Spent some time researching T-shirt production options today (we’re talking years now that I’ve toyed with the idea of designing and selling T-shirts); in the course of my web surfing, I was reminded of some of the best T-shirts I’ve purchased during my online shopping career, ones that I actually wear over (and over and over) again–and not just for pajamas. Also realized that all of these retailers are American-Apparelites; I was then reminded of the time Kris and I wandered into their relatively new UPenn location in search of some shirts for him. Man, we had a good laugh that day. American Apparel is so not a store for football players.
Anyway, here are some of those faves:
1. The “I Heart Your Guts” T-Shirt from I Heart Guts:
Yes, that is a smiling intestinal tract. I actually bought this shirt for my mother as part of a graduation gift (she’s a GI nurse and recently got her master’s degree). I assumed, because it is awesome and hilarious, that this would be the hit gift of the century. Unfortunately, once again I was reminded that my mother and I do not share the same sense of humor. So I stole the shirt back.
2. The “Eating Brains, Throwing Shapes” T-Shirt from Threadless:
This one features a storyboard of a green zombie re-enacting the Michael Jackson Thriller dance. It is a prized possession, and something that I bought long before MJ’s sudden passing; in fact, the now-of-course-sold-out shirt was on the sale page and I scooped up one of the few remaining of its first print run. Strangely enough–true story–I was wearing it on June 25th. I got tears on it. Love you, Michael! Always will.
3. The “Time to Write” T-Shirt from the National Novel Writing Month Store (2007):
They don’t sell this particular shirt anymore, but their store offers lots of other nice ones from their newer contests. The Office of Letters and Light puts on not one but four writing-related events each year: National Novel Writing Month and Script Frenzy, plus another version of each for young writers. If you’re a writerly type, I highly recommend getting involved at least once. It’s intense, I won’t lie. Be brave. Earn yourself a shirt.
