Behind the Shirt – The Meaning Behind Popular CLT T-Shirts
From the backyard to the boardroom, t-shirts from Charlotte organizations are everywhere in the Queen City. We see them every day, but we rarely know the meaning behind them. Here are five stories behind the shirts.
Easy Like Me
The Deets:
- Created by Hygge Coworking
- Initially released 2016
- Designed by Garrett Tichy
- To get a shirt, reach out to @hyggeclt or share your story on @easylikeme
Information below provided by Garrett Tichy, Owner of Hygge Coworking & Co-Founder of smpl coworking software
Why was it created?
In the beginning, before we truly understood Hygge, our brand, and what we were trying to be, we thought the brand would be fun, edgy and encapsulate who we are. We missed the boat there. It was premature to think people would plaster “easy.” across their chest and be ok with it.
Future releases of the shirt came alongside a new project #easylikeme (https://instagram.com/easylikeme). It’s all about embracing who we are, and that it might not always be easy, but that you got this. Stay strong, and you’re not alone. We’re using the @easylikeme account to raise awareness around issues like mental wellness.
Corri Smith and Black Wednesday collaborated on a black on black version. There will be more collaborations, colors and stories soon.
The original grey “easy.” shirt is no longer available. It’s gone. The new dark grey with yellow “easy.” shirt AND the Black Wednesday edition (black on black) is still available. We’re not selling these currently. If someone really wants a shirt just hit me up at @hyggeclt and we’ll take care of you. Better yet. or come share your story on @easylikeme.
What reactions have you gotten to it?
The new shirt is just getting out there, so there’s not a huge amount of history there just yet. The #easylikeme project associated with the shirts has gotten a pretty great response in just a short period of time. I’m pumped to share more peoples’ stories, and put more shirts into the world.
Dig into more Hygge: Web | IG (Hygge) | #EasyLikeMe
Do Greater
The Deets:
- Created by the Do Greater Foundation
- Released Spring 2016
- Designed by William McNeely & his graphic designer wife, Shelia.
- Available for a $20 at dogreatershop.org
Information below provided by William McNeely, co-founder of the Do Greater Foundation.
Why was it created?
We created the design out of an inspiration to go beyond good and to make an impact on the lives of others. I was diagnosed with Scleroderma/Lung Disease and it caused me to re-evaluate my legacy and impact. We all have a passion to be great, but Do Greater is about turning your passion into action to make a significant contribution that can be imparted on the lives of others.
Do Greater is becoming a community of creative doers moving with passion and purpose, taking risks and fueling the impossible to make an impact on others. Our manifesto is: We are called to do greater. Going beyond good and destroying doubt. Grinding by faith toward action. To love out loud and make an impact on the lives of others.
We plan on extending the T-shirt brand to support the start of a monthly mentoring box service of curated products for youth which is powered and gifted by creative doers. We want to inspire kids to believe in the impossible. The Do Greater box will contain products to empower kids to start the journey to impossible as they receive a gift box from a creative mentor. Monthly coaching sessions will also be available. The platform will be an outlet for creative #doersofgreater and enable them to impart their experiences with under-served youth in Charlotte. The hope is to move from “ideas to impact” in the lives of others.
What reactions have you gotten to it?
The reactions have been great. It’s a simple message that people can get behind. People have said that it’s got that inspirational “Nike” vibe— a message of hope that no matter the circumstances, keep pushing beyond good to greater. My favorite memory has to be that my kids have embraced the message and begin to spread the principles to their friends.
Dig into more Hygge: Web | IG (Do Greater) | IG (William McNeely) | #DoersOfGreater
For The Queen City
The Deets:
- Created by Warehouse 242
- 2016
- Designed by Steve Whitby
- To get a shirt, drop by Warehouse 242 on Sunday or come to a partner event (e.g. Playing for Others event, Warehouse Talks or a Gallery event)
Information below provided by Steve Whitby, “Creative Guy” at Warehouse 242.
Why was it created?
W242 is a church collective, meaning we bring together people from all corners of Charlotte to make an impact directly in West Charlotte where we’re located. We believe that if we can be intentionally involved in the creative endeavors of Charlotte and specifically invested in the justice issues that plague us, we can see real transformation in the Queen City. In everything we do, we want to be FOR the Queen City and with our neighbors who are working hard to transform it. We’re creating another round this spring.
What reactions have you gotten to it?
We love seeing the shirt spread across the city — worn by Harvey Cummings as he opens Creative Mornings, Matt Olin at the Queen City Quiz Show, Toussaint Romain leading a community day, and our warehouse members as they live life in the city. It’s gone as far as a community activist in Zimbabwe who has spent time in Charlotte.
Dig into more Warehouse 242: Web | IG
This Is My Good Shirt
The Deets:
- Created by SHARE Charlotte
- Released October 2018
- Designed by Charlotte Amanda Hale of CAKESMASH ATL, with production collaboration from Scott Wooten of 704 Shop
- Available for a $25 donation to SHARE Charlotte ($30 if shipping is required). Contact caroline@sharecharlotte.com for information.
Information below provided by Amy Jacobs, Executive Director of SHARE Charlotte.
Why was it created?
SHARE Charlotte believes everyone can do good, and “This is my good shirt” is a fun play on words that reflects this message! For four years SHARE Charlotte has been spreading messages of local good through custom designed t-shirts, like our classic shirts – “Do Good,” “Mean People Don’t SHARE” and “Do Good Things.” We will continue to spread messages of good through Do Good apparel.
What reactions has it gotten?
What’s not to like about a good shirt?! The response has been great. We sold out of our first order within a week and have seen it being worn all over town especially in the month of November when Charlotte was celebrating #GivingTuesdayCLT. The best part about this shirt is if you buy one you are not only wearing good, but doing good. T-shirt proceeds are a donation to SHARE Charlotte, which help us continue to do GOOD in CLT!
Dig into more SHARE Charlotte: Web | IG
Charlotte Is For Everyone
The Deets:
- Created by Mike Wirth Art, Inc.
- Released January 2018
- Designed by Mike Wirth
- Available starting at $20 on TeePublic
Information below provided by Mike Wirth, Director of the Department of Art & Design at Queens University.
Why was it created?
In 2015, I saw this sticker all over the walls and light posts in a few cities across Germany that read “die Stadt ist fur alles” (TRANSLATION: “The city is for all”). This message was a sign to welcome immigrants and was posted during the mass migration from Syria and surrounding areas. I wanted this message and spirit to come to Charlotte as we welcome immigrants and others who are already in our midst, but not at the table, so to speak.
The fist in the letter “O” of Charlotte is meant to signal that making Charlotte cool and safe for everyone requires work. Work from everyone invested in that community and is visually a riff from a logo that I designed and posted on social media the morning after the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in 2016. It featured the Charlotte city crown with the same fist in place of the small dot or jewel atop the city crown logo. The graphic was shared across social media and was used by advertising companies like Adams outdoors. This event was a real game-changing wake-up call for Charlotte. The Charlotte is For Everyone idea was a natural next step from that time. Now we put in the hard work.
As the date of the RNC nears, I’m preparing to make a few more designs available that celebrate Charlotte’s inclusivity and openness.
What reactions has it gotten?
Folks have loved it and I’ve also incurred the wrath of an alt-right troll. The AAF chapter in Charlotte honored me at their annual meeting that same Fall in 2016.
Dig into more SHARE Charlotte: Web | IG