006 - T-Shirts We Love Vol. I
Ever since I started making money in my teens, buying t-shirts has been a passion. Band merch, extreme sports brands, whatever I could get my hands on. And what I couldn't find, I'd print the graphic and get it heat pressed on cheap blanks. At some point I probably had one of the biggest bootleg Volcom collections ever. But that's a story for a different blog post. I wanted to show some love and appreciation to the ones that came before Gündem. So many graphics, so little time - here is a selection of some of my most cherished tees.
The Hundreds — Chiaroscuro/Sfumato Tee (2012)
I was taking art classes in the summer of 2012 while working part-time at a carpenters. I destroyed most of my clothes within two months and was getting roasted left and right for looking like a bum. One of my class assignments introduced me to the terms chiaroscuro and sfumato — Renaissance painting techniques that define form through light and shadow.
A few weeks later I saw the Hundreds was having a sale. Determined to salvage what was left of my hot boy summer, I started scrolling through the site with a $30 budget. Then I found this. I thought, is this a sign? $12 for the t-shirt, shipping cost another $10. I didn't think twice.
14 years later, this tee is still in decent shape. There was a stretch where it was getting washed twice a month or more, but over the last five years I've been wearing it less to preserve it. As for why I love it — the graphic isn't over the top, it's got motion to it, the colours are warm but a little violent. The typography is solid too. Anyway, thanks Bobby Kim. Hope things are great at Disney, but #BringBackBobbysBlogPlease.
Fuct — Destroyer Tee (2022)
You can't really call yourself a streetwear nerd without owning some Fuct. This one I actually bought full price, which is rare for a cheap bastard like me, but I couldn't pass it up. One of my first ever band shirts was from Kiss, and when I saw this it took me back.
It's a riff on the Destroyer album cover — same typography, same colours, yet with a twist. That's one thing that Fuct and founder Erik Brunetti are known for. The characters of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are changed up, but the face paint is still there. The kids are up to no good and clearly having a great time. There's no deep story behind why I'm into it. Maybe it's the attitude. Maybe it's my love for general mischief. What I do know, is that I can see myself wearing this into my fifties and beyond.
Johnny Cupcakes — Batcakes (2008)
Saying I like black is an understatement. Ever since I could pick my own clothes I went straight for black t-shirts and black jeans. And when it came to comics and cartoons, naturally, I gravitated toward Batman. Never dressed up as him for any Halloween function or party; I’ve never had any DC merch either. But in 2008, when The Dark Knight came out, someone very close to me (you know who you are ♥) got me this tee. A great pop-culture mashup, a Johnny Cupcakes collector's item, and something I'll always hold onto.
We're planning more of these posts. Going behind the scenes, travelling back in time, showing love to the ones who paved the way, and maybe putting the next generation on game. Stay tuned for Part II.