At Indigo, we love t-shirt stories and we love ethical stories so what excitement was to be had when we discovered Hello Rewind, the US based t-shirt reconstruction project that can turn your old t-shirt into a laptop sleeve. Not only are you recycling an old t-shirt into something new and cool, this social enterprise works with women formerly sex trafficked in New York City so they can learn new skills and support their new lives.

T shirts become laptop skins

[via Engadet]

If you find yourself a loose end in LA, but have a cup, some ink, and a brush, then you should make your way to the Sumi Ink Club. Sumi Ink Club is a drawing collection based in LA, established in 2005 by Sarah Anderson and Luke Fischbeck. Their favourite style of drawing is topsy-turvy, detailed and collaborative: on paper using ink. These group drawings are meant to open and fortify social interactions that ‘bleed into everyday life’, welcoming ‘all ages, all humans, all styles’. And now, they’ve expanded from using ink on paper, to print on t-shirts.

Sumi Ink Club’s beautiful designs have been transferred onto the tee, and they are striking to say the least. The design detail is almost on a parallel with an optical illusion – it looks kinetic, but it isn’t, and mexican waves of changing colour on these shirts will definitely get you noticed. When you’re wearing your shades and stalking down the street people will stop you to say ‘wow’. All you will have to say in return is: ‘Sumi’, and maybe do the peace sign with your fingers.

for him

for her

Your look will be made complete with this hot bag they’ve added to the line. The perfect reusable shopping bag. Eco, and chic-o. I like it, lots.

Available here.

The world of graphic literature, offbeat news, culture, art and debate is, by nature, always morphing into new modes of expression, and in the case of евтини мебелиT-Post, the shape and texture of its expression is via t-shirt.

Combining news and a graphic t-shirt, T-Post is the world’s first wearable magazine. Every six weeks subscribers to T-Post receive a new issue in the mail with a news story on the inside, and an artistic interpretation on the outside.

There’s something wholesome about T-Post, despite its cutting edge innovation. The content of T-Post, in the stories it selects to write about, aims to inspire conversation; stories to make people think and open up new ideas and opinions. With an environmental conscience, the production is strictly limited to the number of T-Post subscribers. In other words, they will print one tee per subscriber, no more, no less. This way there is no overprinting, no selling of shirts in stores, and no waste. So if you’re subscribed you’re going to get something available only in the present tense, the same tee won’t be around at any future time.

Since the idea was born back in 2004, T-Post have begun distributing to over 50 countries, and if you want to get your hands on the latest issue, in which you can read all about Chako Paul City (a town in the Northern Sweden Woods where all the residents are women and all the women are gay), then you’ll just have to subscribe. Looks like quite the read.

T-Post current issue

Heard of S.I.T.H? It could stand for many things:

Sizzling In The Heat….
or Super Igloo: Tremendous Home…
or Screaming Invisible Trampoliner Hurt.

But (fortunately) what it actually signifies is: Star In The Hood.

London’s Tinchy Stryder is not just a pretty face/rapping rapper/musical melody maker who likes to flash around with his S.I.T.H clothes shimmering, he is in fact the very fashion master behind this brand. Created a couple of years ago, Tinchy says: “RESPECT” and “I wear it every single day”. After listening to Tinchy’s touching lyrics, I have been inspired by ‘the hood‘ way of life and have decided to make it my quest to become a Tinchy disciple. So far so good, I’ve been congratulated on the authenticity of my walk, shades and rhymes, now all I need is some cutting edge stizzle [style]. Where better to stizzle myself up that with some bone fide Tinchy wear, modeled by the man himself. Since it’s chilly I’ve decided to go for the sweatshirt, a soft, fleecy lining sounds so appealing for when I’m snuggled at home with a cup of tea….oh I mean, I need to keep warm-izzle when I’m out on the streets all night in a freestyle rap-off. There are many designs to choose from. The neon green on black is attractive, but since I’m aiming to be more of a ‘baller’, I think I’ll bling it up with the diamante, black-filled, grey-marl sweatshirt. No expense spared.

Serious Stizzle

Despite my steely exterior (you need it in the hood), I have to admit that this gangsta’ is really quite the softie. So when selecting some Christmas presents for my homies, I’m planning on splashing my baller cash on an ‘I Got Soul’ Tinchy-esque tee, because 100% of the profits go to War Child, an international charity that protects children who live in the most dangerous war zones of the world. Yeah Tinchy, that’s right – “Respect”.

When you're in the hood, you're allowed to be grammatically incorrect

I understand that there’s a point in life when you really shouldn’t be reading children’s literature, but Dallas Clayton’s ‘An Awesome Book’ is so….erm….awesome, that I’d be happy to see sharp business men and brain surgeons alike carrying a copy proudly under their arm, and reading it whilst they commute to work/stop for a coffee/wait for a meeting. Maybe this is because there’s more to this colourful children’s book than meets the eye. In fact it’s popularity inspired the creation of the ‘Awesome World Foundation‘ established in 2009 by author Dallas Clayton. For every copy of ‘An Awesome Book’ sold, the charity diligently donate a copy to schools, hospitals, libraries, camps and shelters in both the States and the rest of the world. Aiming to promote children’s literacy one book at a time, these guys seem to be doing a pretty good job.

But what does this have to do with t-shirt design? Well, believe it or not, you can snap up some fantastical kids clothing to go along with the book itself…a very awesome Christmas present in the making I’m thinking. There are two prints to choose from: either ‘rocket-powered unicorns’ or a hand drawn alphabet if your little ones are more into typography than fantasy. And with all these tees each sublimation print is slightly different, so there’s a healthy splash of uniqueness in every garment. Now it really would be awesome if they’d make make them a bit bigger or if I was temporarily shrinkable, but at least the book isn’t age specific…remember that while you’re on your morning commute.

Alphabet tee

Watch this video for a bit of light entertainment/more information.

Pinecone + Chickadee might sound like a children’s storybook duo, but they’re actually a t-shirt designing duo from Portland, across the pond in New England. Their studio is formed by a married team: s collaboration between the graphical designer wife Amy, and musician husband Noah. Pinecone + Chickadee silkscreen all their imaginative artwork onto a range of apparel including t-shirts, journals and greeting cards. All their papery goods are made from recycled materials, and even the ink they use is water based and earth friendly; a preservation attitude that is encouraged by looking at the beautiful Maine coastline I’m guessing. Currently, men can choose from designs including giant pandas, a cyclops and this stripy whale and lighthouse shirt. Some of the designs are printed on organic t-shirts, but not all of them, so it’s best to check first if you want to stay super earthy.

Admittedly this whale doesn't look as friendly as Free Willy

For women, the designs are slightly more peaceful and subdued, including this red and black bird design on a long grey shirt and a gold wolf on navy blue, which would incidentally look great with a green shopping bag…hmmm perhaps this handsewn ‘Broccoli’ bag? I can’t help but love it when veg gets promoted through artwork.

Mmmm, broccers

All Irish people are like this aren't they?

The Irish have brought many wonderful things to the world. Guinness, leprechauns, potato based foods, a very unique way of pronouncing the word ‘tart,’ and lots of general cheery charm. No wonder I’m moving to Dublin, what’s not to love? Hmm, the exchange rate maybe – but that aside the emerald isle is one of the most iconic places in the world, and then there’s the street art scene which turns the city wall into a canvas itself. Turtlehead are a t-shirt design collective stemming from Dublin, but also featuring artistic collaboration with designers from New York and Canada. They have been ‘touching cloth since 2006′, and they have a solid mission statement. Aiming not to bring down corporations or presidents, Turtlehead simply want to show that they care, which they do by donating 5% of their profits to a charity of the customer’s choice and printing on ethically and environmentally friendly tees. If this isn’t enough to whet your appetite and get your teebuds tingling then you should know that all their designs are limited to 500 pieces, so your shirt will be pretty original. And if you’re an aspiring designer your artistic submissions will be welcomed, with all winning designs rewarded in prize money and your very own Turtlehead line of shirts!

But before your incredible winning design is featured on Turtlehead’s website, maybe you’d like to have a peek at their current edgy designs, firstly from Irish designers Chris Haughton and Will St. Leger. St. Leger’s design features a taster of the artist’s famous stencilwork, and handily reminds us that not all pigeons love bread. Haughton’s more colourful purple-headed, yellow-eyed, big-bearded posing man is printed on a bright yellow shirt and accompanied with a bit of Irish vocab: ‘ag damhsa,’ which means ‘dancing’ in the Gaelic language – and as you can see, this guy sure has some moves

Chris Haughton's Dancing Man

If you prefer dentures to Irish dancers then maybe Marc John’s ‘Famous People’s Teeth’ shirt is the one for you. This could be part of the perfect outfit if you’ve scheduled an appointment with the dentist in the near future. But if famous artists rather than famous teeth are more your thing, then you might like to display the progenitor of pop-art on your chest. Why not wear this Andy Warhol shirt by Italian designer Laura Paperina, which shows the famous artist looking worried while he eats a banana. Maybe it had gone mouldy, I hate it when that happens.

I can see Brad Pitt's molar

Just in case none of these capture your eye, you’ll find it impossible to dislike my all time favourite Turtlehead shirt, which has to be Mountain Man, designed by Melbourne artist Adam Cruickshank. Simple and effective, this shirt works because specs and beards are cool, and it’s like carrying a friendly little friend around with you. If you spill some soup down your t-shirt, don’t worry – you were just feeding him, if you need to go somewhere fancy dress – wear your shirt over your head, and if you get lonely – have a little conversation with the guy. People won’t think you’re strange, promise.

Your new best friend

If you’re interested in ethically attiring yourself, People Tree are among the specialists. Since 2001 (in the UK), People Tree have pioneered exclusive fashion with fair-trade standards, offering quality and style alongside genuine ethical principles. Their products have consistently matched their stringent policies. The world of ethical fashion has always been interested in recycled fabric, so it’s no great surprise that People Tree have joined in through giving a whole new lease of life to traditional Indian dress.

If you’re on the lookout for something a bit unique, this might just be the answer. Sewn into a black organic poplin skirt, the recycled sari dress combines tailoring with traditional hand embroidery at the hem and neckline, and ties with a matching belt at the waist. Excitingly, each dress is unique, so when you order you’re guaranteed that your new gear will definitely be one of a kind – though you can order from a whole spectrum of colours, which you can carefully match to bring out the colour of your eyes (because apparently that matters when you’re deciding what to wear). Made in India, your sari dress will be genuinely Eastern, and you can rest assured that when it was transforming from sari to stylish summer wear, everything was fair.

On March 13th 2009 there are going to be a lot of Brits wandering about with uncommonly red, not to mention round, noses. Add to this the likelihood that these red nosers will probably be doing something ridiculous like wearing fancy dress to work, having their legs waxed in public (particularly if they’re male), and there’s always a token character who decides to take a bath in baked beans.

Yes, it’s almost Comic Relief/Red Nose Day, where we embrace the inner fool, lose all dignity, but in the process raise money for a very worthy cause – fighting abject poverty and injustice across Africa and the UK. This year there are three trademark red noses to chose from: ‘This one, That one and The other one’, but as well as sporting your chosen nose, Stella McCartney has designed an altogether more stylish range of red nose chari-tee-shirts.

Modelled by the likes of Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow, these t-shirts are an easy and fun way to support Comic Relief without sitting in a tub of bean juice. Working with the 2009 Red Nose slogan ‘Do Something Funny for Money’, Stella’s shirts put red noses on iconic celebrities such as Morcambe and Wise, The Beatles and even Madonna all in the name of fun. Not only do these t-shirts combine charity and style, they have been manufactured in Africa, are 100% fairtrade, and at only £9.99, they’re nice and affordable too. So pop down to TK-Maxx or the online Red Nose Day shop, and do chic fancy dress in a Comic Relief tee.

The specs are optional

adidas SLVR Spring / Summer 2009 from adidas SLVR on Vimeo.

Rated ‘Best Sportswear’ in the Feb 2009 edition of design magazine, Wallpaper, is Adidas’s new SLVR range, which apparently is positionted somewhere between its own Y-3 range and American Apparel. We love the emphasis on waste-aware production and funky cuts.

There was a time not so long ago when Wellington boots were only associated with country farmers and marmalade (or should that now be marmite?) muncher Paddington Bear. Oh, how times have changed. The Wellington has escaped the farm and is ready to be pulled up the calves of catwalk models, even more so this coming May when the gum boot collaboration between Kate Moss’s favourite welly-maker ‘Hunter’ gets a special restyle by luxury shoe-maker Jimmy Choo. These crocodile skin like, metal riveted, black rubbery boots will cost a small fortune, but are certainly one of a kind, though be warned that if you want to be able to pull a pair up your legs for a quick splosh in some puddles you’ll need to join a waiting list online at jimmychoo.com. Not got a spare £235 in the gumboot fund? Don’t worry because a simple pair of classic Hunters are comparatively bargainous at £60, and for an extra £10 you could even get a pair of ‘Wateraid’ Hunter boots that will raise money (£50 a pair in fact) for international charity ‘Wateraid’, working hard to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world’s poorest people.

JimmyChooingtons

A pair of amazing jeans are the things dreams are made of. They are often your best friends; there aren’t many things in life you can rely on, utterly and completely, every single day. They’re comfortable, hug in the right places, skim over problem areas, have good pocket positioning and a well functioning fly. I’m sure you can bring to mind fond memories of a pair of your best-buds, whether they are a present companion or a past pal. Even as I write I can’t help remembering with a teary smile that pair of mid-blue, boot-cut jeans that were my second skin eight years ago, and now, as I look down upon my dark denim skinnies – folded up at the bottom because they’re a bit too long, I can feel my heart swell with gratitude and a pure, unadulterated love. But there always comes that day when the life span of a pair of jeans reaches a sorry end. It could be a rip too far, a zip failure or a detrimental discoloration that tips things over the edge and forces you to part, though now there’s something to ease the pain thanks to the lovely folks at Howies.

Go down to their Carnaby Street store, and hand in your old Howies jeans (make sure you have your goodbye ‘moment’ beforehand otherwise it could be a bit embarrassing), and then say howdy to a shiny new pair of Howies jeans and get a free T-shirt worth £25 to start your new life together. And don’t you worry about that old pair, you can trust Howies to take care of them. After an emergency dose of CPR and some bed-rest they might be sold on in store or recycled to make a brand new pair, but rest assured they’ll never forget you.

Best friends forever

Something very big and very hyped has happened across the pond. You couldn’t really escape knowing that America picked its next president as election fever took over. On November 4th, millions of Americans woke up, flexed their fingers for the vote, but struggled to find suitable attire for the big day. Some will have opened their wardrobe doors and were in a quandary as to which item of clothing best reflected their political inclinations. The footwear department can be a particularly troublesome area, but fortunately TOMS shoes have picked up on this gap in the election-wear market and designed some canvas shoes which are screen-printed with some delightful election encouragement. Not only are all of TOMS shoes ethically sound (for every pair purchased they’ll give another pair to a child in need), they’re also great to wear as you walk to your local polling station because with these puppies you can strut away supporting either the Democrats or Republicans, or if you’re still indecisive – tick-tock, tick-tock – buy a pair of each and see which looks better on the foot.

The other foot cleverly reminds you what you have to do...vote

And if shoes aren’t your thing, why not have your chosen potential president encrusted on your finger with some electoral ring bling by Hidalgo? In either light or dark blue these enamel, gold and diamond rings surely win the vote. I wonder if McCain wears one on his pinkie.

Pinkies at the ready

We all know Green is the New Black and every Tom, Dick and Harry is peddling organic cotton clothing these days. However, Indigo Clothing now offers a range, designed for the promotional clothing industry that trumps them all: EarthPositive™

EarthPositive apparel has everything, so to speak. It is made in India from certified organic cotton. It is made in carbon neutral manufacturing facilities and the manufactuer’s offices (Continental) in London use only renewable green electricity.

EarthPositive apparel is certified by the Oeko-Tex 100 Standard, Class I. The Oeko-Tex 100 Standard is a guarantee of the safety of textiles and dyestuffs to human health.The manufacturing facilities have been audited by the Fair Wear Foundation, and are being licensed by the FLO – Fairtrade Labelling Organisation. It is a 100% organic product, produced under the Global Organic Textile Standard and certified by The Control Union and The Soil Association.

I could go on, cut-and-pasting and editing their great PDF factsheet but I think you get the message. This stuff is great, offered at a sensible price and can be screen printed or embroidered just like any of the garments in our promotional catalogue. So next time you are thinking about t-shirt printing, think about printing on an EarthPositive item!

EarthPositive Polo Shirt

Couture fashion reminds me of going to an art gallery and walking around some strange exhibitions, liking them, but not knowing quite why. Recycled couture is my favourite (gazing with awe upon the versatility of an empty can of Dr. Pepper never ceases to disappoint) and Gary Harvey’s collection of recycled wonders from London Fashion Week turns the iconic everyday garment into something elegant – reflecting the serious message that recycling is something beautiful. Yet, it’s only honest to admit that these fantastical creations lack in practicality. The ball gown made from scrunched newspaper may have that magical rustle when you walk and the print may compliment your skin tone perfectly, but it would be a bit risky if someone caught it in their heel; it would tear from here to forevermore. Then you have to consider the potential of ink stains, serious papers cuts and the fact that you’d be red/read all over (that’s a bad joke I’ve not heard in a while).

London Lite?!

A bit disheartening if you were hoping to go to the ball in that particular showstopper of a dress, but you do have to think these things through before making an impulse buy. Though the weird and the wonderful doesn’t have to be quite out of reach if you bring a little recycled couture onto your shoulder with this V&A bag made from tape measures. With a satin silk lining and an interior jade button it has all the luxury of couture, without the health and safety risks.

Made to Measure