instant tees apparel clothing men women pop culture

Instant Tees Inspired by Current Events & Pop Culture

How instant anything can be called an “instant”? Is one-minute prepared junkfood can be called instant? Apparently, the guy at !nstant have an idea (now become promise) that is to launch new T-shirt (made in-house) with links to the phenomenon that inspired it — from Steve Jobs to Wall Street and Facebook privacy issue. Some of the designs are normal, some of them are obscene and some of them are just plain weird but they all are based on the news.

!nstant Tees: website / Facebook /
By the way, has pop culture been overrated?
pete wentz design contest apparel clothing men women pop culture

Pete Wentz is Calling: “POWER” T-Shirt Design Challenge

I hope you will find yourself doing something great this weekend, something with “power” perhaps? Because there’s something about “power” that if used wisely, might help you earn $1000 cash prize from MASScanvas and Pete Wentz‘s of Fall Out Boy as they’re teaming up for T-shirt design contest that will benefit Invisible Children. Here’s the detail:

Starting from February 1, 2012 — fans can submit designs for the “POWER” challenge until February 29th at masscanvas.com. ALL entries will be featured on masscanvas.com, Entrants and fans can comment on designs throughout the challenge and VOTE for the top 20 designs. On March 22, Pete Wentz will choose 5 winning tees (each receiving a $1,000 cash prize), from the top 20, which he feels best represent the theme. The 5 winning tees will be printed in limited quantity, individually hand-numbered, and sold in support of the charitable cause.

MASScanvas: website / "POWER" T-shirt Design Challenge / Facebook / Twitter

I think there lots more tee shirt design contest from MASScanvas than you think. MASScanvas x Pete Wentz is the 6th challenge, so what about the rest? 

mude clothing tee shirts fashion indie italy 5
mude clothing tee shirts fashion indie italy 4
mude clothing tee shirts fashion indie italy 3
mude clothing tee shirts fashion indie italy 2
mude clothing tee shirts fashion indie italy

Santa Claus is Dead. Polaroid Fucks Digital

Cannot get much info about Mude from its website. But the black/white-typography T-shirt specialist brings some really fresh perspective on how you see typography designs that make statement. Whether you agree with “Santa Claus is Dead” and “Polaroid Fucks Digital” or  not, Mude’s tee shirts are something you want to wear when you want to be noticed fashionably. T-shirts are 100% made in Italy and nothing wrong about that.

Mude: Website / Facebook
11 APPAREL streetwear apparel clothing men women hipster tee shirts 7
11 APPAREL streetwear apparel clothing men women hipster tee shirts 6
11 APPAREL streetwear apparel clothing men women hipster tee shirts 5
11 APPAREL streetwear apparel clothing men women hipster tee shirts 3
11 APPAREL streetwear apparel clothing men women hipster tee shirts 2
11 APPAREL streetwear apparel clothing men women hipster tee shirts

“Live With No Regrets”, says 11:11 APPAREL

What do you do at the age of 15? You either a skateboard’s hipster, Nintendo geek or nerdy bookworm with a huge spectacles. But for Heather Tunches, it was the time to start a company that focus on clothing label — 11:11 APPAREL.

Her inspiration came from her core beliefs and I wanted to share those beliefs with others through positive messages on t-shirts and accessories that I felt would appeal to other people. That’s what you see when you saw a T-shirt that saya “Live With No Regrets” and “Live for Moments like These”. Aprt from the positive movement it tries to create, I have a good impression on everything I see on website: Not bad for a 15 years-old girl. What do you think?

11:11 APPAREL: Website / Tumblr

T-shirt Quest 4 Violence “Anatomy of a Hostile Mind”

Cultural Urge is a tiny clothing label by Sebastian who was born in in Buenos Aires, Argentina and grew in Australia to where he is still based today. His childhood was spent enjoying cartoons and fictitious worlds were key inspirations that sculpted his interests.

He then picked vocational study through various institutions over the many years in the fields of Fine Arts, Print Production and Graphic Design before began study as an apprentice at the Sydney Institute of Technology and CGC College of East Sydney where he finalized his qualifications as a Graphic Designer.

Eight Wonder Tee Makes Me Wonder

Founder and Designer of Vogink, Ralph James, told me about the concept and philosphy behind this Eight Wonder Tee. (Eighth Wonder Tee) is to draw a symbolic comparison to the Eighth Wonders of the world.

Vogink’s hope is that people will think of this design as simple in it’s appeal — but see it with an artistic eighth wonder eye. The ultimate goal was to create the perfect parallel between mystic & simple.

But, what do you see here?

Can you draw the line between Great Wall of China or The Taj Mahal and the perfect parallel between mystic & simple that excite you?

The idea behind Vogink itself, like I heard quite often from new “teeshirtpreneur”, is to create excitement with designs that truly reflected founder’s personality and style.

Vogink: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr
flyandi tee shirts apparel clothing men women streetwear fashion

Getting Aerodynamics with Florence-Based Urban Graphic T-shirt Label

I don’t have much reference and knowledge when it comes to Italian-based tee shirt labels. It’s obvious that I don’t understand the language but unlike their French and Germany counterpart, Italian-based clothing labels that go international aren’t within my radar as well.

So, I’m very happy when I found Fly&I — a new urban graphic t-shirt label based in Florence, Italy. I like everything I see on its new website: from the cutting of tee shirt and catchy design that represents their passion to other things that they do like short films, sound-mixes from DJs that their support and even design services and collaborations their offer.

Fly&I: Website /
Summerjunk lucky9 vintage tee shirts apparel clothing fashion

From Northampton with Deluxe Bamboo Cotton in Classic Style: Lucky9

If you have chance to try a vintage-style T-shirt with super soft deluxe bamboo cotton material, it could be from Summerjunk. Apparently, this guy — Jon Clough of Northampton — got serious in producing tee shirt line with a very definitive soft aesthetic appeal. Started from fabric choice, combined with the use of super fine meshes — he tried to create some real high quality products: what Summerjunk want to be perceived as brand.

Summerjunk: Website / 
Edward Teabelly tee shirts funny streetwear

Jolly Good Brew! Edward Teabelly Brings You Hot Tea… and Fresh T-shirts

Inspiration for tee shirt design could eventually from every day life — you see moustache and someone already made tee shirt about it, and so TV shows, famous quotes, politics and so on.

Our friend, Mr. Dave Young, even came up with tee shirt brand that inspired by his obsession with tea and his middle name, that’s why he created indie T-shirt brand called Edward Teabelly not along ago, on 1st Dec 2011.

The brands mixes together his passion for pop culture, fashion, movies and my addiction to the hot beverage, tea, among a multitude of other things, which helps Mr. Teabelly brings to life some fun and often strange concepts. It’s like Johnny Cupcakes without a cupcakes but tea.

Edward Teabelly: Website

8 Secrets to Make Your Custom T-Shirt Printing Better

This article is writte by Lee Patterson is a custom t-shirt printing specialist that works with many different companies to create promotional products. He has held positions with many top labels and brands, consulting on their artwork design process. 

Custom t-shirt printing is not only a great business idea but can also be very fulfilling on a personal level as well. Whether you’re designing promotional products, gifts or even items for your own use, custom t-shirts have a variety of uses.

They are easy to manufacture, hold great value/novelty, and do not have to be extremely expenses to produce. However, if you want to do things right, there are some secrets of the trade that you should know. Keep these 8 tips in mind whenever you are designing a custom t-shirt and you’ll ensure that there is strength and quality in your design.

#1 – Always Use High Quality Products –

There are a lot of different t-shirt manufacturers out there. They are located from Canada to China and all offer differing quality, price and cuts. But when designing a custom printed t-shirt you want to ensure you have the top of the line when it comes to plain t-shirts. Always use a 100% cotton t-shirt when possible, and a 50/50 blend in cases you can’t.

There are several brands to choose from including American Apparel, Fruit of the Loom and Gildan. Depending on the feel you want from the t-shirt, you can choose from light to heavy weights. When decided which style of shirt to get consider your budget, purpose for design and the end user of the shirt. This will ensure you have the best possible quality for the job you’re trying to do.

#2– Get Your Colours Right –

When designing artwork there are several things you need to consider. Some obvious ones include the size and style of the design, the message you’re trying to get across and even the colours you use. When deciding on your colour scheme, however, be sure you know which colour mode you should design in. Most computer software works by default with RGB and CMYK colour modes.

However, to ensure full accuracy of colours you will want to incorporate PMS colours. PMS stands for Pantone Matching System and is a system of matching colours for use in manufacturing and printing. It ensures the closest match to the colours you intended with your artwork. Ask your designer or t-shirt printers more about how this works if you’re unclear.

2 many printers tee shirts artistic apparel clothing france indie white
2 many printers tee shirts artistic apparel clothing france indie
2 many printers tee shirts artistic apparel clothing france indie white fashion

Black Summer is Based On The Evil Side of the Summer Solstice

2 Many Printers doesn’t make a memorable name but it has some really good tees. It was established in Jan 2011 and started as a screen printing company but decided the direction for the company was to go towards tee shirts and collaborate with upcoming and known artists, it incorporates many different styles of work.

gaggle of tees apparel clothing men womwn animals politics good cause

Good (and Bad) Things Come in Groups. Let’s Give to Groups that Do Good

If you’re wondering when will owls hang out together take over the parliament or why ferrets are fun, but when a group of them get together it’s all business — you have to give Gaggle of Tees a few seconds to change your perception on how small groups can thrive to make big impacts.

The shirts are based on the idea that groups of animals have cool names – a group of crows is called a murder of crows, a group of owls is called a parliament of owls, etc. With 10% of anything you buy at Gaggle of Tees donated to do-good foundations, you know how good it works. Just make sure you pick the right tee for yourself

Gaggle of Tees: Website
socialwear facebook social media tee shirts vintage fashion

Social + T-shirt, Is This the Latest Hype?

I found WearingSocial a couple of months ago and just recently someone told me another similar service called SocialWear. But what they do exactly? They’re very similar with print-on-demand services such as Cafepress, Zazzle or Spreadshirt with add-on service: getting photos from your social network i.e Facebook

In a very simple explanation: The service help you grab photos from your Facebook and let you “design” how it will look on T-shirt (with pre-defined template) and print it for you — all with couple of clicks online.

SocialWear: Website / Facebook / Twitter |
WearingSocial™ : Website / Facebook / Twitter

iam danot interview graphic artist illustrator indonesia grapniph
design-for-graniph danot tee shirts
iam danot interview graphic artist illustrator indonesia graniph 2

An Interview with danot: “When I draw I feel happy”

Dhanny a.ka. danot is an Indonesian-based graphic designer and illustrator with unique style on human and animals that goes fun-wild with his own fantasy. Last month, I interviewed the designer that has designed for Graniph and currently re-building its own tee shirt label. Here’s the summary 

made by humans beings apparel clothing women apparel men typography

Hand Made by Human Beings

All things are made by human beings — although God and robots might play their parts.

But the the term “hand made by human beings” for Prestigious as a fashion brand means its product were handpicked by individuals and were designed, printed and produced in the United States with utmost respect and care for a DIY ethic and fair labor treatment.

Prestigious is about to help you making a strong statement on that issue with artsy tees — not forget to mention the cool typographic design it has. So, if you’re “in”, better grab one for yourself.

Prestigious: Website /

Brightspot Market is Back! (Bigger Than Ever)

brightspot market indonesia jakarta 2011 plaza senayan indie retailer designers fashionBrightspot Market is back! The famous unique retail concept that always held in different location will be opened again this end 2011, inviting more than 130 local (Indonesia) and international designers, artists and indie retailers that bring wide range of one-of-a-kind fashionable items.

You will simply find anything you’d love to wear, from top to bottom.

This November, it will be held from from Nov. 24th-27th in Plaza Senayan, Jakarta and expected to be the 7th and biggest installment of Brightspot, held in the luxurious Plaza Senayan, filling 3,500 square meters of raw space in the former bowling alley location.

Brightspot Market itself was started just about 2 years ago by C&C Projects, Future 10, and LTD (Leonard Theosabrata Design).

If no late minute work stop me from going home earlier, I will be on the opening party of Brightspot Market tonight for the opening party and find some cool tee shirts (hopefully) — thanks to the exclusive invitation I got yesterday.

Brightspot Market: Website / Facebook / Twitter

More to see… participating brands:

tee shirt apparel clothing STUBBORN SIDEBURN artists graphic

Each STBN SDBN T-shirt Gives Character a Purpose to Live

STUBBORN SIDEBURN is brain-child of Japanense artists, Junichi Tsuneoka, whose focal point is the distintive a style often recognized as “California Roll Stylie,” the result of both a visual and conceptual fusion of Japanese pop culture and American urban culture.

With intention to experiment and explore while giving his “characters” a purpose to live and creating a world for them, Mr Junichi Tsuneoka started STBN SDBN (short for STUBBORN SIDEBURN) just last year. As he told me, his illustration is more into character design driven and it is very good at getting instant attention from the audience.

STBN SDBN tees are all hand-crafted. It’s because Mr Junichi Tsuneoka designed his own neck label and sleeve tag sawn on the tee. Surprisingly, there are only make 24 shirts per design and one of them already worn by Mr Junichi Tsuneoka as he only produces T-shirt if he want to wear it himself.

STBN SDBN: Website / Facebook

With ONLY Lovely T-shirts, Your Denims Might Get New Best Friends

Since its inception to Danish fashion scene in 1995, ONLY has always been perceived as denim brand with spirit to spread the true jeans-attitude to everybody.

It’s “denimized” tee shirts, moreover, reflects its indigo blue and denim state-of-mind through vintage-ish look and feel with details and trimmings that are found on each item within the collection. No matter if you are more into the tomboy or a girly style, ONLY wardrobes are always something for you to wear.

The brand is getting huge everyday, sold in more than 4,000 wholesale shops and is present in 23 markets. ONLY is a part of the worldwide fashion company Bestseller. It’s also part of DefShop women collection, one of my favorite T-Shirts online store when it comes to streetwear, skate- and fashion highlights.

ONLY: Website / Facebook / Twitter | DefShop: Stylish Streetwear / Twitter

Bonus: ONLY – Behind the scenes! – Winter 2011 (Video)

What Do You Think a T-shirt Will Look Like in The Future?

T-world present NEXT, a dedicated to the past, present and future of the T-shirt industry.

Starting from November 4 to December 11 — Outpost Project was happened in in Sydney’s Cockatoo Island, to showcase of world’s best street art. Within the cavernous steel confines of the Heavy Machine Shop lies NEXT, a vibrant display of the planet’s most comprehensive collection of graphic T-shirts.

1,000+ T-shirts on display
150+ T-shirt artists, designers and labels
40+ exclusive portrait photographs by Nicole Reed
15+ T-shirts of the future from high profile local and international artists and designers

What’s next after this?

T-World: Facebook / Vimeo | (Directed by) Versus Media

After this, Outpost Project video commercial:

76 garment tee shirts apparel clothing indie urban vintage 2
76 garment tee shirts apparel clothing indie urban vintage 3
76 garment tee shirts apparel clothing indie urban vintage

Create Your Future, That’s 76 Garments’ Mantra

76 Garments is clothing brand that stands proudly for goodness, character, authenticity, and always trying to foster a pioneering spirit. Although recently it’s just recently launched, it believes in old roots, considering the mantra it spells

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

76 Garments: Website / Facebook / Twitter

I Love Antix Likes to Shred and Thrash

I Love Antix, also often called simply “Antix”, is a brand that is dedicated and inspired by fun! The brand is self-described as a mix of 80s nostalgia and 90′s rad. However it’s also a brand that is Ultra-Hyper-Super-Mega-High-Fashion which of course, as they admit, doesn’t actually mean anything at all. What you can count on though is fun designs and lots of them.

I Love Antix originally got its start as a small humorus tee sideline project but has since evolved into a full fledge brand with lots of great art and designs.

Space Thrash tee by Chad Manzo is printed on a black shirt in vivid colors. This design depicts an alien “Shredding the Milky Way.”  Meanwhile, Adam Vaudin’s  Jurassic Thrash T-shirt is just what it should be. Two pterodactyls skating in an Native American styled circle/headdress.

I Love Antix: Website / Facebook / MySpace / Twitter

Bonus review: “Bowling”  tee shirt, designed by Craig Robson.