T-shirt of the week | Part 14

En route to work this morning, doing my usual spot of people watching, seeing what people are doing, what they’re wearing; when I saw a very happy sight (well to me anyway!), a middle aged guy, just walking along happy in himself, wearing a Fat Willy’s Surf Shack t-shirt.

The instant I saw the colourful and un mistakable logo I was transported back to holidays in the 90s with my parents to Cornwall, some of my best memories are of travelling around the fantastic countryside and coast of one of Britain’s best holiday hotspots; in my early teens I liked nothing better than wearing the loudest and brightest clothing and watches (I had an obsession with Swatch Watches, something my poor parents had to fork out for!); with that came the discovery of Fat Willy’s. I didn’t even know anything about them; for those of you not in the know they are a Cornwall based surf “shack” that produce clothing and accessories for surf lovers in and around Cornwall’s best beaches and surf spots; but I know I liked their style! My brother and I begged our parents for the coveteted standard black t-shirt with their logo on the front, every kid on the beach had one and we couldn’t be any different! I wore mine out, wearing it pretty much every opportunity I had. I’d completely forgotten about them until today; so it’s not only a great bit of nostalgia for me but its great to see that (after a little bit of internet browsing) they are still going strong.

Nothing truly amazing but a brand that has survived for years and is still as popular today as back then; so thanks Fat Willy’s, you made my childhood memories great ones, made me fashionable from an early age and have made my day! Just goes to show that sometimes even a t-shirt can be overwhelming and thought provoking and just that little bit fun.

Keeping it simple with printed t-shirts

You may think that t-shirts are all the same, but that just isn't true, especially when it comes to custom printed t-shirts.  Looking firstly from a technical point of view, there are different ways to create your customised garments, using different printing methods and using various styles of t-shirt.

Of course the design you choose to be screen printed, transfer printed, vinyl printed or embroidered onto your t-shirts is what makes them stand out.  Ideal for Stag and Hen parties, printed t-shirts can display a slogan, the name of the guest of honour, an embarrassing photo from way back when or pretty much anything else you can think of.

Printed t-shirts could also be a great way to help celebrate a family birthday, to commemorate a class of graduates celebrating passing their final exams, to show your support for a charity event or for a hundred other reasons.

Whether you want printed t-shirts for promotional reasons or for party ones, Reinspire can provide a number of styles, colours, sizes and fits to ensure that there is something to suit everyone, and our prices will suit your pocket, as the more printed t-shirts you buy, the lower the cost per shirt.

Just because the classic t-shirt is simple, it doesn't mean that your printed t-shirts from Reinspire have to be.  We can help with your design too, and our super-fast turnaround means that you may not have left ordering your printed t-shirts too late after all.

Hoodies | Menance to society or misunderstood garment

Last week a customer popped in to discuss their printing needs, when I mentioned that we could produce their logo on to hooded sweatshirts as well as t-shirts the response I got was “oh no, I don’t want to look like a thug!”.  Well that simple exchange got me thinking. The hooded sweatshirt, also known as a hoody has unfortunately over the years become something of a criminal in the garment world. What can be a great comfortable garment with a multitude of uses has over time become somewhat of a negative symbol in the fashion world and society in general. When the word “Hoody” is mentioned these days the image of a teenage skinheaded youth (also known as a chav!) wearing far too much bling for someone of their age usually found to be up to no good. So is it any wonder that this poor defenceless garment, chosen by those so called menaces to society simply because of the ability to hide ones features and the warmth to brave the night air when up to mischief after dark!

 

Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but wonder..is the Hoody getting a raw deal?

 

If you go back into the history of the garment, its origins are shrouded in both negative and positive elements.

 

Originating in the 1930s in the United States, the Hooded Sweatshirt was produced by sports brand “Champion” whom are still a prominent figure in the sports and fashion industry today; created for warehouse workers and labourers in New York during their bitterly cold winter season. However if we go back further; the idea of a hooded top dates back to the days of the Middle Ages when druids, monks and other religious organisations were more likely to don ceremonial garb.

 

In the 1970s the use of the hooded sweatshirt broadened and split in two directions; the hip hop culture of the states (and later the rest of the world) embraced the garment and blended it into their colourful and unconventional (at the time) ensembles; gangs hoping to keep anonymous and off the radar from the authorities when committing criminal acts and naughtiness also embraced the hood as part of their uniform. The fashion world also took on the garment and made it their own, sports brands including Nike, Adidas and Puma all put their names on them and made them famous additions to their lines. The film industry not wanting to be left out began to introduce and market these by throwing them in along with big names. Who can forget Rocky Balboa wearing his hoody on his many jogging scenes.

 

Later, in the 80s and 90s; stateside the universities fast took the hoody for their own by applying their individual names on them to promote a sense of unity (who hasn’t wanted their very own “I went to Harvard” hoody!?!. The surf and skate loving folks also took it for their own and introduced more fun and colour into the design and appearance of the sweatshirt, partnered with shorts and boards it became something of a more relaxed and easy going item rather than a serious “you are what you wear” piece.

 

Today there is a somewhat mixed view of the sweatshirt, be it a cool and trendy wardrobe must have or a sign that trouble is coming your way and you may want to cross the road; the hooded sweatshirt (love it or hate it) is pretty much here to stay,  so wear it your way.

 

Hi-Visibility Workwear

Hi-Vis clothing is perhaps not the most stylish thing to be seen in, but for many work situations, it is completely necessary - and there is no reason why you shouldn't turn it to your advantage.

As with our whole range of garments, Reinspire's high visibility clothing can also be customised with embroidery, screen printing, transfer printing and vinyl printing - so essentially the hi-vis gear that you are required by law to wear can become a walking advert for your business.

If you are in the building trade then your high-vis jackets or waistcoats can be customised with your company name and logo, so all of your employees can be advertising your business to passers-by as they work.  Maybe you run a bicycle courier firm?  Your cyclists can wear shirts or other high-vis gear emblazoned with whatever you want to get the word out about. Your company phone number perhaps? That way, your cyclists can gain more custom as they go about their work, and the vinyl, transfer or screen printing process probably doesn't cost as much as you think.

At Reinspire, the larger the quantity of the order, the lower the cost per item, meaning that you can kit out your workforce for less than you would think.  By combining our screen printing with your high-visibility clothing needs, you can kill two birds with one stone by advertising as you work.