If you’re looking for something to give you inspiration, not just visually, but on a business level too, this is the book you need to buy:
It’s not often I get so excited about a book (the last one was Jon Burgermans Pens are my friends) but “I’m all over this” as the young people like to say. Threadless: Ten Years of T-shirts from the World’s Most Inspiring Online Design Community could’ve just been a published collection of illustrations from Threadless shirts, and still would’ve been a must-buy. The variety and quality of Threadless designs are stunning, and I’ve always touted them as an inspiration source in talks like “How to be a Creative Sponge”.
It goes much further than that though. The book is lavishly designed by A-Side Studios, and covers the story of how Threadless grew - a backstory I wasn’t aware of. It’s a fantastic read. It also serves as a kind of family album - nostalgically looking back on t-shirts I once owned (but wore until they finally went to t-heaven).
Oddly, my favourite Threadless T of all time (Darkside of the Garden) doesn’t feature! Harumph! Anyway, I won’t hold it against them - there’s too much to love in this, and it’s staying on my desk!
