Choosing the perfect font for a brand, logo or t-shirt design can be a challenge. Ida, one of our specialists on the ICON Printing team, shares her tips to help you find just the right type. (more…)
Album artwork is an age-old source of inspiration. Between colourful graphics, beautiful photography, and iconic typography, here are a few we’re into from the past year.
Returning for its eighth edition with 76 works on show, Designs of the Year brings together exceptional work from across the globe spanning six categories: Architecture, Digital, Graphics, Product, Transport and Fashion. (more…)
After rent prices on Charlotte Road hit dizzying heights at the start of the year, Kemistry Gallery were faced with a difficult decision…
These fantastic printed t-shirts aim to bridge the gap between the physical and the digital. Super exciting stuff! Here’s how they work…
Augmented Reality? What on earth is that!?
Augmented Reality allows you to point any mobile smartphone or tablet at a target (in this case, a printed t-shirt) and instantly be rewarded with a unique experience on your device. The trigger is basically the image that the camera (your iPhone, for example) recognises to launch the AR experience. It can be anything, from a logo on a flyer or photographs in a magazine, but what we’re pretty excited about is the t-shirt graphics that act as a AR trigger.
Who are Zappar?
Zappar are a Scottish design team that have taken the US by storm with a revolutionary new 3D t-shirt. Zappar was founded by Glaswegian game writer Kirk, 43, English marketing whiz Caspar Thykier, 38, Cambridge University computer engineers Simon Taylor, 28, and Connell Gauld, 23.
In less than a year, the Edinburgh based company sold nearly a million of their t-shirts, which “come alive” when viewed through a smart device. The tiny firm then went on to sign a deal with US supermarket giants Walmart. In June last year, Asda became the first UK retailer to carry a range of their t-shirts.
Developer Kirk Ewing, one of four pals behind the invention, reckons their experiments with Augmented Reality (AR) technology will change the world.
“AR will merge the real world with the computer world. It sounds scary but it will become second nature and we’re the first people to be doing things with it commercially. In the future, you will be able to wear special glasses and see ads coming out of shops and get the football scores off a stranger’s chest as you walk down the street.”
We love the fact their printed t-shirts look like any others until they are viewed through a smartphone or tablet. Just by using a free app, the designs leap from the wearer’s chest in 3D and perform.
Icon Printing are based in Shoreditch, London and are t-shirt direct to garment and t-shirt screen printing specialists. For more an instant quote, please visit our website. Call on: 0207 183 8431 or visit our website for an instant quote.
Alongside promotional and corporate clothing, we also print garments for established and up ‘n’ coming clothing labels. Much of this artwork is fashion lead graphics or hand drawn illustrations. Bold, one or two colour designs print really well and can make very desirable items of clothing.
At Icon Printing, we are really passionate about what we do and we’re always on the look out for inspirational printed clothing to post up on our blog. So, check out these bad boys. Syndicate Original is a clothing label from Ukraine, who are inspired by “American heritage and also by the simplicity and minimalism of Scandinavian aesthetics.” Their focus is combining the aesthetics of classic menswear and enhancing cuts and concepts with up-to-date elements. They often collaborate with well-known artists, illustrators and designers which allows them to treat street style in such a unique and fresh way.
If you’ve got a favourite clothing line you think we should shout about, get in touch! We’d love to hear from you. Check out this link for t-shirt printing london information.
email: sales@iconprinting.com
phone: 0207 183 8431
We recently printed some super cool t-shirts for the guys at Icon Industries. Their style is a perfect mix of graphic art with a street and urban influence. We wanted to find out more about the label and what they’re into…
Your style is a fusion of paint, illustration and graffiti. Do you do your own graffiti?
It’s a mix of stencil, photograph, marker pen and computer illustrations. Graffiti – well it depends who is asking. The law – no. An art appreciator – hell yeah, we stencil when ever we can. We like art that tells a story – whether it’s controversial, funny or shocking.
What artists/designers inspire you and why?
We’re really into the Bristol art scene – Inkie and the guys at Upfest. However, we also get inspiration from the likes of Paul Smith and other high-end British designers. We do a lot of traveling, so we’re always taking a lot of photos too.
Why did you choose to create your own T-shirt line?
We’d come up with some great graphics and really wanted to share them with people. Our mission statement: Icon Industries aim is to make affordable art accessible to all.
Where do you sell your printed tees?
We are new to the market – but currently selling them on ebay, on our own site www.icon-industries.co.uk and a few select stores in London.
What’s your favourite website or blog at the moment?
thefancy.com – love that site. A great mix of products and an amazing way to share inspiration, it really gets the creative juices flowing.
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about coming up with their own collection of statement T-shirts?
Start small, start simple and build from there. Get a good website!
Check them out!
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube
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Feel free to get in touch about tshirt printing london, come chat to us at: sales@iconprinting.com or on 0207 183 8431.
We recently stumbled across these brilliant t-shirts by The Unrefinery.com and couldn’t help but love them. They sort of speak for themselves – but what really impressed us is that they’re so simple, yet very witty and very clever. It just shows you don’t have to think up long-winded, elaborate designs in order to create successful artwork for t-shirts.
Want to print your own t-shirts and hoodies? Get in touch! We specialise in screen and direct to garment printing. Our email is: sales@iconprinting.com or give us a ring on: 0207 183 8431
The T-Shirt Deli puts a new twist on personalising shirts. The concept is pretty simple: your t-shirt design, served hot-off-the-press and wrapped to-go with a side of chips. Awesome!
Owner, Ninel moved to Chicago 13 years ago. After years of copy-writing for beer commercials, she left the advertising industry to start the T-Shirt Deli. She first envisioned the deli when she thought of several funny sayings to put on t-shirts. Rather than simply customising a few of her own shirts, she decided she wanted to help others produce shirts too – “Much like you can customise your sandwich in a New York-style deli.” She says, “After all, not everyone shares my sense of humor, and as it turns out, people absolutely love the opportunity to get creative, and see their own idea turned into a wearable product.”
She searched far and wide for gleaming white deli cases, rolls of perfectly waxed butcher paper, brightly colored stickers, and open-air wicker baskets to display our freshest selection of tees. She also chooses to use “homegrown” American Apparel brand shirts, and started to stock as many font choices and colors as cheeses in a New York deli.
Today, there are two stores in Chicago – one in Bucktown and another in Andersonville, and they just celebrated their seventh anniversary. They take orders on their website, and offer a fun ‘catering’ service. Like any other caterer, they travel to parties, work events, etc., but instead of dishing out spaghetti, they make and serve shirts on-site for the attendees.
Over the years, customers have had many creative ideas to share, though often their designs or text are based on inside jokes, nicknames and other cryptic items only known them and their friends.
It’s always so refreshing to see something done with such a twist! Good job!
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Come chat to us if you’d like any custom t-shirt printing done (sadly ours don’t come with chips, but hey – that’s not a bad idea!…) Drop us a line at: sales@iconprinting.com or phone: 0207 183 8431
We had the pleasure of screen printing Daniel Dewhurst’s very awesome Cherry Laundry tees, which are based on 1950’s laundry nostalgia – yet with a Scottish twist! We’ve done a little question and answer session with him, finding out what inspired him to create this collection.
What’s the story behind Cherry Laundry and how did the name come about?
Cherry Laundry T-shirts are themed on my love of 1950’s laundry nostalgia (random…I know), I’ve always thought that launderettes are visually fantastic places that ooze coolness. Although, to an extent, they have been glamorised by Hollywood, I still love the idea of people conversing with one another while waiting for their clothes to be washed.
What artists/designers inspire you and why?
With regards to clothing brands I’m a big fan of Ted Baker, Ralph Lauren and Levi’s. I know these aren’t particularly original choices but they have a great sense of design and I like the way their clothes fit.
I’m a huge fan and would recommend everyone to check out Marcelo Burlon’s t shirts!
Artists – Otto Dettmer, Andy Warhol, Jill Calder – I have studied each of these artist at different stages of my education and I feel each have played a major role in my creative development especially Otto Dettmer (his art is seriously cool!)
What do you like most about being a part of the fashion/design industry?
I think first and foremost I enjoy being part of this industry because its been a fantastic way to explore and use my creativity.
I graduated in illustration and wasn’t 100% sure what to do with it but certainly since setting up the Cherry Laundry I’ve been able to explore areas of fashion which compliment my art.
Why did you choose to create your own T-shirt line?
It’s all rather simple…I love t shirts! I used to design my own when I was at uni but just as a hobby and then whilst I was traveling I decided I would give it a go as a career.
You have an awesome online store, where else do you sell your designs?
I usually sell on markets in north London as the Cherry Laundry fits in well with the vintage scene. My very first market I did was at Camden and from there I branched out to markets in Highgate, Brick Lane, Watford and many more. I have also found that once you start hitting the market scene you get a lot of offers to do different markets from other stall holders or people that hear about you through the markets you attend.
What’s your favourite website or blog at the moment?
I’m a big fan of the Dazed and Confused website (and magazine). With regard’s to blogs there’s a fantastic one called The Clothes Horse, it’s really well put together and very interesting with fantastic photography….I highly recommend giving it a read.
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about coming up with their own collection of statement T-shirts?
I’ve found that using a theme that I love has really helped with setting up the Cherry Laundry. I would advise anybody thinking of setting up their own brand to pick a theme that they have an interest in would be a perfect way to start.
I would also say using quality garments is very important. I have found that especially when working on markets people love to try on your products and if the fit and feel isn’t right people wont buy. At the same time I realise that you need to work within your budget but if you can spend that little bit extra on the product I would highly recommend it.
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Thanks Dan! This is all very useful stuff. If you’d like some more top tips on creating your own collection of t-shirts, check this out. Don’t forget – we’d always love to hear from you too! Check us out at www.iconprinting.com
email: sales@iconprinting.com
phone: 0207 183 8431