Save the World: Buy a T-Shirt [Merchandising Obama]
The T-shirt has been put on the pedestal
of iconic status in modern culture
It embodies a paradigm of capitalism,
sociability and leisure lifestyle because
it is so basic with a natural approachability
that contains the power to make a profit
Merchandising Obama
The rising popularity of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is putting a Dayton-area merchandise-maker into growth mode.
Greenville-based Tigereye Design, a designer and maker of buttons, T-shirts, bumper stickers and other products for the Obama campaign, has hired an additional 50 employees since the start of the year to handle the increased workload at its "Obama Store."
Tigereye previously hired an additional 30 people to pack and ship Obama orders in 2007.
But the boom in orders also has prompted Tigereye to expanded in its current space, the company said Friday.
Tigereye, which only uses union workers, currently ships 2,000 orders a day, but plans to increase that to an expected 8,000 orders per day, said Tony Baltes, company chief executive officer.
The Obama Store is not the only entity feeling the effects of the country's political fervor. Tigereye's Internet retail division, democraticstuff.com, has seen a four-fold increase in orders since the beginning of the year.
Culture & Capitalism
What if getting dressed in the morning could make life easier for a family struggling in Bangladesh, save the polar bears, help end injustice among workers or save the life of a child soldier in Uganda?
These sound like lofty aspirations that should not be associated with the simple act of choosing clothing to wear for a day of classes. Yet these are all possible ways to change the world around us simply by choosing a T-shirt with a cause.
The T-shirt seems like a dismissible garment in comparison to the grandeur of sparkling party dresses, sexy slacks and funky accessories for the ladies or the charm of polos and crisp khakis for the gentlemen.
But in reality, the T-shirt has a power that can be traced back for decades. The T-shirt began to rise in status during the 1960s with technological advances.
With the creation of Plastisol, a plastic printing ink, along with plastic transfers and spray paints, artists and clothing manufacturers suddenly had the ability to put designs on the plain T-shirt.
Though the classic white T-shirt was powerful in a “Rebel without a Cause” kind of way with James Dean as the defiant model, pictures and text opened a new door of opportunity that would make fashion history.
The endless options and moldable qualities propelled the T-shirt onto the pedestal of iconic status in modern culture. The T-shirt embodies a paradigm of capitalism, sociability and leisure lifestyle because it is so basic with a natural approachability that contains the power to make a profit.
Its blank canvas quality allows it to evolve into a form of advertisement or self-expression.
In choosing a T-shirt, you as the consumer can choose to be a walking advertisement for a big business brand, making money for their profit, or you can choose a shirt that means more than the label because it stands for a cause greater than itself.
Meet Mr. Girendro Sharkar, a man living in Bangladesh. For years he lived with a growing tumor on his throat that progressed to a level that restricted him from eating, drinking and speaking.
Sadly, Mr. Sharkar passed away, leaving a wife and five children to live in a thatched house that had newspaper and magazine patches. Is this the end of the story? Fortunately, there is more to be said.
The brand Rosa Loves heard the story of Mr. Sharkar and has turned tragedy into an opportunity to find hope.
With an original design for each story it sponsors, Rosa Loves makes $25 T-shirts that raise money for individuals and families instead of a large non-profit organization.
In addition to the original artwork, each shirt has the story associated with the design printed on the inside of the shirt, in line with the wearer’s heart to represent where all of the Rosa Loves stories stem from.
There is a growing concern about global warming and its negative effects on the polar bear population. Well, Al Gore doesn’t need to be the only one standing for the cause.
Buying a “Save Polar Bears” shirt for $28 from Part of It will benefit the World Wildlife Foundation to help our furry friends.
Part of It works with artists to create T-shirts and other products for causes that the artists are passionate about.
Other beneficiaries include The Mental Health Research Association, The Museum of Modern Art and The American Wind Energy Association.
Gandhi made a lasting impression on the world through his heroic efforts. His great influence inspired a shirt from the Hero collection at be+cause clothing.
Gandhi stated, “Non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will … its seat is in the heart.”
Such a statement has fueled a shirt-making process that employs formerly homeless workers in an environmentally friendly process benefiting causes that strive for non-violence and an end to social injustice.
For over 20 years children of Uganda have been forced into slavery as child soldiers in a brutal civil war. They have suffered without relief … until now.
Through your purchase of the “Dove” T-shirt from Jedidiah Clothing you can help the children who have been invisible for too long. Your $24 purchase can help to bring hope and peace.
As a consumer of clothing you cannot avoid becoming a part of fashion history. Every day you make a choice to be represented to the external world by your garment choices.
You have the power of communication as well as the power to make change. Your T-shirt could contain the power of revolution, so make it mean something and choose wisely.