Sprawl Out

JAMROCK TEES SPEAKS TO SPRAWL'S FRONTWOMAN
Kesi Gardner: Sprawl is a distinct brand for a number of reasons.
1. It is a limited edition brand only 250 of any one design is printed.

2. The quality of the material is astounding in comparison to the other brands. It is made from a cotton poly blend,very soft to the touch, has a little stretch to it and the fit is custom designed.

3. The sayings are funny, witty and great conversation starters, they are Jamaican inspired but can easily be universal concepts.

4. Nothing is printed, without people's opinions, people are allowed to submit ideas, designs and/or vote for their fave tee and once the vote is submitted, it is tallyed and it will determine which designs are printed. The Threadless concept.

How did the idea for Sprawl come to you?
Kesi Gardner: The idea for the Sprawl t-shirt line was spawned in 2001 3 days after graduating Pratt Institute,NY. After playing around with countless ideas, but no funds to bring them to light, I returned home to Jamaican in 2002 and took a job in Advertising.
One day, I was watching a coworker design his own line of t-shirts and selling them to friends and family. I thought, "What the hell!! If he could do it i could do it too".

That name Sprawl?
Kesi Gardner: The name Sprawl comes from the Jamaican term "Sprawl out".Take off the "out" and it's just left as "Sprawl", which is a noun and a verb. Sprawl means to "tek it easy", but also "skin out", get wild and have a great time.

Who wears a Sprawl Tee?
Kesi Gardner: Sprawl is a lifestyle brand. It's for people who don't take themselves (and sometimes others) too seriously. It's for people who like to lounge, relax and have a good time. The ideas are driven by the whole message-tee phenomenon but with a Jamaican appeal. The great thing about this brand, is the uniqueness of the messages and how they reasonate with urban youth.

How has Sprawl been doing?
Kesi Gardner: The line is very young, it was launched officially in December at the members only boutique Stanley & Empress on Slipe Rd.

And Sprawl in 6 months?
Kesi Gardner: Sprawl is looking in the next 6 months, to have its tshirts on the North Coast and West Coast in hotels and tourist oriented shops.Marketing towards spring breakers and other vacationers who would like a souvenirs of their experience in Jamaica. We have intentions to expand with a line for women called Sprawl lyn, which will include baby tees and tank tops and a line for kids called Sprawl b, which will include nighties and cotton dresses and short sets.

Top three ways in which Sprawl has made you proud?
Kesi Gardner: The top 3 acheivenments have been: The response from people in theinternational market, who are excited about the product. It is said to be on par with designer tees in the US and UK market.

Secondly, Sprawl is a sponsor of Tuesday Night Live at the Village Cafe. Just being associated to this event has brought alot of attention to the brand. Heavyhitters of the event who wear the brand, include Robert Collins the owner of Village Cafe, Katherine, sultry singer, Cezar neo-soul performer, Wayne McGregor guitarist and Mystic Urchin himself.

There was a write up in the Gleaner, October 6, 2006. which showcased
Sprawl and the blog. The blog is important as it allows the viewer to
vote for their favorite tshirt and that determines which design will
be printed.
www.sprawltees.blogspot.com

THIS JUST OUT - NOTCHILOUS

Kingston - What do you so when a woman comes up to you in Burger King on an early Saturday morning, hands you a card and stickers, and makes a pitch for her tshirt company that sells only on the web and will deliver to your door? You check out the site.notchilous.com

The tshirt company offers a limited edition, limited colours, limited sizes concept- they sell only 51 tshirts of a single design then retire it.


JAMROCK TEES Interview:
Notchilous Team: The Muffin Man - Designer and printer, Rachel Eaton - Managing director and guerilla marketer, Stephanie Lords - Fashion Director, Teri-Anne Beecham - Sales Coordinator.

Team representative.


That name?
Rachel: Notchilous came from out of the 80's and was a word used to describe a don.Slangs such as Top Notch, Toppanaris and the more recent term toppa top have all come out of it. Therefore Notchilous means when you are the best at what you do.

When did Notchilous begin?
Rachel: We got the name NOTCHILOUS registered in December 2005. We actually started printing in October 2006 and the t-shirts became available online in November 2006.

Who do you want to wear your tees?
Rachel: Our buyers are those who are not afraid to express themselves through their tees.For example, a customer bought a tee that said "Will cause Diabetes." because he said he was too sweet, so he had to buy that tee. We print statements that you would love to say but can't, so we say it for you. Our ustomers are simply people who love to wear a good t-shirt and that ranges from teeni bopers to grandparents.

Future Plans?
Rachel:Our plans for 2007 is to expand and to continue bringing art to t-shirts and keeping it exclusive just for you. We will continue to print only a limited amount of each design to prevent "one bag of people with the same t-shirt." "It's not just a t-shirt thing it's a lifestyle." And everyone knows we are 100% Jamaican!!

La PLuma Negra under construction

Yep, Wendy and Glen have gone separte ways but the cult following of this tshirt label continues, shops remain open with new designs and a fresh website on their way.

Gin and Jews from Norstar Clothing

Gin and Jews is a very funny t-shirt I found on t-shirt war that was posted by Nostar clothing (who have also figured out a nice looking girl wearing a shirt goes a long way…not in this case but with others they’ve added). I wonder if the Jewish Fashion Conspiracy should license this one, seems like it’s right up their alley.
source:tcritic

The new Ts: T-shirts take on a touch of class with new fabrics, cool brands and higher prices

Maxine Mendelssohn
For Montreal Gazette; CanWest News Service


MONTREAL - It's a tide of Ts! T-shirts have had a style overhaul, with new cuts and fabrics and a whole new lexicon of designer labels.

Canada has its share of premium T-shirt makers, including Space FB, Mimi & Coco and Ca va de soi, all based in Montreal.

"It started with jeans, and now cool brands and higher prices have trickled down to Ts," said Lorie Caplan, manager and buyer at Indigo, where brand-name jeans and their new best friends, designer Ts, rule the racks.

Plain cotton is no longer king, said Dawn Shaheen, sales director of Wilshire Fashions, a distributor of Splendid T-shirts. "Plain cotton is so yesterday," she said.

Splendid Ts are made from Supima cotton, a yarn with an extra-long staple, or fibre. The longer the staple, the stronger and finer the yarn spun from it.

Check the label on a basic T and you'll find blends of materials like viscose (makes fabric silky and supple), Lycra (for stretch), Tencel (strong like polyester and absorbs more moisture than cotton), Modal (made from beechwood so it stands up to repeated washing) and cashmere.

Is there really a difference worth paying for? Absolutely, according to Brian Cytrynbaum, who makes the Majestic line of T-shirts at his mill in France. "We're talking about a super premium T-shirt," says Cytrynbaum, whose cashmere-blend T retails for around $125.

Even companies not considered ultra-trendy are getting in on the trend. L'Equipeur has adapted its Denver Hayes boxy style to a more fitted shape. The tops are also tubular, with no side seams.

COOL BRANDS TO TOP IT ALL OFF

MIMI & COCO

Mimi & Coco is all about super- soft ribbed tanks and Pointelle T-shirts.

Who's wearing them: Andie MacDowell, Hilary Duff, Celine Dion and Rachel Bilson.

Price for basic Ts: $33 to $100.

New this spring: Check out the children's line.

SPACE FB

Space FB is Montreal-designed and produced.

Who's wearing them: Elisha Cuthbert snapped up some Ts at the Cours Mont Royal shop.

Price for basic Ts: $20 to $29. The price of a cotton-Lycra crew neck has actually been lowered to $29 from $35.

Did you know?: Space FB styles are named after store salespeople.

New this spring: Happy colours! It's all about baby yellow, raspberry and apple green.

Signature style: The tops are cut longer, covering up that belly button.

SPLENDID

Splendid is all about sexy fits and casual chic -- definitely not for slobbing out at home.

Who's wearing them: Teri Hatcher, Jessica Simpson, Gwyneth Paltrow.

Price for basic Ts: $70 to $110.

New this spring: A children's line, available at Holt Renfrew's new baby section.

Signature style: Waffle cotton T-shirts are transformed from long-john fabric into something you'll actually want to be seen in. The lightweight fabrics are ideal for layering.

AMERICAN APPAREL

American Apparel founder Dov Charney said he "hopes to be the Microsoft of the shmatte business."

Who's wearing them: Lucy Liu, Jared Leto, Kirsten Dunst, Carmen Electra, and here at home, Sam Roberts and Mitsou.

Price for basic Ts: $17 to $20.

New this spring: Check out the organic cotton Ts.

Did you know? American Apparel claims to produce its stuff at a "sweatshop free" factory in downtown L.A.

GAP

Gap has made classic American T-shirts since 1969.

Who's wearing them: Sharon Stone famously wore a black Gap T-shirt to the Oscars in 1996.

Price for basic Ts: $19.50 to $29.50

New this spring: Basic black and white is always in style, but check out the "fresh grass" and "melon" colours.

Signature style: The cotton cap-sleeve pocket T.

CA VA DE SOI

Ca va de soi is known for silky-soft knits made from Italian yarns that are shipped to the Orient and produced in small mills.

Who's wearing them: Josee Di Statio, Veronique Cloutier.

Price for basic Ts: $50 to $75.

What's new: A men's line is coming in 2007.

Claim to fame: Neutral colours. They call them non-colour colours, like greyish and pinkish.

BLANK

Martin Delisle co-founded the proudly made-in-Quebec brand Blank T-shirts with two partners a year and a half ago.

The company's goal: "We wanted to show people that you can buy a cool, affordable T-shirt that's made in Quebec. It's a response to the made-in-China invasion."

Did you know: Everything it sells in its store is made in Quebec, from the dyeing of the fabric to the cutting and sewing.

New this spring: Three new pastel colours: retro yellow, a greenery green and amazing aqua.

Who's wearing them: A slew of French-Canadian celebs like Les Moquettes Coquettes, Louise Forestier and Pierre Brassard.

Price for basic Ts: $20 to $23.50 (taxes included).

MICHAEL STARS

Michael Stars recognized the T-shirt's haute-couture potential early; a pioneer of the fashion T movement, he founded his Los Angeles-based label in 1986.

Who's wearing them: Angelina Jolie.

Price for basic Ts: $78 to $165.

Signature style: The Supima-Modal Ts drape like silk, but wash and wear like cotton.

New this spring: "Novel Ts" in tie-dyes, screen prints and embellished with rhinestones.

VELVET

Velvet Ts are super soft.

Who's wearing them: Teri Hatcher

Price for basic Ts: $68 to $85.

New this spring: Halter tops in 100-per- cent ultra-thin cotton baby jersey.

Claim to fame: The shirts are cut generously in the length, so no bare midriffs.

Signature style: Sophisticated tops with ribbon and beading embellishments.

MAJESTIC

Majestic T-shirts, made from soft cashmere and Egyptian cotton, are silky and super pricey.

Who's wearing them: The tight black T-shirt you always see Tom Cruise wearing is from Filateur du Lion, Majestic's men's line.

Price for basic Ts: $78 to $165.

New this spring: Luxe detailing like crystal buttons.

Claim to fame: They're made in France.

L'EQUIPEUR

L'Equipeur's Denver Hayes line of T-shirts: fewer celebrity endorsements and more low prices.

Price for basic Ts: $14.99 to $16.99.

Did you know: Its Ts come in 21 shades, from avocado to azure.

New this spring: Tagless Ts; the brand name and size are printed directly on the fabric.

Signature style: Lycra/cotton blend Ts that are stretchy and body hugging.

JAMES PERSE

James Perse, a 33-year-old from Los Angeles, refined the T-shirt concept with super-fine fabrics and cool styles.

Who's wearing them: David Schwimmer, Ellen DeGeneres, Ashton Kutcher and Kate Hudson.

Price for basic Ts: $50 to $65.

New this spring: Woodsy neutral colours.

Claim to fame: His Ts are the typical uniform for both the fashionably lazy and the fashion obsessed.

Signature style: The company calls itself contemporary, not aiming to fit the boomer body type.

C & C CALIFORNIA

C&C California Ts are ultralight and thin.

Who's wearing them: Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston and Oprah.

Price for basic Ts: From $65 to $100.

Claim to fame: Fans maintain the Ts are like a second skin.

Signature style: Cool prints.
Source:Edmonton Journal