THE TRUTH

I’ve said this before but when I design the tees for the each season I start with either a message or a visual concept and build from there. This doesn’t always result in a graphic that is super intricate or a message that is in your face, which we are kind of known for. Sometimes tees can just look good and people can wear them for whatever reason they want.

That being said, I have a personal habit of explaining myself when people might not understand. Like music, I dont really want to define what the meaning is too much because i want people to find something in it that they can identify with on their own, and that may not be in line with what I intended when i designed it, which is GREAT. But I get hit up by people who wear our clothes and get the vibe but want to know how much further the message or inspiration goes from our point of view.

So this season we decided to include sticker hangtags with our tees that had a description of our inspiration behind each design. Here is what each one says…

So first and foremost is Capitalist Pigs.

With all that’s going on with corporations lately, it’s become pretty fashionable to bash anyone out there looking to make a buck (we see you, anarchists!). And we get it, we really do. Globalization is the New World Order, and the International Monetary Fund is raping poor countries blind. Wall Street manipulated the market to make quick returns on their investments while the rest of us got screwed when their actions finally crashed the economy. BP skirted safety regulations to save money and we all know what happened next.

But you know what?

Capitalism only becomes evil when it decides to place profit over the well-being of people. There’s nothing greater than someone making honest money doing what they love – and we’ll rep that till the day we die.

No One Left

There are injustices in this world that are witnessed by some who do not feel that we should get involved. Whether restrained by fear of reprisal, a misguided justification to not get involved or simple apathy to another’s plight, a lack of compassion and concern for others erodes the protection communities provide against the oppression and violence.

The words are based around the structure of a poem spoken by German Pastor Martin Niemöller after WWII had ended, criticising the apathy of those who sat back and watched the Nazis exterminate different groups. We used a different set of subjects that reflects, a bit more accurately, the realities of today.

The text:
“When they came for the protesters, I was there, but I didn’t like to march, so I did nothing.
When they came for the activists, I heard them, but I didn’t agree with their cause, so I did nothing.
Then they came for me, and I screamed for help, but there was no one left to fight for me.”

Point is, don’t let differences between you and others overshadow the humanity that you both share. When you stand up for others, you stand up for yourself.

Chopped

We’ve long been inspired by car club jackets from the 50’s and 60’s and the agressive, slightly offbeat and humorous logos that were the source of pride for each club.

With enough work and time anyone could pick up an old junk car and transform it into a piece of art. It allowed the people who didn’t have much to be able to stand on even ground with the lawyer down the street because nothing mattered but how cool your car was. The only thing holding anyone back was how much dedication they were willing to put into their sled, rod or custom.

The hurdles of social class fell when someone put on their club’s jacket and cruised their car down the bouldevard. It’s the same thing with skateboarding or graffiti. You put your hard work out there and no one can judge you on anything but that.

Know Your Rights

Pretty simple straightforward message here.

Or so you’d think.

Everyday we see people allowing themselves to be taken advantage of by authorities simply because they weren’t educated in the laws that were created to protect them. We see people argue a political point by stating we don’t have a right to privacy when in fact you do.

You have the right to think for yourself but with that comes the responsibility of educating yourself. You cannot earn the right to protect yourself without first learning the system – the collection of laws designed to simultaneously enable your freedom AND restrict it. Knowledge IS power.

Can’t Fool The Youth

Do you remember what you were doing when you were 12? Running around acting like fools thinking you had it all figured out? Some aren’t so lucky to have had a choice in the matter. Drawn into the conflicts of their elders, or stolen from their parents and indoctrinated into a life of violence, they are made to believe whatever is beneficial to the leaders of the conflicts. You see the same thing with kids being sucked into gang culture, and yet, surprisingly you’ll be hard pressed to find as much sympathy for a 12 year old with a TEC 9 in LA being tried as an adult as you would for a kid with an AK47 in Uganda or Nicaragua. It’s easier for people to be sympathetic if its not happening near them and that’s BS.

The phrase is meant to be a sarcastic jab at the notion that crimes of the youth are always fully understood by those that commit them, and if you’re going to pity one, and condemn the other, you’re a hypocrite.

Unite

Throughout history in order to survive or free themselves of oppression, people had to come together to persue common goals. Those that desired to CONTROL OTHERS did so by causing divisions amongst the populace.

“A house divided cannot stand”

A truer statement has not been said.

Create superficial conflicts and distractions and the public rage turns inward, corroding the strength to resist control. Fostering contempt for those who disagree with your point of view and you destroys the strength of the similarities that we do share.

A nod to Moz while keeping it thoroughly political.

The Magnum tee needs no description.

So like I said before, take what you want from the designs and rock them however you want. Change the message to your liking… it’s out of my hands. Just don’t forget the substance.