Free Tees and a good cause

Buffetlibre in Barcelona is starting a new music project with Amnesty International, called PEACE, that will be released next January 2010. All proceeds will go to Amnesty International’s humanitarian aid projects in areas of conflict.

To promote the project, they are giving 200 tees provided by 15 stores including Flesh Machine, Electronic Sheep, Tokyo Art Beat, Graniph, Art In The Age, Long, Line Work, Selector!, Kdis, Worn By, Blokk, Nouveau Riche, 21 Grams and Monik House.

To enter the contest all you have to do is send your “personal data and the answer to the question below:
Which is, in your opinion, the best dancefloor killer song from the decade?”

I’m not sure which personal data they are looking for or which decade they are talking about but I would guess they want your name and address and they are talking about this decade.

You can find out more at Buffetlibre. The project seems quite altruistic. Check it out!

Two New Tees from TAB

Tokyo Art Beat have released two t-shirts just in time for the summer. I have to say that I am a little disappointed that they didn’t have a model shoot like they did the first time I mentioned them in this blog. I guess it could be another sign of the economic downturn that has gripped Japan. The shirts on the other hand are not a disappointment. I much prefer these to the last pair of releases and I especially like the green version of
Modularly Yours by Ian Lynam.

This actually my favorite of all the t-shirts I have seen at Tokyo Art Beat because it captures so many aspects if Japan and does it in style.  It is available in white with TAB’s pink and blue print as well.

The next t-shirt has a pretty solid design too, by Japanese artist, Teppei Kaneuji. It is a fun design and one you need to look at closely to appreciate. It is also available on a dark tee with gold and white print.

While these tees have vastly different styles, the thing they have in common is that people will spend a lot of time staring at them trying to figure out what is going on so if you are uncomfortable when people stare at your chest this may not be the tee for you.

Tees are both 3,500 yen + shipping.

Two New Tees from Tokyo Art Beat

Not only have Tokyo Art Beat released a couple of new shirts, they have reduced the prices too, by 500 yen (about $5). They are now sold for 3,500 yen. I still think they could drop the prices a little more but I understand the cost issues. From my own research it seems to be impossible to get tees printed as cheaply as in the US. Tokyo Art Beat uses Sweat Shop Union and while you can get tees printed for cheaper elsewhere you also have to look at the quality aspect.

The two new t-shirts are not bad. They have introduced the option of neutral colors for those of you like me, who wouldn’t don the bright pink and blues. I appreciate the concept and the detail in the designs of these shirts but as shirts they are definitely not a must have item for me. Although that might be different if I saw what they actually looked like. For those of you who want to stand out from the crowd with some limited edition fashion though it might be just what you are looking for.

Tokyo Art Beat T-Shirts

Fellow Japan ex-pat, Paul from Tokyo Art Beat (TAB) shot us an email to let us know about their new t-shirts.

Each year, TAB releases a collection of exclusive, limited-edition shirts. The designs are donated by both famous and up-and-coming international designers and artists living in Tokyo to share their love of this exciting city. Tokyo Art Beat is run by a non-profit organization so the proceeds of the sale are used to support our team of volunteers and paid staff.

They said that they are releasing 2 new tees every 2 months now. This year’s first 2 designs are by a Japanese designer, Ko-zou and his tattoo-style graphics and the second by Japanese illustrator (and semi-cult indies band: Kiiiiiiii’s singer) Tada Reiko.

¥4000 is a little pricey for a t-shirt but they are limited edition t-shirts by famous designers and there is not much chance of bumping into someone wearing the same top on a night out. The photo below was taken in a ’70s style love hotel.