in real life.  The shirts can be bought in standard sizes (S, M, L, XL) and various colors.  New designs are coming out soon, so expect to see more and more creativity flowing from this gang.

These designs are incredible, and the Kickstarter website is giving anyone who wants to pledge a donation to their group to go into production for their creations.  Go on over there and throw down an amount so you can snag yourself one of these.

 

Filed Under: T-Shirt Companies Tagged With: , , , ,

Jay-Z Controversy

November 29, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Unless you live under a rock, you know what’s happening all over the United States (and even some parts of the world) with the Occupy Wall Street campaigns in most cities.  Famous rapper (and millionaire) Jay-Z decided to sell shirts that said “Occupy All Streets” for $22 each.  Of course, the whole point of Occupy Wall Street was to stand up to big money makers, so trying to sell a shirt that makes money off the protest is ironic.  It’s not hard to figure out he’s trying to make money off of what’s happening in Occupy Wall Street, but hey, I guess the recession is even affecting millionaire rappers too.  Once they went on sale though, the movement’s members told him to take it down and it was done so immediately.  The members stated that the movement wasn’t to be used as a tool for financial gain.

Artist Daniel Edwards decided to take a different approach and instead of selling art, he fashioned a totem pole sculpture with Jay-Z at the base, covered in necklaces with a dollar sign on them.  The faces of fiction characters Mr. Burns, Richie Rich and Scrooge McDuck adorn the rest of the pole.  Daniel Edwards has got into trouble before; creating artwork that depicts different famous personalities in odd situations.

Who knows what’s going to happen next!

Filed Under: T-Shirt News Tagged With: , ,

Dpcted Apparel

November 28, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Are you large, in charge, and possibly like to cuddle?  Well, there’s a t-shirt site just for you!  At Dpcted Apparel they’ve got XL shirts for any guy or girl who just loves to have fun and strut their stuff, all their stuff.  This is a great, specific site for those who always have trouble finding their size.  Keep in touch with them on Facebook, e-mail or Twitter.

Most of the Dpcted Apparel designs are for the large at heart, and they are all funny or make a great statement.  Their most popular is the “I would cuddle you so hard” t-shirt.  They are all either black with white letters or a red shirt with white letters.  Some others that are very creative are:

  • Chubby girls cuddle better.
  • I heart chubby girls.
  • Stay chubby.
  • Chubby & tattooed & bearded & awesome.

They are getting more and more popular, even showing up on the LA news channel on TV, NBCLA.  This is a brand that you need to keep your eye on.  The only downside is that their selection of products is pretty limited, but they aren’t a very new online store anyways.  For even one of their shirts to actually become so popular that others are copying them, they definitely have something good going here.

Filed Under: T-Shirt Companies Tagged With: , ,

Everyday Special from 6DollarShirts

November 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

6DollarShirts is taking a different approach to the t-shirt industry: buy bulk and save tons.  Sure, you can buy an individual t-shirt from their marketplace and pay (you guessed it) 6 dollars.  Or, you can take advantage of 6DollarShirts everyday special: 10 t-shirts for $50.  Think about all the possibilities with 10 awesome t-shirts at your disposal:

  • Christmas shopping is done in a matter of minutes
  • An entirely new wardrobe can be yours
  • T-shirt jump rope is now a reality

There’s honestly not that much out there when you start talking about high quality screen printed designer t-shirts.  That’s the beauty of 6DollarShirts: extremely low prices with high quality designs and printing.

By selling t-shirts at $6 a pop, 6DollarShirts admits it won’t make much profit.  But by offering their 10 t-shirt deal, it encourages its designers to create amazing designs constantly rather than bank on one hugely popular t-shirt design.  Sometimes quantity and quality aren’t mutually exclusive.

The designs are timely and pop-cultured based, getting inspiration from places like Seinfeld, Chris Farley, and Star Wars.

Filed Under: T-Shirt Companies Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Different Way to Shop for the Holidays

November 23, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

There’s a new way to find custom gifts: let the Spreadshirt Elves help you out.  Almost all of the mainstream print on demand t-shirt companies (like Spreadshirt, Zazzle, and CafePress) make gift suggestions during the holiday season just in case you have absolutely no idea what to get a family member, friend, or co-worker.  The help usually comes in the form of a list full of product suggestions.  However, most of the suggestions given are products the label is trying to get rid of.  No that helpful if you ask me.

Spreadshirt is looking to change that with their Elves.  The idea is simple: you place a help request that describes the person buying for and a real life person, not a supercomputer algorithm, searches the Spreadshirt Marketplace and comes up with concrete, personalized gift ideas.  Really cool.  The suggestions are non-binding, which means there’s no obligation to take the Elves’ ideas to the checkout.  Don’t worry, they wont get mad!

There’s also a pretty sweet behind-the-scenes look at how the elves come up with their suggestions.

Filed Under: T-Shirt Companies, T-Shirt News Tagged With: , , , ,

How to Start a Kick Ass T-Shirt Brand

November 22, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Creating your own t-shirt label is tough.  So tough in fact that there is actually numerous articles out in the blogosphere that caution you not to start your own clothing line.  But that shouldn’t stop you if you want to unleash your creativity and share your voice.  A t-shirt is one of the best ways to make a political, social, or economic statement; and if you want to share your thoughts and vision then build your own t-shirt label.

Unfortunately, most t-shirt designers don’t know the first thing about the entrepreneurial side of a clothing label.  Most labels fail not because there is a lack of inspiring designs or creativity.  They fail from lack of technical know-how.  Fortunately, budding t-shirt labels now have an amazing resource at their fingertips with the launch of T-Shirt Magazine‘s new guide: Launch a Kick-Ass T-Shirt Brand.  It’s the essential guide to tearing up the clothing industry.

The guide is designed to give you solid advice and instructions on things like:

  • how to create a solid brand
  • funding your launch
  • t-shirt production
  • getting in stores
  • marketing your brand

The showcased sample pages give specific details and industry advice.  For example, chapter 6 talks about how to create your brand.  You have to understand what you stand for.  What are your underlying principles that you will stand up for?  What is your label about?  Check out some of my previous posts on labels like Circus Science and 76 Garments to get a sense of how to answer these questions.

Overall, if you’re really serious about starting your own t-shirt label, get the book.  It’s relatively inexpensive ($35) but it’s an invaluable tool.

Filed Under: T-Shirt News Tagged With: , , , ,

Drink Soda and Get the T-Shirt

November 21, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Schweppes Australia is launching an awesome campaign, putting 500 retro soda label designs up for grabs over the next couple of weeks.  The best part is: these retro t-shirts are free.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Buy Schweppes products and collect purchase points called “Thread Creds”
  2. Register here to activate your Thread Creds
  3. Bid on t-shirt designs like eBay and win the auction

It’s a pretty cool summer rewind contest with amazing t-shirt designs at stake.  Here are some of the designs you could win:

Filed Under: T-Shirt News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Create your Future with 76 Garments

November 18, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

76 Garments is where fate goes to die.  A new and revolutionary clothing line, 76 Garments has finally announced its starting lineup of t-shirt designs.  What stands out about these designs is their rawness, toughness, and authenticity.  In hopes of creating something true and captivating, 76 Garments has really hit the mark.

Create your future is one of the designs offered.  It’s taken from the last line of 76 Garment’s mantra:

Do it the Hard Way.
Embrace the Truth.
Be Authentic.
Observe our Past.
Create your Future.

The other designs in the lineup echo a similar theme: do it the hard way (renounce short cuts) and don the absolute.

   

 

Filed Under: T-Shirt Companies Tagged With: , ,

Think Geek and Think Free

November 17, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Think Geek is running their annual holiday t-shirt deal: buy $25 worth of gear and get this Deck the Hulls t-shirt free.  It’s a pretty sweet deal for anyone buying more than $25 worth of holiday gifts.  Which is mostly everyone.  Or if you just want the t-shirt you can snag it for $16.  Either way, this deal is sure to start some conversations.

The bottom line is that while the Think Geek community is churning out a ton of great designs, this Deck the Hulls t-shirt has some subtle undertones.  No one wants to imply global warming here, but the tag line “we need something that will survive outside Earth’s atmosphere” reeks of climate change or the impending 2012 doom.

However, until that time let’s join in the Think Geek singing of Deck the Hulls:

Deck the hulls with exobiology
Fa la la la la la la la la
Invasive species from Centauri
Fa la la la la la la la la

Don we now our suit that’s sterile
Fa la la la la la la la la
To prevent the Earth’s imperil
Fa la la la la la la la la.

 

Filed Under: T-Shirt News Tagged With: , , ,

Wear Art, Change Lives

November 16, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

That’s the motto from the new progressive clothing line: Moral Fibers.  This t-shirt company is all about making a difference in the developing world by giving communities long term, stable, and sustainable jobs.

Moral Fibers represents a growing trend in the social entrepreneur field of for-profit companies exerting its presence as a force for good.   Its philosophy is simple: don’t exploit your workers.  Instead, give them transferable skills and the tools for sustainable economic growth.  As t-shirt designers and artists, these workers are able to earn a livable wage and provide for their families.

The t-shirt designers are from Haiti, a nation that was rocked a few years ago by a devastating earthquake.  With their jobs at Moral Fibers, these artists are able to make over 4x the national average salary in Haiti.

One of the awesome things about Moral Fibers is that when you buy one of their products you are buying hope and economic freedom for those artists who design them.  Most of the lines are limited edition, meaning that the designs continually change.  So wear a t-shirt and give Haiti what it really needs: sustainable economic development.

 

Filed Under: T-Shirt Companies Tagged With: , , ,