Four Things Influencing Graphic T-Shirts Right Now
Fashion never occurs in a vacuum and the graphic tee is no exception. Here are four worldwide cultural shifts that are defining graphic t-shirts this season.
Vibrance: Find your "Kenergy"
A recent explosion of colour in the menswear space is reflected in the t-shirt designs that are currently trending. As gender fluid clothing continues to become a defining force in the high fashion world, the effect is trickling down to the humble t-shirt. With a vibrance usually reserved for womenswear, menswear is beginning to embrace more colourful renditions of traditional pieces. Adidas have been reviving a history of bold and bright sportswear with their Adicolor 70s range which has led into a desire for more designs that make good use of colour blocking.
With the success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which grossed $775 million US dollars internationally in 10 days, a demand for brighter and bolder clothes for men will make itself known in the coming weeks.
Pair a brightly coloured graphic tee by Adidas or Caterpillar with your favourite jeans to start experimenting with fashion more creatively and unleash your Kenergy.
Nature: The Climate Crisis
Graphic t-shirts have embraced slogans and artworks which romanticise the natural environment. With many of these graphics printed on organic cotton or hemp jersey, an increasing consciousness of the link between the climate emergency and sustainability is evident. In the past couple of years, fleeing pandemic-riddled cities for the open air of the coast and the countryside has potentially resulted in a greater reverence for natural spaces and the sanctuary they afford.
Style a Thrills organic cotton graphic tee with shorts for your next foray into the woods.
Europe: Escape to Summer
It’s Euro summer season. If you can’t beat em, join em. And if you can’t join every other person on your Instagram feed, then you’re forgiven. Claim your consolation prize in a Euro-themed slogan tee. Wear this oversized and pair with classic wayfarer sunnies, casual shorts, and white sneakers for a look that wouldn’t go amiss along the Amalfi Coast. Swap out the busy Australian lifestyle for a European siesta and a 3 hour long lunch under a canopy of lemon trees. Do it in a Deus tee.
Permission to Play: Unisex Styling
Applying the unisex mindset to a wider range of clothing will benefit anyone who wears clothes of any kind. Traditionally, “unisex” clothing has been utilized as a way to repackage men’s clothing and market it to women. Unisex T-Shirts, shorts, and pants are commonly seen, while unisex mini skirts, dresses - clothes that are more traditionally feminine are sidelined.
Why is the masculine deemed less offensive than the feminine?
That’s a question for another blog post. But as such, the move towards truly genderless clothing and equal acceptance of both the masculine and feminine requires men to follow in the footsteps of female-identifying consumers and break convention with their clothing.
In the meantime, girls can feel free to pave the way. An oversized men’s tee can provide the ideal slouchy fit. Wear it with a mini denim skirt or denim shorts and opt for a bold look with platform boots.
