Archive for the 'Imaginary Foundation' Category

One Last Top 10 List: The Best T-Shirts of 2007

As is mandated by the Official Handbook of the International Union of Bloggers, I’m here on this eve of the new year to share with you my top ten t-shirt selections of 2007. Joe and John have both already shared their lists with you, and while some of my selections overlap with theirs, I am surprised to find how differently all our lists turned out. This just goes to show how many great tees came out this year, and how difficult it was for each of us to whittle the enormous number of incredible releases down to a scant ten.

Anyway, here are the goods:

10. Tokyo Wolfing Project from Tokyo Art Beat

Tokyo Wolfing Project
The list you’re currently looking at is the result of me paring down a much, much larger list of tees. I put this design on that original list fully expecting it to get whittled away sooner or later. But with each round of cuts, I realized more and more how much I really like this shirt. As I mentioned back in August, this shirt comes in two color-ways—but I prefer the white-on-blue version, as it does justice to the wistful elegance of the design.

9. Castle from Panic

Castle
I considered several video game-related tees for the list, but for the interest of variety, I decided to include only one. This Katamari Damacy-inspired shirt made the cut for its standout gold-foil print and haunting beauty.

8. Balloon from Timber!

Balloon
I recently wrote about this t-shirt, which features a delightful blend of lumberjacking, ballooning, and the surreal.

7. The Overlook at Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

The Overlook
Here’s another design that I kinda glossed over for whatever reason when we first blogged about it. But I took another look and realized that the amazing vanishing point that’s smack-dab in the center of this shirt is too damn striking for me to pass up. The reference to The Shining is an incidental bonus.

6. Roboto Mori by Joe Infurnari from Bountee

Roboto Mori
After compiling this list, I took a look at John’s top ten and was impressed at how many of his picks I had seriously considered for my own. Interestingly enough, however, Roboto Mori is the only shirt that ended up on both our lists; I guess it just goes to show how awesome this design really is. You can read more about my thoughts on this shirt here.

5. Caliph from Beautiful/Decay

Caliph
Beautiful/Decay had a ton of impressive releases this year, but this one stands out as my favorite. I’m not exactly sure why—for some reason, I just find the abstract imagery here incredibly arresting. This still floors me every time I see it.

4. Cowboy from Heavy Rotation

Cowboy
I’ve enjoyed so many of Heavy Rotation’s releases this year that it was a real challenge figuring out which one I like the best. But this design won me over with its cool and mysterious look. And let’s be honest—it’s awfully hard to go wrong with robot cowboys.

Continue reading ‘One Last Top 10 List: The Best T-Shirts of 2007′

Joe’s Top Ten Indie T-Shirts of 2007

As the year comes to a close, it seems fitting to look back and reflect on some of the best t-shirts from 2007. This is the list of my top 10 tees in the past 12 months, and you can expect lists from John and Greg in the next couple days. Some of these designs didn’t receive the attention they deserved until now. Enjoy!

10. Ampersand from Ser-vice

Ampersand - Ser-vice

Read my original review of this logographic t-shirt.

9. Sandwich Dinosaur from SEIBEI

Sandwich Dinosaur - David Murray - SEIBEI

Although the design isn’t new this year, Sandwich Dinosaur is available in more colorways than ever, and now even comes in kids’ sizes! (As always, don’t forget to use coupon code fanblog for 10% off.)

8. Hot Dog from 2K by Gingham

Hotdog - Marc Atlan - 2K

Although this t-shirt is sadly no longer available, you can still read about my obsession with hot dogs.

7. Abe from Enclothe


Read John’s smartly clever review of this smartly clever review of this smartly clever t-shirt.

6. Antler Girl from I’m Smitten


Read my in-hand review of this adorably creepy t-shirt, and check out the multiple colorways now available on in-hand review of this adorably creepy t-shirt, and check out the multiple colorways now available on I’m Smitten. (My mom tells me that Lili Taylor wore this shirt a lot in Starting Out in the Evening.)

5. Poseidon’s Rage from Monsieur T.

Poseidon’s Rage - Ryan Berkley - Monsieur T.

Because Poseidon’s Rage is from Monsieur T.’s old line, it’s only available as a t-shirt in small and medium from the Monsieur T. Treasure Bin, though it sees new life as a hoodie.

4. Birdman from Imaginary Foundation

Birdman - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation

I under-appreciated Birdman until I was thinking about my favorite t-shirts of the year. This t-shirt is one of my most-worn from Imaginary Foundation!

And now, get ready for my top 3 best indie t-shirts of 2007…
Continue reading ‘Joe’s Top Ten Indie T-Shirts of 2007′

New Eco-Conscious Releases at Imaginary Foundation

It’s amazing how frequently Imaginary Foundation come out with new designs, because they’re always of such high quality! With these releases, we see their designs continue to progress along a trend of environmentally positive messages, most notable previously with Think Globally. But natural imagery has pervaded Nick Philip’s designs at Imaginary Foundation from the get-go.

Sustainable Future - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
Sustainable Future NEW! at Imaginary Foundation (also available for women)

What makes Sustainable Future especially notable is that it’s the first Imaginary Foundation design (that I know of, at least) printed on a 100% organic cotton tee.

One - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
One NEW! at Imaginary Foundation (also available in white and silver)

When the environment and the habitability of our planet is concerned, boundaries are only a hindrance in solving our collective problems. Especially political, racial, and class divisions will have to be transcended to reach solutions.

Link: [Imaginary Foundation]
Expensiveness: $30

New Imaginary Foundation T-Shirts!

If you’ve been reading this t-shirt blog for a while, you probably know how much I like Imaginary Foundation. So of course when they release any new t-shirts, I can’t help but tell you immediately! Without further ado, my three favorite new t-shirt releases from Imaginary Foundation:

Albert - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
Albert (available for men and women) NEW! at Imaginary Foundation

One of Albert Einstein’s quotes, ‘Imagination is more improtant than knowledge,’ is scripted just beneath a rendition of this iconic thinker.

Suitcase - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
Suitcase (available for men and women) NEW! at Imaginary Foundation

An open mind is the most important item to pack on any trip.

Paper Back - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
Paperback (available for men and women) NEW! at Imaginary Foundation

I like books!

Link: [Imaginary Foundation]
Expensiveness: $30

P.S. If you like art prints, Imaginary Foundation have expanded their range of art prints by 5 for a total of 10. Sweet!

New Imaginary Foundation T-Shirts!

And boy are they beautiful (as usual)! Somehow, it seems fitting that I’m listening to Animal Collective while I’m writing about these new t-shirts from Imaginary Foundation… but consider these two of my favorites for yourself:

Parallel Universe - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
Parallel Universe NEW! at Imaginary Foundation (also available for women)

I love the giant pointing hand. I don’t know why, I just do. I feel the same way about the paint splatters. And for some reason, they fuse together into a striking image of deixis (pronounced, as my anthropology professor explained it, ‘like your lesbian little sister’). Actually, that’s probably why I like it so much: deixis is such a ubiquitous yet phenomenon, and so critical to our thought and interaction, that such a huge example of it is powerful.

Pop Pencil - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation
Pop Pencil NEW! at Imaginary Foundation (also available for women)

The pencil, perhaps even more than the blank canvas, is brimming with creative potential, but only in so far as it is manipulated by a creative mind. Fortunately Nick Philip (The Imaginary Foundation’s artist-in-residence) is one such creative, and the joy and beauty of such a creativity is embodied in this t-shirt design.

Link: [Imaginary Foundation]
Expensiveness: $30

Imaginary Foundation Art Prints

One of my favorite t-shirt companies (because their designs are so beautiful), Imaginary Foundation, has very recently released 5 new art prints. You might remember their old art prints, which were very word-oriented and screenprinted. In contrast, these new ones are based on some of their most gorgeous t-shirt designs and are archival Giclée prints (read: ink jet prints). Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity and with a unique, identifying hologram.

Giclée Art Prints - Nick Philip - Imaginary Foundation

Link: [Imaginary Foundation]
Expensiveness: $50

Holy Cow! Imaginary Foundation Have a Sale!

Yes, you heard right! The one and only Imaginary Foundation have some of their t-shirts, both new and old, on sale for only $15, a whopping 50% off! That’s pretty awesome. Sizes and colors are all over the place, so you might not be able to find something in your size. Anyway, this Imaginary Foundation t-shirt sale is for both men and women.

Noble Madness - Imaginary FoundationSlave to the Rhythm - Imaginary Foundation

Link: [Imaginary Foundation]
Expensiveness: $15 (on sale from $30)