Inspiring festival merch for inspiring festival fans (more…)

Two members of Icon Printing were away recently…and we couldn’t possibly go on holiday without printing a holiday themed t-shirt could we!? Team Icon’s Alice and Chloe went to Croatia for Love System Festival, armed with two other BFFs and a few themed printed t-shirts…

Right, first of all we just want to say that Love System Festival didn’t have anything to do with these t-shirts coming about, they were created by us, well…just for the heck of it really! I think it was mainly down to the pure excitement of the anticipated sunshine, frivolities and festival fun. Alex (Icon Printing boss man) very kindly said he’d put through a few t-shirts for our time away, so Chloe (that’s me…hi!) put together this little design and we got it direct to garment printed onto some lovely Continental tank tops and cropped t-shirts.

I quickly put together something that had a nice beachy, retro feel to it…with a sort of 90s vibe. I’m not quite sure why I decided on this, I think I felt it was quite fitting for the beach side festival we were about to attend. I knew I wanted my design printed onto white t-shirts and that I wanted to test the abilities of one of our most favoured print processes – Direct To Garment printing. My design started life as a bunch of scratchy letters, (see image below) and I was interested to see just how DTG printing would handle this detailed part of my design. And I have to say, I was seriously impressed with the outcome – but why wouldn’t I be!? This print technique really is pretty great. And will only keep on getting more great, as technology progresses.

Now, unlike the picture postcard at the top suggests, we didn’t actually all rock up to the festival matching, this would have been a bit too much. However, my sister Nicole did turn up wearing her Continental Cropped T-shirt version and got spotted by the festival organizer, Danny – and he loved it! His face was a picture when he did a double take and realised it actually said Love System Croatia all over it and was specifically for the festival. Danny had probably spent a few sleepless nights and a bunch of crazy days putting this festival together (especially as it was the very first one!) and I guess he was probably pretty chuffed to see a t-shirt promoting his Love System “baby”.

Overall, it was a brilliant four days of festival madness. The people really made it what it was, and no one cared one bit that it rained a little and that things were a teany weany bit disorganised. There was a floating stage over the bluest sea we’d ever seen, the boat parties were outstanding fun and I’m pretty sure everyone came away smiling and with 50+ new friends. What’s not to love about that, eh? Roll on next year I say!

Icon Printing are a custom clothing company based in Shoreditch. For more an instant quote, please visit our website. Call on: 0207 183 8431

To mark the first day of Glasto, here is the second part of Team Icon’s festival fashion faves…

Now, encase you missed the first lot of festival shapped printed niceness…do not fear! You can check out part one of this feature here.

5. Farr Festival – 19th til 21st July

Farr Festival is “a crazy little party in the woods”…a boutique festival held in a deserted forest just outside london. It has been running only three years, but has already achieved huge critical acclaim from party organisers and world class DJs alike. We love their branding and the vibe they’re going for. Strong branding always contributes well to awesome printed t-shirt artwork.

6. Farm Festival – 26th and 27th July

“Dance til the cows come home.” That is surely the best festival advice we’re ever heard! Farmfestival started as a festival for friends, and has stayed that way 8 years on. They don’t believe in media hype or inflated prices. They are all for alternative music, amazing charities, local produce, and good times set to the backdrop of a beautiful Somerset vista. Nice!

7. Becons Festival – 16th til 18th August

Team Icon dig the Beacons Festival merch. Bold and eye-catching designs at their best! You can’t beat a good printed canvas tote bag with a graphic print. Beacons is a cutting edge Music and Arts festival, which takes place in the picturesque setting of Funkirk Estate, in the Yorkshire Dales. Formally known as The Moor Music Festival, 2011 saw the festival find a new site and a new name.

8. Bestival – 5th til 8th September

A forward thinking bunch, as they have kindly sorted people out with a nice, cosy printed hoodie – for those chilly evenings. We think Bestival have a fantastic logo and some nice branding going on and we like their boutiquey festival vibe. Bestival is an award winning 4 day boutique music festival set in the heart of the Isle of Wight. On a mission to change the face of independent festival culture, and doing just that.

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for an up n’ coming blog post on some direct to garment printed t-shirts we created for a recent festival in Croatia, that half of Team Icon attended. Fun times! We’re pretty busy printing quite a bit of festival related garms at the moment; for groups of friends attending festivals in the UK and across Europe. So drop us a line if you’re thinking about creating your own festival-ready fashion! Icon Printing are a screen printing t-shirt supplier based in Shoreditch. For more an instant quote, please visit our website. Call on: 0207 183 8431

Festival season is upon us…hooray! And with that comes the hunt for that all important “festival look”. We can help you out there! Here are some of our Festival Merch faves…

1. Noisily Festival – 24th til 27th May

This festival gets the first mention because we’ve just done some awesome screen printed sweatshirts for them – and also because it is happening right now! Noisily Festival’s thang is Electronic Music and Arts. Set in a picture perfect valley deep in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside. Just an hours train ride from London, it is a haven of solid beats, natural surroundings and unique innovative arts.

2. Isle of White Festival – 13th til 16th June

Everyone needs a fluro green eyeshade visor in their life. Thanks to the Isle of Wight Festival for giving us a reason to rock this look. As you can see, their retro graphics sit perfect on various bits of merch. We’re loving their black screen printed tote.

3. Glastonbury – 26th til 30th June

100% of the office have not got tickets for this years Glastonbury. 60% tried and failed. This is a sore point, so we’ll move on.

Glastonbury themselves aren’t big on merch – I guess that’s because they are rather busy organising one the countries biggest music gathering. In previous years they have held t-shirt design competitions, especially around the time of their 40th year mark. The history behind this particular festival is pretty cool. The first ever Glastonbury Festival was held on the day after Jimi Hendrix died, over a two day period and long before “word had got around”. Attendance was a mere 1,500 (compared to their 175,000 strong crowd today).

The entry price back then? £1 – including free milk from the farm. Rock on!

4. The Secret Garden Party – 25th til 28th July

The Secret Garden Party is an annual independent Arts and Music festival which takes place in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon. This location is on part of the grounds of a Georgian farm house and has its own lake, river and landscaped gardens. Since its inception, the festival has increased in popularity and size, and has grown from one stage in 2004, to more than 15 stages and 26,000 revellers in 2011. Their pretty, illustrative artwork styled tees and printed canvas tote bags definitely reflect the festivals alternative outlook.

So that’s our top four for now, but be sure to check back for part two in a few weeks!

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We’re busy printing quite a bit of festival related garms at the moment; for groups of friends attending festivals in the UK and across Europe. So drop us a line if you’re thinking about creating your own festival-ready fashion! Icon Printing are a screen printing t-shirt supplier based in Shoreditch. For more an instant quote, please visit our website. Call on: 0207 183 8431