99% South African
The path a cotton fibre takes from its harvest to your t-shirt is long and complex.
In short: The cotton could’ve been reaped in South Africa, Israel, Turkey or India (some of the world’s largest exporters). South Africa alone doesn’t have enough cotton to support our textile industry. That’s the assumed missing one percent. Following that, the process is local. The ginning, combing and milling gets done in the Free State, Northern Province and Gauteng. Manufacture happens either in Gauteng or Northern Province, and design and silkscreening here in Johannesburg,
There’s nothing fake about Love Jozi t-shirts. Most of the styles are made from 165gm 100% combed cotton and contain no synthetic fibres. Real deal.
[BTW our TwistSeam style is made from a cotton lycra mix]
Off the wall
Shoote’s payoff line ‘images for design’ sums up why we collaborated with them to make these wallcoverings (as Business Day’s Wanted magazine aptly describes them). They take photos, we combine them with our graphics, together we make it challenging not to love Jozi.
Contact irma@shoote.co.za for more info. If you’re in the mother city contact megan@shoote.co.za, we make Cape Town ones too (full of cryptic messages together with sensational images). Our work was recently seen on the set of Harambe for SABC1, Wanted magazine and TheOne&Only hotel.
Lisa’s tattoo
“Wearing your heart on your sleeve is not something Jo’burgers do easily. You may love this place now, but you’re gonna hate it sometime. The trick is keep breathing in the smoky air, sooner or later the love returns. And so will you.” says Lisa Cohn.
Lisa loves her city so much that she asked if she could use the PlanetJozi t-shirt design as a tattoo. “My right side represents my logic. This tattoo is on my left. No real sense in feeling this city as deeply as I do, except that I am hers and I belong here. Just like a great affair, I’m often driven crazy with anger, passion, inspiration and resentment. Nobody can pretend it’s a healthy relationship. But I’ll always love my city. She’s my heart. On my sleeve.” she exclaims. How could we say no.
We think she is nutty but in a very not-nutty way, and we love her for that. And if this can activate our brand then bring on them needles.
Not afraid
The image on this t-shirt was inspired by the model wearing it. Elli Garb stencilled the message ‘i am not afraid’ throughout Johannesburg city over a decade ago. Some can still be seen around town in un-renovated areas where recent street art hasn’t caked up the walls. Spot one and be reminded that fear is often just a mindset. What weren’t you afraid of Elli? Was the statement about a personal challenge and not about Johannesburg? Well does it matter really, that grafitti makes me feel like a little pig singing “Who’s afraid of the big bad ‘burg, the big bad ‘burg, the big bad ‘burg, who’s afraid of the big bad ‘burg? Not me not me not me.”
Elli’s latest piece of genius is a simple decal about 5cm wide that says EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK [upper case serif font reversed out of black]. I’ve had friends tell me how when they spotted one at a mall boom or police station they’ve suddenly felt their shoulders unwind and become warriors and not worryers.
Oy vey. ‘Yeheyeh beseder’ they promise in the Holyland too.