A Few Notes

I found this piece written age 17:

As a human being I want to do the best I can with my one life, I want to make money, have rewarding experiences, eventually have non-shit kids and so on so forth, of course these are understandable goals. But to achieve these ambitions I need to do work and challenge myself to strive. There is just one trouble I have, I waste most of my spare time with pointless shit. If it isn’t watching re-runs of old sitcoms on the telly, it’s looking at social media, checking my phone, hoping for some sort of instant gratification from a screen. And that is why I don’t blog, study, make music, exercise and read as I often as I wish I did. I’m not saying that I’m a lazy person I just feel that my life could do with less time scrolling through a virtual wall to see if there is any mild amusement to be had and more time bettering myself with worthwhile content. The fact is that I have an addiction, along with a large part of the population. It’s an addiction to distraction. The American Webster’s dictionary defines an addiction as “a strong and harmful need to regularly have something or do something”. I hope you are getting the idea.

With so much distraction always available I constantly feel there is something I need to check something. I don’t feel comfortable unless I look at my phone or go through Facebook and Twitter and my emails at least every 20 minutes. Just think about it, when was the last time you left the house without your phone. It just doesn’t happen. And why? Just in case you get a text from someone with some sort of  message that gives you a small amount of self esteem from the feeling of being seen as a valid recipient. It’s because people (me included) need to feel self worth. And a text or a notification or a re-tweet gives us this. We are fuelled on this. At least it is my opinion that we are too much.

Please do not misunderstand my views, I believe social communication through gadgets is a wonderful way of sharing and interacting. It has huge amounts of advantages to so many people. Nevertheless I still feel there is a dependancy to technology that has created an addiction that takes over more important things in life, such as exercises that lead to personal gain whether it be mentally or physically.

Distraction from pointlessness I’m sure came far before the invention gadgetry and screens you can prod to interact with people. Yet I do feel presently we have far more distraction available than any other time in history. I feel I am at the point with my screens that I am in a habit of going to them when ever I feel the slightest bit lacking in amusement. Even during writing this paragraph I have found myself wondering to YouTube and my iTunes (twice I just did it again after the word iTunes). The temptation to check and feed the addiction I believe is why positive input in a home like environment is much harder now than in the past. Because we all have to check our phones and the internet constantly to see if someone may have given us a virtual like on a drunken photo of ourselves wearing a fake beard, thusly leading to a small amount of external gratification.

I once heard that everyone has one object  in which they always have with them and don’t feel comfortable unless that object is present. I believe for the majority of the population it is a phone. To often am I conversing with someone who feels there phone is of greater importance than interacting with me, a human right in front of their face. People turn into brain dead monkeys staring at their phone as if it holds the answers to uncovering a banana landfill spot. Whereas in real life they are just staring at a meme of Nicholas Cage being surrounded by over eager Chinese news reports or a cat or some shit like that. I honestly feel insulted by this behaviour at least once every couple of days.

Distraction via screens has probably resulted in billions of hours worldwide being wasted. Image where the human race would be if no one needed to write a tweet about how they made a fucking creme brulee and check it every five minutes, just to see if it got a favourite or re-tweet by someone else who has nothing better to do than scroll through a virtual whirlpool of procrastination from adulthood. That may have come across a little strong. All I really wanted to get across is that to many people have trouble focusing on the important things in life. The way modern society is set up with all of these distractions always available it is hard to have a focused mind, especially if you are brought up on quick cut framed telly, video games, the internet and a smart phone that desires never ending attention. Basically talk to someone real and do some work in a place without a shiny screen that you stroke. Peace. Or not fuck you.

Appeal To The Apparel  

There is a medium of expression that has the power to liberate someone by simply stepping out of their door. It is humble, overlooked and growing. The independent t-shirt may not sound like a game changer but it is to the high street as punk rock was to new romance. 

The art of wearing art is becoming much more accessible. Web based market places are allowing illustrators and distributors to reach a larger audience than ever before. There is now a direct relationship from the seller to the buyer, which is amiss with the high street labels.

The retail market has suffered the last few years, but some indie competitors are rising up and above and doing it their own way. Quality design and the DIY attitude has created alternative brands with as much presence as many high street labels; Drop Dead Clothing, Abandon Ship Apparel and Criminal Damage all have there own success story. And with the UK economy slowly tip towing back on track its anyones game, streetwear will surely find its own place.

The people behind the clothing (not literally) come from all backgrounds. Michael Chapman, owner of the Lincoln based Wildcard clothing, and previously a distributer for Plastic Head Records met with Clash to give his insight. “Right now really is the punk rock moment in fashion, the obstacles of starting your own brand have gone.”

An appetite for quality illustration is growing. The concepts are becoming more dense. “Some people are attracted to the gags but won't necessarily wear it, you can tell what is good quality work because it sells. I love the illustration with hidden meanings,” Michael told Clash in his shop and printing station. He then showed a new design with the word ‘weed’ hidden upside-down throughout its superman style emblem. “Just a little touch”.

Wildcard produce and buy designs. Michael explained how new prints are produced: “It’s more than just coming up with a design, first one of us comes up with a theme and post it on a closed Facebook group. Someone then comes up with the face off design. Its usually a pen and pad affair which is touched up digitally. Often our designers use their own photography so images fit perfectly. For example if a design needed a pair of sunglasses, they would take a photo of sunglasses. It positions better if you take it yourself.”

The illustrators creating these amazing designs are from all over. “Daggers And Diamonds is an awesome brand that we buy prints from. All the work is produced by a nineteen year old from Manchester,” Michael told Clash. All these rising streetwear brands follow the same ideal, to create expressive, quality clothing that speaks to people personally. The Daggers And Diamonds website has a note that explains what their brand and the alternative design is really about: “We like to do things differently, on our own terms and with 100% dedication and passion.We believe firmly in the saying "Big things come from small beginnings".We want our brand to appeal to everyone, from all walks of life, we want everyone to join us on a journey to the top. So whether you are 18 or 85 you can still rock our brand and look good doing it.”

A strong element to the designs are the alternative expressions that they give to the person wearing them. Upside-down crosses, the Star Of David and drug references may seem extreme to hang over your chest but that’s what creates the appeal of the apparel. Wildcard know their customers and stick to their style. “I don't want us to be for everyone. If you’re not target market I don't want you to buy it. We’re not out to conquer the world, we’re out to sell cool clothing,” Michael told Clash passionately. 

All the demons and graphic illustration might lead some to assume that the people behind it are a little twisted. But speaking with Michael he came across as a charming character, down to earth guy. The items of clothing are treated like art in his gallery. There is a story behind each design and pride that it is hung in the Wildcard shop. As you look through the collection you can converse with the man who either selected or came up with the concept to the designs. All whilst you are only feet away from where they were printed. Try getting that in Primark. 

December 2013 showed a 8.1% rise in sales from independent stores, which is higher than the 2.6% growth in large high street business’. People are shopping more and more for the experience which indies do so well. 

Weather it’s a two headed devil cat, a hardcore punk Beavis and Butt-head, or an incredibly detailed tiki warrior fire god, the streetwear t-shirt brings a unique quality to fashion. With the high street dominated by chain stores people are not given the opportunity to be liberated by apparel. So perhaps it’s the hipster mentality of young people, a rebellious, expressive lust for something new or just the appreciation of alternative quality illustration and design. The streetwear t-shirt may be modest but it is the Sid Vicious mainstream fashion needs right now. 

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Top 5 Streetwear Brands to watch for

1. Abandon Ship Apparel: 

The Glaswegian brand that never fails to produce beyond striking designs. Started as a idea in a pub between Richard Davies and Duncan Sweeny, Abandon Ship was ran from their flat and within 3 years became a leading UK independent brand.

2. Your Eyes Lie:

Full of outstanding full t-shirt prints, the original husband and wife partnership create sharp prints through photography and illustration.  

3. Art Disco:

Founded by two high school friends, their simplistic black and white designs give a timeless feel.

4. Supremebeing:

Established in 1999 the Cambridge based label have a variety of graphic Animal illustration.

5. Rook Clothing:

Focus on more realist style designs, a more graphic, street influenced brand.

Band Tees

Wrote age 16 by Oscar Nicholas

Buying a t-shirt with a band on it. It can be done for two main reasons being:  Reason 1. you think it’s a stylish top that you like the look of. Or reason 2. you want to let the world know that the band on your chest is now your band and you pretty much formed them because you understand their deep lyrics better than anyone.

I will admit I probably wear band t-shirts for feelings similar to reason 2. I even have rules for wearing band t-shirts. I will need to have that band on my ipod and know the name of at least one band member or album. If I do not have these criteria then I feel like a fake Topshop, wannabe Pete Doherty, wanker. Harsh but I can’t help it. Unfortunately I also have the same feeling to those wearing a t-shirt with Ramones on it who don’ have a fucking clue who they are. I am probably starting to sound like an sad angry hipster now but never mind, I mean YOLO.

Music and fashion go hand in hand, so as a music fan I should be embracing the spread of band names through the medium of the humble t-shirt. Yet if I see someone wearing a item of clothing with a music group I like on it I instantly begin to question the credibility of their existence. Do they even know where that band are from? Can they even name the lead singer? Do chinos and a Rolling Stones t-shirt really go with a snapback? Then I think I shouldn’t judge with such little knowledge of a person and begin to question my own credibility as a rounded person.

Music snobbery has unfortunately settled deep into my pours now. But I believe myself to be better than the other music snobs, as I am aware of my attitudes being unnecessary and childish. I know I am no better than these people in band t-shirts they bought from River Island to match their new Toms. I just feel it. But is that so bad? Britain is pretty much built on feeling better than others. If we didn’t feel like we were better than the Germans we could all be Nazi’s now and I could be writing about how to best wear a swastika on a night out.

Would it be to much to ask for questionnaires to be completed when buying a t-shirt with a musical group on them. Not too hard just asking for a few album tittles and perhaps the drummers name. You know, standard knowledge. Of course I joke.

No matter how musical choice is expressed there will always be dicks, like me, who will question credibility. This is most likely due to the over obsessions of artists. So if you ever do wear a Bowie, Stooges or even a One Direction tee feel sorry for those who judge you the chances are their just self conscious. But at least if you are wearing Nirvana on your chest, don’t be a tit,  find out who Kurt Cobain was.