Is there meant to be a certain amount of irony in this design? That there aren’t really any graphics on it except for the paint splatters and claw marks? That instead of something illustrative they went with the ‘go to’ font of Helvetica?

Still pretty cool hoodie.

Costiness=$96 Link (get up to 20% off your order with the rep code AS7594)

• 0 Comments
Tags » grey • hoodie • Karmaloop • splatter • text • the cut • typograpy

I quite like letting the companies do the describing for me sometimes, and not just because I’m lazy, I’m just not as good at talking like a PR guy as designers are. Observe.

302designs, established in December 2004, is run and managed by four unique individuals. Each partner brings their own differentiated interests, skills, and backgrounds to the company.

Each design is a symbolic representation of an individual’s feelings. Some of the recurring themes are emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s own internal passion, promoting individuality, and maintaining strength from within.

302 considers itself a socially conscious establishment. Keeping with this theme, we refuse to contribute to sweatshop conditions of any type. Each shirt is printed on material from American Apparel, out of L.A. They support fair wages and benefits for all their employees.

But I guess that since 302designs describes itself as a company that creates ‘poetic t-shirts’, you’re going to get descriptive language, and this theme runs through into their t-shirt designs. All the tees marry life-affirming and inspiring text with intricate and detailed graphics. It’s one of the strongest line-ups of inventory that I’ve seen for quite a while, if I were to choose one I’d really struggle, I only picked the one in the picture (Imagination) because I prefer brighter colours in the summer.

There is also a full girls section, including one or two designs that aren’t available for the guys.

All the items seem well priced, running between $20-$27, and considering how great I think these tees look, well worth the price.

302designs

• 3 Comments
Tags » 302designs • aqua • blue • inspiration • Mens • message • paint • splatter • t-shirt • text • Womens

I could go in for a lot of eastern-inspired stereotypes, and point out that HYA could be pronounced like that sound to make when you pretend to do a karate chop, but instead I’m going to let Shaolinen explain their ethos themselves:

It is high time a sense of realism came about to give martial arts a better standing in the market. Skaters, hip-hop sports wear, football and rugby all have their urban following, but martial arts has yet to be represented. A lot of our designs are based on martial arts and oriental themes with a view at more authenticity and perhaps education. A lot of people don’t even know that the words “Kung-Fu” actually means “hard work” (because it takes a lot of hard-work to become a master).

We aim to produce the best martial arts orientated teeshirts around. Since there aren’t many out that we liked, it made sense to make our own to wear.

There are currently six different designs on sale, and whilst they’re only available in a medium size at the moment, Weng from Shaolinen e-mailed me to say that they hope to offer a wider range of sizes soon. They seem to be having a bit of a sale at the moment, with tees costing £15 (UK) and £23 (overseas), with delivery included.

Their flash site is really slick, although there is also a HTML version for those of you on dial-up, or just with Flash-phobia.

Shaolinen

• 0 Comments
Tags » black • blood • fight • matrial arts • Shaolinen • splatter • t-shirt