Building Better T-Shirts

I just watched Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem or as the very lazy would say, "AVP R" and I remembered this t-shirt from Last Exit To Nowhere. Their M.O. is a little similar to Found Item Clothing but this British shop specializes in making t-shirts inspired by the movies (see: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Shaun of the Dead).

Some of your Sci-Fi geeks might remember Weyland-Yutani Corp from the Alien series and it's a little cool to see this and others on Last Exit.

Monies: £17.50 or US$35

FYI: A Wikipedia post about Weyland-Yutani and the origins of the name.

Button Up

I like my t-shirts and I like my buttons but I have issues when it comes to affixing my buttons on my favorite apparel. Sometimes the buttons leave unslightly holes, which cause some people to think pint-sized moths are on the attack.

Lucky Threadz combines my two favorite things to make one highly favored item.

Monies: US$16

ALLLLVIN!!!

I know it's part of Jenky Productions' ABC Alphabet Series but if you get the largest sized t-shirt and you'll be almost the spitting image of Alvin from the Chipmunks.


Heavens, no! Not those abominations.


That's more like it.

Monies: US$16

Rebus on a T-Shirt

T-Shirts can be puzzles too! Take this little neat rebus from ohno clothing in Sweden. Do you know what catchy tune it's displaying?

Monies: €23 or US$34

Sale, Bitches!

Monsiuer T is four years old and they want to celebrate it with a sale. 30-50% off on items for four days of debauched partying!

What I Got - Retro Campaigns

Ever wish for the good old days where (most) politicians do not lie through their smiles? Those were simpler times when a handshake is a handshake and not the discreet palming of payola.

Retro Campaigns hook is political campaigns of yore. Sounds interesting but how does it look, you ask?


The package.


I immediately fell head over heels when I first set eyes on it. I got a George McGovern tee. Obviously, the t-shirt is supposed to look vintage and it does but it also felt vintage, especially with the printing.

Okay, you know sometimes, you get t-shirts with designs that popped. Literally. Because the printer applied too much ink to the tee. For Retro Campaigns, the printing is consummate. Just the right amount is used so when you run your fingers over the t-shirt, you won't know where the ink start or end.


It's a printing miracle!

The designs are not based on any based on actual campaigns. I'll let Christine Lusey from Retro Campaigns explain.

"For instance, Eugene McCarthy's unofficial 1968 campaign slogan during the New Hampshire Primary was 'Get clean for Gene,' but there was never a button (at last none I found) with that slogan or image based on that, so my designer and I made one up. Some others are based on actual buttons. McGovern and his supporters used buttons with rainbows, doves, the peace sign, etc., for example, so we made shirts incorporating those images. I like to think of it as 're-imagining past campaigns.'"

And besides the swell t-shirt, there were information about George McGovern attached to it.

It's a nice idea - to understand what we are wearing. I didn't know who McGovern was. I just like the design but after reading about him, I have a better appreciation of the guy and his ideals.

I like, nay, love Retro Campaigns. If the upcoming election were to go straight to hell in a hand basket, at least I still have my t-shirt that will remind me of what once was.

And hopefully, what will be in the future.


edit: thanks to my shoddy journalism, apparently designs were based on actual campaigns. Also, designs were based on existing buttons while other campaigns without art sources were invented based on imagery and slogans used by said campaigns.

What I Got - Tasty Tees' Radiohead

Did I mention that I got this in the mail from Tasty Tees?


Did I also mention Tasty Tee have an offer where you mail them your own t-shirt and choose any of their designs to be printed on said t-shirt for only US$7, which includes shipping and handling?

Didn't think so.

It's Always Sunny

Three reasons why should you patronize Sub Urban Riot? One - They have an offer - guy a hoodie at full price and get any t-shirt for free.

Two - They are BFF with some of the guys at It's Always Sunny Philadelphia, which means they have good tastes in friends and judging by some of you guys, you need to change your social circle.

Three - You should always heed the words of a man on a futuristic bike.

Bullet With Your Name

Mixed Species is a weird little site. Other than some good-looking t-shirts, they also sell other things like posters, invitation cards and a spherical magnet filled with a kewpie doll and ants.

The Good, The Bad, And You is a clever t-shirt that is insulting without being overt but there are only a few remaining left.

Monies: US$11

Revenge of the Nerds

I'm not the popular kid. I'm the one who read books and play video games. I'm also not the smart kid, the brainiac. I'm more of the middle percentile.

I can't understand most of their t-shirts. What the hell is Sicard's rule? I googled for the term but the more I read up on it, my head hurts. I think it's a tumor. A tumor full of stupid.

Uppityshirts cater to a certain demographic and I'm pretty sure it's not the ones who frequent Busted Tees or the like.

Monies: US$25

Buy So That a Sick Kid Can Get His Wish!

Here's something to start the week.

Saw this post at Fantastic Blognanza about designgive and their fancy restocking sale. Even better, a portion of your purchase will go to aid one of the various charities like American Red Cross or Make-a-Wish.

The concept is simple - buy a t-shirt, choose a charity, wait for your t-shirt while you bask in the glow of added karma points.

Monies: US$10 (t-shirts) US$20 (hoodie)

Frank

I got to watching the director's cut of Donnie Darko and it's funny, but I prefer the original cut of the movie.

Toronto-based, UBERINDEX has the creepy Frank the rabbit t-shirt on their site but does the t-shirt forfend disaster or something else?

Monies:US$20

"If I Only Have a Brain"

Some people see women as objects and I understand where Red Lotus Clothing was going with this affirming message.

But can you imagine if a genie were to appear and he (or she) were to take that phrase literally, I think people would be staring at her chest for totally different reasons.

Monies: US$28

Read This Mofo!

You know what grinds my gears? Those damn Visa card ads. You know the one where everybody are moving at the speed of light in their shopping and payment, everybody shiny happy people are paying with their Visa card until someone had to pay in cold hard cash, thus bringing everything to a standstill.

Hey, credit card company? Fuck you. What? Are you saying that people who pay by cash or checks are MONKEY WRENCHES IN YOUR CORPORATE MACHINES? Is that the stench of elitism I smell? Dicks.

Don't let people tell you otherwise how you like to pay for your stuff.


In other news that's someone related to the rant above... if you really don't want to hold up the line, get t-shirts with a barcode on the front for faster purchasing. Geek Bouteek has the right idea.

Monies: US$16

What I Got - Dance Party Massacre

A while back, I did a post on Alex Dakoulas' new line Dance Party Massacre (DPM) and he was so nice and filled with the joy of Christmas that he sent me a little something something.


Within were...


... badges, t-shirt, stickers and a bunch of cards.


The front of said card...


... and the back. Isn't it nice that you immediately get the gist of the company's manifesto as well as the line-up of what he have to offer.


There are also buttons.


Now I can't get enough of the t-shirt. You don't get to see that kind of blood splatter that often and I'm glad Dakoulas is bringing it back.

I wore that t-shirt in public and someone asked me if that's a band, which it's understandable. Dance Party Massacre does sound like a band. An emo band, if any.

On the inside of the t-shirt is the logo for DPM.

Wait a minute! Zoom in!


Arrgh! There's... still... tag... remnants... must adhere to... new year's resolution... and not be a... bitch about every... little... thing... ack!

Okay. So, overlooking the slight tag remains, this entire package feels so professionally put together, even though the company was launched las Halloween. There's a really nice theme going on. The advertisement doesn't seem in-your-face. You can also see the little details put into this like the card tag attached to the t-shirt....


And for the curious, here's the back...


... and here's the front. Doesn't it look similar? The image of the Gonzo Fist symbol of Hunter S. Thompson immediately comes to mind.

See?

This is the love of horror mixed with tongue set firmly in cheek. Dakoulas respects the genre but also knows how to have fun with it. Designs are printed on high-quality cotton (Dakoulas says it's AA but doesn't want to broadcast it). I'm keen to see the next line of designs he has.

I give this several (severed) thumbs up.

Cthulhu Fhtagn

Obama and Huckabee won the Iowa Caucasus but I'm surprised that Cthulhu hasn't thrown in his own nomination for presidency yet.

What's that? You don't know who Ctuhulhu is? For shame. Go read something of Lovecraft. I'll wait.

...

You're back? That's fast. Did you really read or just skim? Whatever. The Elder God wants your vote and obeisance and, if it's not too much, your screaming death. Go over the The Elder Party and proudly wear one of their evil-tainted merch.

Monies: US$19.99

Fresh Bling

College is about to start again and the big joke is that college teens rely on Febreeze instead of taking a regular shower like regular people.

Fresh Produce Threads has a really clever bling accessory for that smelly teen in your life but will it be a subtle hint or an ironic gesture?

Monies: US$25

PS: There be sales... over at Glass Boutique with 50% off and Fooey has t-shirts for your infants at US$5.

Keep A Lid On It

Kev from Under the Hat started out as someone who wants to design t-shirts and after many a refusal from companies, he decided to venture on the tried and test path of self-publishing.

Today, he's still getting the word out but he's climbed much higher than he was many years back. It is the sort of resolve that reminds us that nothing truly is out of reach.

Unless you really suck at it.

(the above image is a sweatshirt)

Monies: £25 or US$50

Happy New Year!

Thought I start the new year with a t-shirt-themed music video, which I found via Director File's top ten videos for 2007.


This is D.A.N.C.E by Justice. Video after the clicky.