First Time Long Time

A wise man once said, "fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice... you can't get fooled again." My good friends, I feel I have fooled you tenfold with my long absences, and fooled many of my good constituents as well. You may, perhaps, give thanks, however. 'Tis nearly the holidays, and what sort of promoter of all things awesome and t-shirt would I be if I was not around to guide you through this tumultuous time? Remember, an educated consumer is a consumer which doesn't buy unlicensed, non-parody work. I have a tee review and a couple missed site review opportunities in the works, so good things will, hopefully, be coming your way, if I can get some steam back in the last days of the year.

Today is a good day to come back, because it also marks the return of one of the more intriguing of seasonal lines, the Ropeadope Collective. Ropeadope seems to focus most on music on their downtime, but this is the second tee series they will be releasing, with such names as Bootsboots, Qetza and Wotto in their new lineup, so you know they're serious about the tee game too, despite the waggish name. For me, it's a little bittersweet, as more of their designs seem to be focusing on the brand (even if the fine folks at Seibei have contributed a swell one), but it also has incredibly sick designs such as Mike Friedrich's Discowl, which is as funky as they come. I have a bit of a weakness for purple, but that pink and lime-ish, muted neon color scheme knocks it out of the park. It's "hip," for what that's worth, in a retro way: it's a color scheme 20, 25 years old, but coming back in vogue, coupled with timeless, slick illustration. If these guys are going to keep taking directions like this, I am going to keep waiting for awesome new lines. Check 'em out now before the cyber-monday rush... they seem to even have stray sizes from a few of last season's designs.

Give 'em the Boots

We've seen Kindred Market before in the long long ago, and thought hey, that's a pretty cool concept, but wanted to wait to see more. What concept, you ask? Well, Kindred runs a shirt contest of a different sort. Instead of printing the hottest tees, they give birth to a brand, which hopefully will then create hot tees. It leads to a decidedly mixed-bag feel to the site: you have stunning art mixed with vectormash and even slogans, but the potential is what makes the site so interesting. Instead of waiting every week for a single shirt to either be awesome or horrible, like some sites, there is a whole new brand under their umbrella to judge on quality. Which is kind of exciting.

This week, however, Kindred has brought us a line that should excite a number of you out there in tee land. Welcome friend-of-the-blog BootsBoots to their market! Boots is known for an oddball sense of humor and a quirky sense of cuteness, and the pieces up from her line's first release highlight this for sure (as well as her admitted penchant for text-text-text). Honestly, it's nice to see how completely the pieces selected for the launch speak to the designer's overall style.

Unsurprisingly, my favorite of the group is her long-unprinted Intergalactic Hitchhikers. It's an example of how cuteness can still be unique and personal in style, and it's also the most original and artful of the crop. If I had to break down the success of this to one element, I'd say "arrows". The arrows give a nice flow for the eyes to follow, and facilitate the composition of the overall design. They also bring in the color contrast that really makes this pop... the orange highlights against the blues really make this lovely and eyecatching, and unlike some halftone experiments, the glow here works as a matter of those contrasts. It adds to the otherworldly feel. I'm also a pretty big fan of the mediocrity-snarking "Lulz 101," which takes a well-deserved swipe at, well, something like 75% of the tee world, but this one always seemed to sum Boots up in an image.

I understand Kindred works in DTG printing, which isn't my ideal method to buy, but also has a screenprinter they use for store orders, which is all the more promising. I have no clue where they wholesale to, so if you're on the hunt for a solid screened design, I don't know what to tell ya, but it's definitely worth checking out if you're a Boots fan... her pieces are currently pretty damn reasonably priced, too, so it's a chance worth taking. Either way, we'd love to congratulate her on the new shop, and we hope the concept is something that not only takes off for her, but for kindred... who knows what they can offer if they start getting some serious exposure.

Stop Worrying/Love the Tee

We don't believe that tees need to be political, but we certainly support when someone can put forth a smart and meaningful opinion in their art. That's half of what art is (and it's why you'll find decidedly fewer real artists in certain political spheres than others). I've never understood the idea that politics should be absent from art, music, film, or any other expression of our inner selves, but then, those opinions, again, generally come from those with much to fear from such opinions. But educated opinion is the crux of artistry.

That said, we're not really sure how "The Economics Tee or: How I learned to stop worrying and let the government kick my ass" represents what its title purports to represent, but we can get behind a lot of things. It's no big secret that government has helped screw up the economy for decades, so the overall message implied is easy to support. It's a Paper Root tee, also, which means it's a super high quality product on a blank so soft I want to graft it into my skin. Can't possibly not be for that. But what so many message tees fail at is creating something attractive to go with their message. As I've said, I'm not sure how the art here -does- relate to the presumed concept, but for a tee, it's way better to have obscured concept than unwearable graphics. This thing is definitely wearable. I love the look of the illusion... it draws the eye for that "impossible object" feel, but I really love the (wait for it) rigidity of the whole thing. I know, that's normally a turn-off, but the hard lines and textures make this feel concrete, and it gives off an interesting overall visual. I also like the subtle white and red accents, which add some nice visual pops to the otherwise rocky main image. It gives it an overall more mystical or alchemical vibe to me. I certainly wouldn't put money on that sort of description being the best there is, but that's what I get, for sure. It just feels like something that could, well, find its way into the masonic and otherwise imagery we think of in terms of our currency. So maybe that's where it all fits together. But overall, it's an awesome reminder of what simple, abstract work can do to a tee blank. Namely, make it awesome.

Heresy

As we speak, I am on a train. It is yesterday, and I am taking time to do all the awesome things I've meant to do for weeks now. Foremost among them, giving Mumford Clothing some love. Those of you who are more well-versed in the tee world probably know the name of Dan Mumford from the world of Emptees... he's one of those guys that people fall over themselves to praise. And in this case, they're right.

We've talked about Mr. Mumford in the past, with his Submit and Remix project, but today we're talking about his own personal line. Release #1 is called "The Heretic," which as a name is pretty much guaranteed to not be my style, but the thing about this guy's art is, it is your style anyway. The linework is stunning, and it hits all the right "hardcore" notes while still being totally wearable. There's lots of fire, fierce critters, demons, skulls, etc, but the artwork focuses on the lines, not the "rarr I'm so counterculture" vibe that many other takes on this style seem to prefer. I'm kinda in love with the fiery colors of parts VII and VIII of the series, but "I. Prologue" is really the perfect summation of the whole line. The blues and reds are moody, striking a dark beauty against the black. The bats are wild and ominous, the girl surrounded by them smooth and calm, her hair blowing. It's great artistry, and fills the shirt smartly: I'm a sucker for a big chest print, but the shape itself, and how the bats frame the flow of the image, makes it even better. It doesn't hurt, either, that this site has one important change from the last one: prices in US dollars. Serious art for a reasonable price is reason enough to check any site out, especially when the profits go to one guy who definitely deserves to make a living off his skill.

Regan Smith Clarke birthday sale

Sometimes, my dear friends, I need to have my hand forced to get you the goods. I'm a busy man these days, and there are times when a blog (like the contest watch I swear I will attempt this evening!) is either one more burden, or a distraction from a night that is just too pleasant to work through. So I was quite excited when Adder-Brand-of-the-Moment Regan Smith Clarke approached me for a retweet of their birthday weekend sale. Why not do one better? These guys are a brand that I've been pretty excited for since stumbling over them, what, a month or two ago? I've been meaning to give them a write-up ever since snagging a two-pack of their tees, and just being unable to make the time. No longer! RSC deserves your recognition.

For starters, the brand is local -Boston represent? - but more than that, they have some of the sheer classiest branded tees available. I'm rocking Use Your Mind right now, a sentiment I certainly agree with, and a clashy yellow-and-blue palette that nevertheless makes the entire proceedings rich with color on a tee (it's perfect for summer, I'd think). Frequent readers might ask why in the name of Hades would I be wearing branded tees at all? It's true, I normally shun the brand tee. However, the style on Regan Smith Clarke's branded offerings makes them a shop that not only am I happy to advertise, but that realizes that shirts are made to be worn. You just don't see brand tees half this wearable very often, nor images that truly work the branding into them to make it a wearable experience. Nothing ruins an amazing graphic more than a brand slapped over the illo.

Even with the praiseworthy nature of their line, though, I'd rather show off Russian Doll (above), their sole non-branded tee. It doesn't tread the newest territory, but the style is stunning and the colors are perfect. It's all about classic graphic style, as the design helps prove, so even without the brand name over it, it's still very cohesive with their overall site mission. Classic styles and gorgeous, simple colors... that's pretty much a recipe for success if you're doing it right, and these guys are. No better time to check it out than the present, too... this weekend, everything's at least 10% off, with free shipping, and awesomeness coming standard. We love the big guns around here, obviously. Our most reliable column is all about what's been up for voting at the sites big enough to allow voted submissions. But while it often gets lost in the shuffle, the newer, smaller, indie-er brands deserve your love too. And there just aren't many that deserve your eye as much as Regan Smith Clarke.

5tarting Anew

So, this week is the first week of yet another freakin' daily limited tee site. 5quidink is not about 5-quid ink (which I'm actually happy about, since it means avoiding ludicrous exchange rates and shipping times/costs), but it is about water based inks, which is pretty cool, and they change over at 2am, which fills a gap between the major site changeovers. This is pretty exciting for my nerdy self.

I generally believe daily sites are worth checking, well, daily, for better or worse, simply for the limitedness. 5quidink is no exception. Today, however, is a better-day-than-most to check it out, because there's a sweet randyotter design up for sale. Bull in a China Shop is a charming little piece. It hinges largely on knowing the origin of the saying, but also has plenty of personal illustrative charm. It's my first buy with them, which is a big thing for me on a site's first week, and it should maybe be yours too, but remember, as with anywhere like this, it is limited, so get it fast.

Sporty New Tees

There are lots of things you probably won't see us talk about here. Places like Snorg are simply begging for us to pass them over. We probably won't ever be praising new threads at the Gaia Online shop. And no matter how cute your grandmother's cat sweaters may be, you can't convince me to chat up her etsy site.

Up til now, I would have been CERTAIN a site devoted to the sporting life would be among those things, but I have so far been more intrigued than I would ever have expected by newcomers Inkblitz, a site that is walking the fine line between athletics and art. Far from the "sports art" I see in my area (sorry, guys, but "A-Rod Takes it up the..." is not a slogan which endears your intellect to anyone), Inkblitz is here to celebrate the hard work and determination that may not be found immediately in common between art and sport, but still exists in both.

It is perhaps not shocking to see Wotto pop up at the site's launch. Those of us familiar with the t-shirt world know that Wotto is a huge name and always ready and willing to help a start-up... but what is exciting to me is that they were able to get one of my favorites of his. Nature's Playground was once-upon-a-time branded out for DBH's Quiksilver contest, but the whimsical charm of the piece was enough to make me want to talk about it in Contest Watch. I'd have bought this even WITH Quiksilver branding all over it, but as it stands now, nothing is lost without the heavily integrated logos, and everything, for me at least, is gained. It's got all the action and joy of the original, with a simple, effective palette. It really does illustrate the fun of staying active without hammering home some tired "in it to win it" maxim, and if they continue on a trend of printing sporty designs instead of Designs For Sports, that is what is going to make Inkblitz a site worth watching, even if you're a lazy blogger like me.

And Now For Something Completely Different

It's hard to say what this blog's aesthetic is, but generally, it shies away from what I'd call "Emptees fare". There's a certain aesthetic the guys over there largely subscribe to that regularly fails to click with me, despite much of the execution being simply top-notch. Which I think is part of why I was tentative when I received an email from Emptees god Dan Mumford, and part of why I am consequently stoked to be bringing you this particular post. I hope you'll come along for the ride.

Today, we're talking about his newest brainchild, Submit and Remix, which operates on one of the most intriguing ideas I've seen in a while. Take two solid designers. Commission a design from each. Then let them loose remixing the other's design. The result is a quartet of tees that truly highlight how similar ideas can influence different minds dramatically. It's about finding inspiration without copying (hey now, there's a lesson MANY people could profit from), and pushing your own creativity. It's possibly the epitome of selling the fundamentals of art: creativity and inspiration, as opposed to whatever crap might sell hottest today.

Of course, all this is meaningless if it's not also coming with awesome shirts, but you probably knew that I wouldn't bother featuring a site that didn't. Series one brings us Horsebites (creator of one of my favorite Threadless selects) and Keaton Henson, whose remix is my easy favorite of series one. I've decided to dub this "The Pink Monstrosity," which seems like a fair title given the art. That bubblegum-pink is certainly a selling point... it's a bold choice, which plays perfectly with the otherwise basic colors... it provides a bright counterpoint to the blacks, and a loud counterpoint to the timidness of white. The flowing black bands shine like vinyl records, and the skulls are attractively rendered and, in a way, embedded in the pink, visceral mound herein, they become powerful. It seems to be, all in all, a unique circle-of-life piece. But above all that, c'mon, it's simply killer. If future rollouts can keep up this level of inspiration, this'll definitely be an indie to watch.

Mea Culpa

Singularitee would like to apologize to all y'all viewing on a widescreen monitor. I just got a lappy with one, and did not notice how horrific my blog looks to you. Thank you for sticking with me anyway... I'll be working to optimize things for the new generation.

Tee-Cember: Royal Beauty Bright

I've always loved Christmas, but I've loved it for secular reasons. Sure, I was brought up understanding the true meaning of it, but the real rewards were anything but. It wasn't all Santa and gifts either, though (though certainly, those were awesome elements). It was the smell of the tree and the baking, the coziness of a warm house, or a warm coat out in the snow. It was the snow itself, the fun to be had and the pure beauty of its gleaming whiteness, and the scent of crisp air and distant chimneys. The family traditions that you looked forward to all year, and now the ones we've made with friends. You can dive into the Jesus and Santa war all you like, it's impossible to not appreciate those simple things that make Christmas special in the now, because they're elements that extend to all holiday gatherings. There's really no other time of year that seems to touch as many people for both spiritual and secular reasons.

That all said, we know that certainly for many of you, the religious side of the season is certainly a big deal, so I can think of no better time to bring Red Is White to you. They've been around for a bit, bringing faith-based tees to the world at large. The best part, though, is that RiW doesn't take a preachy road, but finds praise in designs which are imminently wearable for people of all faiths, or no faith. Consider JulianGlander's "What I Need," among my favorites in the catalog. It's a what-if that recalls the old "money doesn't grow on trees" admonishment. Even with an orchard full of diamonds, the tee suggests that it is what God provides which we need most, and no amount of greed can replace it. The message carries, though, to anyone who appreciates the simple things more than the flashy, ephemeral glitz of modern life. Seriously, the only apple I want is the tree sort... an iPhone feels ineffably like overkill. It even can take an environmental slant... what's most vital is the natural, the life force that sustains us and needs sustaining. That's the sort of thing Red is White does best: putting out shirts that don't sacrifice art for a heavy-handed, specific message, but can be appreciated on a spiritual level as well. If you're among the many who are always looking to express their faith, you may have found your new favorite bookmark, but especially with a $12 sale going on for the season, any shirt connoisseur should consider checking them out. Just like the holiday season, the best parts of t-shirt graphics are the universals.

Tee-Cember: Holiday Hot List 2009

Hark, the herald Adders sing! Glory to the newborn tees! Or at least, welcome to our yearly Christmas list for you holiday shoppers out there. As last year, we figure any site can list hot sellers, shops begging for promo time, and themed lists, so we're catering to that most underserved of markets: your friendly neighborhood Adder. These ten tees are on my personal list, and if you have a dashing, daring, XL-wearing tee fan on your list, you'd do well to check it out. Especially if it's me.

1. Wet and Windy (Shirt.woot): As last year, I felt it was worth it to put out the hunt for a long out of print Woot tee. Last year, dreams came true, and I now own an Avocado Man of my own. This year, the search is on for Wet and Windy, a piece I fell in love with far too long after its departure. I don't expect my luck to hold out, but if the spirit of the holidays prevails (and probably if people insist they believe in fairies) perhaps a Christmas miracle will get one in my hands in 2010.

2. Between the Eyes (Threadless): The greatest thing about Threadless sales is Selects at incredible prices, but that means that eventually, there's so much great stuff in your cart that something doesn't make the cut. This tee is one of them, languishing behind despite it's big, bold graphic, quirky yet classic concept, and smart use of CMYK (allowing the colors to pop instead of hit you over the head with a weak print joke).

3. Caution (Red) (Supermandolini, shown left): Besides the obvious things drawing me to this shirt (seriously, I feel like I cannot get more self-parodic sometimes), I am in love with the flow of the illustration making its home on this tee, and more so with the smart placement, allowing for a strong double-take when you see what's just over the shoulder. Part of it's also the subject matter... sometimes we need a shirt that truly shows off who we are. Total class, and a tee I've desired for a while.

4. Digfoot (Enclothe): A big and bizarre print with an epic "fun" quotient. I love the character highlighted here, with his loosely drawn body (the way only half the lines ever seem to connect is very appealing when you notice it) and his funhouse-mirror predicament. This is the sort of thing a great one-color tee should be made of... the ink is visible and tasteful against the tee, and the graphic is unique enough that more color is hardly needed.

5. Time (302 Designs): Something about this piece has stuck with me ever since I first saw it (sold out and more expensive). The pose of the graphic seems to be on the defense, blocking an implicit vulnerability. The colors pop on the tee itself. The graphic feels classic and weathered, as the image should portray. I even love the brief text incorporated into the piece: "Time, may I be provided the strength to one day understand you." It's just wise enough to not be cliché, and it makes the piece feel almost personal.

6. Vulpes (Design by Humans, shown right): This graphic simply lures me in... its colors are murky as midnight, and the graphic itself is hypnotic... the fox featured here is not only mutated to start with, with it's multiple legs and tails (the creature is more of a Rorshack test than a true animal), but the base in the back of the same graphic, 180'd and painted in purple, helps make the whole piece truly hypnotising. Creative, unique, and a must-have.

7. The Coral Castles Tee (Paper Root Clothing): We just brought Paper Root into the blog last week, but this is the tee that made me fall in love. It's nothing too complex, just coral textures on a particularly sweet looking heather gray blank, with some geometric elements. It's very hipster, and hits on many chords of what's popular right now, but it's hard to deny how GOOD the whole thing comes out looking. Of the pieces we're featuring here, this is probably the one I'm most apt to grab after the holidays.

8. Ostrich Egg (HaHa Press): There's something about bird skeletons, or really all animal skeletons, that draws me in to a design, and this one is all the more irresistible not only for the life vs. death motif the feathers and egg give, but for the vibrant colors making the whole shebang eye-delicious.

9. Stop (Fullbleed): Rob Dobi of Fullbleed is probably the king of indie tee lines, given the amount of iconic designs he's put out, and the distinctive style his work has. It's a style that, to be honest, I've usually been left a bit cold by, but the more I see Stop, whether for it's great placement, smart use of minimal colors, or simply that his shadowy style is sans human silhouettes in this piece, the more I am simply drawn to it. I figure it's about time... what shirt connoisseur can truly go without a Fullbleed in their closet?

10. Octophant Polo (Resist Today, shown left): Perhaps it's time for something classier? The Octophant polo is absolutely gorgeous color-wise... the blacks and golds shine against the rich cranberry blank, the graphic itself, with trunk and tentacles writhing along, is intriguing and flows amazingly, and the placement, coming at us from around the side, is something I love to see... it helps keep things fresh. But to have all that on an AA polo shirt for the price of a regular tee? I just don't see how a boy could resist.

Of course, we do suggest that if you want a gift guide, this whole blog is technically just that. Especially check out our Contest Watch updates for choice ideas. And don't forget, sometimes it's nice to add new people to your list. Wink wink.

Tee-Cember: The Obligatory Purple Shirt

With sales sales sales at the big boys, we're happy to procure a piece today from a site we've yet to chat up, yet which has a couple sure-fire buys on our list someday down the line. Welcome Paper Root Clothing, which really came out of nowhere for us, despite having long heard the name around. Suddenly, they dropped their new line, and BAM, I suddenly want their tees. Good for them. Bad for my wallet.

I know I have a definite readership that lusts after all things purple, so in their interest, I bring you The Future Past. Don't worry, readership that lusts to know my favorite blanks, your time will come too. Ironically, one thing I love here is something that kills many designs for me... the definitive framework. I think it's the curvature at the top which makes the piece wearable and not boxy, as well as all that lovely blank canvas within. The blankness of the tee really makes it more powerful... the eclipse hovers ominously, and the diamonds shooting up through the sky not only feel important for their framing by the border of the graphic, but also are more alluring for their dashing up the blank canvas. The bottom is plenty nice, too (the Egyptian theme is always good for the intrigue factor), but the real money here is above the Sphynx's head, in the gorgeous minimalism of the vast sky. The site in general is worth your checking out, but certainly this tee is as good an introduction as any.

Tee-Cember: It Begins!

OK. Let's get this out of the way right nownownownownow, so you can buy it. Christmas is now 24 days away. Now is as good a time as any to get gifts if you want them to get to their destination on time. So I figure, why not talk up the most likely tee to be a hot, unique gift piece early?

I'll never understand the power of memes, but I can appreciate that now and then, someone can take something tired and turn it on its head. So it is surprising to me that I have not seen today's tee concept, courtesy of Demighty, anywhere else, because it seems like the pinnacle of zombie parody. The graphic is the sort of crisp character piece that has always been classic for a tee, and while the idea of other sorts of zombies making their demands is not new (the vegan zombie demanding Grains, for example), taking it with a 100% reversal of roles made me honestly laugh in a way zombie jokes simply do not do. Your favorite zombie obsessed meme-nerd probably will get 14 copies of the Zombie Survival Guide, and likely already owns the Evil Dead movies. What they probably DON'T have is a good or original t-shirt (I've seen where they shop. It's probably true!) so while it won't stop your best buddy from his continual ranting about the zombie uprising which will never happen because we live in the real world, picking up Zombies will certainly up anyone on your list's fashion quotient (I especially like how it looks on the blue, shown), while still making them positively re-animated when they open their gift. You don't really want to see them pull out the ol' "This is not the shirt you are looking for" tee again, do you?

Contest Watch: Updates #51-75

#51: There is So Much to Learn
#52: Taipei Rocks
#53: Dinner is Ready
#54: Technophilia
#55: Kitty Gratis
#56: The Ghost-Town Cactus Trio
#57: Binary Song
#58: All Dinosaurs Go To Heaven
#59: Tea Leaves
#60: Wise Old Master
#61: Cruel Joke
#62: Original Sin
#63: The Lost Gondolier
#64: Kleptonaut
#65: Song Bird (Tilteed)
#66: Spaghetti
#67: Uh-Oh Spaghettios (formerly "Inspired by Still Life with Woodpecker")
#68: The Incredible Flyingcontraptionofwaste
#69: Deep Blue Destroyer
#70: Final Approach
#71: Battle of the Ironclads II
#72: Spaghetti Western
#73: Lunar Escape
#74: Metal on Metal
#75: The Post-Apocalyptic Blues

A Quick Bite

I'm not normally a slogan tee wearer. I tend to think my own wit is strong enough without them, and I tend to worry about the joke-repetition theorem: if you keep seeing a joke on a shirt, it is like repeating a joke, and it gets less funny each time to the point of annoyance. Which is to say, even a great slogan shirt can get tiresome after even one wear. They need to be attractive, not just witty, to truly carry over and be worthy of multiple sportings.

That said, Palmercash has clearly gotten inside my head with their new "Wake Me For Meals". It's the sort of tee I'm tempted to buy just to hang on my door, for any and all housemates in my life to see and be informed by. But it's also quite wearable. So if you tend to sleepwalk, this'll be ideal, too.

Blogged With Awesome

Early early this morning, we gave you a quick announcement that may well end up being "made of awesome. And tonight, we take that concept just a little farther, and a lot more literal.

Welcome to "Made With Awesome," a new tee site that eschews that passé "fabric" stuff in favor of swaths of radical. It's the collaborative effort of two Threadlessites: Evan Ferstenfeld, the ubiquitous and omnipresent Threadentity known as Frickinawesome, and Philly designer Roni Lagin, whose Threadmoniker is the very straightforward Phillydesigner. We've seen both of them through our contest watch before: Evan has proven his chops time and again as a brilliant idea man, and Roni has impressed us with his art. So a combo platter sounds all the better.

What do we know for sure about this new shop? Well, it's clear the site name has two angles: the shirts are awesome, but also, Roni has "Made" a number of tees "with (frickin)awesome." The majority of the launch follows that pattern: Evan flexes his sloganeering muscles, and Roni illustrates them into graphic tee bliss. Even a non-slogan dude like me can appreciate that these will be a step above the average text-tee, but what I'm really looking forward to is the inevitable "design depository".

See, Mr. Awesome has done scads of collaborations with scads of Threadless alumni, and many of them are pretty epic, so while the slogans are the bread-and-butter, so to speak, I'm really interested in what former inspirations come to print. Two such collabs are in the launch packet, my favorite of which being "King of the Jungle Gym." With art by Cheok Siew Yen, the piece is whimsical, sunny, and even a little ominous... sure, there's all those charmingly active animals throughout the piece, making it appeal to the kid in us... there's plenty of fun detail to get lost in... but there's also that hidden lion, lost behind all the action, but still a bit foreboding. There's no reason to believe there's going to be any havoc caused, as this king seems to be a protective and stoic leader, but it IS a lion. Those things are vicious. Just ask Mufasa.

With two veterans of the tee circuit starting the business up, we're personally thinking this week-old brainchild will have legs. If you have legs too, and need something to cover up the torso they're supporting (or even if you don't... we love readers of all leggedness), definitely consider keeping them on the radar. Need a little convincing? We've got a coupon code, too! Save $1 off your order with code "SINGULARITEE". That won't expire, so keep it in mind... every buck counts!

Contest Watch: Updates #26-50

#26: Not Your Average Seahorse
#27: Caspian Tiger (1947)
#28: Trampoline (Teextile, no archive)
#29: Burrowish
#30: Sea Beard
#31: Eight-Legged Cats Have Cool Names
#32: BurgBot
#33: Rhanga
#34: Schrödinger's Fish
#35: Apparition of the Grouchy God
#36: Nautical Problem (Threadless 12 Club Tee)
#37: Cornerstone
#38: Dark Side of Doodles (Teextile, no archive)
#39: Solar Power
#40: Arr, Let O' Me Nuts
#41: Heading South for the Winter
#42: Steamworks Operatica
#43: Air
#44: Sweet Child O' Mine
$45: Umibozu
#46: The Walrus and the High Wheeler
#47: Sensationalism
#48: Coq Music
#49: Wah Wah Wahhhhh
#50: Song Bird

Keeping it Light

Sometimes, after a long day of being angry at everything, it's nice to kick back with something light. It's easier said than done: I'm rarely a TV watcher, most of my "relax" music is still pretty damn cerebral, and my DVD collection has a not-insignificant chunk of as-yet unwatched foreign classics. Recently, I've been lounging with a copy of Madame Bovary, some light summer reading if ever I've heard it. Yes, the ol' gray Adder is a party animal like that.

But what about t-shirts? Believe it or not (and I'd like to think regular readers would believe it), some of my favorite tees are simple but attractive... amusing and odd in equal measure. So lately I've been totally enamored with Lights On, an orange oddity from Palmercash. The site insists it is a "vintage red," and perhaps it is in a different lighting (I don't wear glasses for nothing), but my monitor is insisting orange. Not that it matters to me either way... it's still on "the list". The bold blank is indeed part of it, but the whole piece is just brilliantly weird. It is apparently a lampshade with legs, or possibly being worn by a very unfortunately proportioned man, shouting a mantra as though he was a superhero or motivational speaker. Some people seem to be totally averse to things they don't "get", but for me, not having a clue as to the why or what of this piece is why I am so drawn to it. I love looking at the simple but distinctive illustration, and muddling through what is going on. It almost feels like it could be iconic, the logo of some long-forgotten brand, and somehow that gives it a charm that no real brand could muster. But what it comes down to is that this is the sort of thing I can turn my brain off to and enjoy. Some people prefer the generic and populist because the familiarity allows them to enjoy without thinking. For me, I'd much rather have something that is so illogical, thinking becomes a waste.

Oh, and if you happen to be a girl, you can pick up the ladies' style right here. I know, it's annoying when websites section off male and female collections like that, so I'm happy to lead the way. You know me, I aim to please my readers.

Early Morning Reminders!

This has been a hella busy week, and I feel like I only glossed over a couple things, so to review:
~The Design By Humans Anniversary Sale ends tonight. The $5 tees are getting slimmer, but it's still worth the browse, and you still get 10% off with code TJD4K0.
~Today's also the last day of Uneetee's Mystery Gift Certificate promo. $5 gets you at least a $6 GC, or up to $100, so it's always worth the gamble.
~Today is ALSO your last shot to pick up "I Want to Dance, Too" at Teextile. Don't miss it twice!
~Finally (I think), while neither entry is ending today, don't forget to vote for Contest Watch faves Steampunk Willie (shown) at Threadless or Sweet Child o' Mine at Tilteed!

That all said, I'll be seeing you later in the day for a (far less colorful) bonus post, I do believe. Stay tuned!

Bird is the Word

One of the things that infuriates me (one? just one?) is seeing amazing talents fail time and again to net a prize for their innovation, skill, and overall awesome offerings. Among the most clinically neglected is a guy who goes by the name of AgainstBound. You've likely seen his art 'round these parts a number of times, but we haven't really had a chance to talk him up for a sale. Thank God for Goodjoe.

Goodjoe's tagline is "Inspires Change". I have no clue how much change they're really inspiring, but they do donate a certain amount per sale to charities, and more importantly, they've changed the general availability of Againstbound prints, which is good enough change for me. The piece, Fading Beauty, has some recurring elements of his work... geometric elements as a backdrop, lots of melting, birds... but it remains clean and peaceful even with the dramatic and somewhat jarring elements. I love the imperfection in the artist's work, yet how the whole piece comes together organically and naturally. I feel that many designers spend too much on perfection without putting ANY time into passion and meaning. To me, this is totally different stylistically, while still being comforting and familiar, and the message (save nature before it disappears... melts away, if you will) is subtle if you're not looking for it, but clear if you are.

Goodjoe does a week long pre-sale for all their new shirts... you can snag this for $10 any time before Sunday. I'm personally a huge fan of how this looks on Seafoam, and a little disappointed there is no comparable male option... I'm thinking Frost Blue might be your best bet. But really, I think this'll look great on any of the suggested colors, so buy with confidence. As a heads up, though, Goodjoe will sometimes offer more diverse colors for their pre-sale, and then settle into the most popular (or perhaps artist recommendation) after that week, so if you want to be sure of having a chance at more flexible color choices, best to pick it up now on the cheap.