Some really exciting news – we’ve recently collaborated with the School of Turin on a men’s pendant, with the fruit of our labour dropping very soon. Watch this space!

That’s probably a little harsh, and not entirely accurate. Take one look at the threads above and you’ll see she’s more of an artist really. And true to Picasso’s central tenet that “good artists borrow, great artists steal”, Ms Eary has done some borrowing off of none other than yours truly it would seem.

So we’d just like to take this opportunity to gently remind Ms Eary, and the JC Report, that basing menswear on ‘books books books’ is actually not a new idea and that we’ve been doing it for the last 3 years.

Admittedly we live in the anti-haute couture world of the graphic tee, but theft is theft wherever it occurs, right batman? Anyway, Katie if you’re out there, let’s do it properly next time and collaborate :)

“For the purpose of appreciation and categorisation” is how the Book Cover Archive describes itself. And after a quick scan, we reckon that its a pretty damn accurate description, and we never complain about anything that does does what it says on the tin.

We often hear from customers that our designs would make great book covers. And although we don’t disagree, it is worth noting that we’re trying to do something different than simply re-create old covers. Instead of convincing you to buy a book, we’re in the business of helping you to start conversations based on books and ideas that you’re already invested in… You could also say we’re the small-talk short circuit you’ve always been looking for :)

Either way, seeing as though we’re on topic, what’s your favourite book cover? Drop them in the comments below…

“Show me your t-shirts and I’ll tell you who you are. Today’s t-shirts are projection screens for styles, thoughts, and attitudes; they are wearable calling cards.”

We couldn’t agree more, and are thrilled to have been included in the definitive guide to t-shirt culture, called Torso. Published by gestalten, it was compiled by Daniel Eckler, founder and editor-in-chief of Formatmag and one of our very first supporters.

It is out in August so get ready for a visual feast like no other…

Check it out – Brandon P from the Outside Royalty rocking ‘42′ on their recent European Tour :)

Photo by Arno Paul

Dangerous Dave gets interviewed for a Computer Arts article on making money on the side during the recession. Ha! If only it was that easy! Everyone in their right mind knows that you don’t get into t-shirts for the money. We do it for the love baby :)

Anyway, they have some very nice words to say about us that we’d like to share with you so you can tweet our mothers about it:

“Having launched just two years ago, The Affair has become an iconic producer of limited-edition T-shirts in super-quick time.”

Read the article here

while stocks last, ends tuesday the 5th January 2010!

happy sales shopping

“We shall swim out to that brooding reef in the sea… and in that lair of the Deep Ones we shall dwell amidst wonder and glory for ever.”

The Shadow Over Innsmouth, H. P. Lovecraft, 1931

Lovecraft was a strange man, being both a racist as well as terrified of seafood. An unlikely combination of phobias that gave birth to this gem of weird fiction, warning of the horrors of race mixing with fish.

Even in these liberated times, it is difficult to know how to take this sort of advice. But we’re down with the Deep Ones.

“You’re really not going to like it,” observed Deep Thought
Life, the Universe and Everything, Douglas Adams

Whether or not you crack jokes in Base 13, there’s no denying the sublime beauty in Adams’ Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything.

Wearing this print will not only geek the fashionistas at their own game, but will also guarantee inner peace at the bitter end. Or maybe not. But it will strike fear into the hearts of psychiatrists around the world, and you just never know when that might come in dead handy.

Co-lab with Jakob Nylund

A few reports have trickled in recently that some buy our shirts unaware of the story behind each design. Although this is not a problem per se, we pride ourselves on the literary angle behind each design and thought it a shame that some of you may have been missing the best part of your tee.

So we decided to revisit the neckprint template (again) this batch, elevating the name of the shirt and the book quote ‘above the fold’ so-to-speak so that you simply can’t miss it. Have a look at the newest designs dropping next week to see what we mean.

We spent Sunday shooting the 2 new designs we’re calling Batch.05. They’re currently being shipped off to the digital elves to work some magic, but in the meantime we thought you might be interested in the story behind each. Have a read, leave a comment, and if you’re in the UK grab one in time for the fat-man’s big day later this month.

We were recently excited to be published in a new book called Tees: The Art of the T-Shirt. It’s 336 pages of cutting edge t-shirty goodness, and was put together by design studio Maki out of The Netherlands.

Pick up a copy at their shop or at Laurence King Publishing.

OK so I’ve been too lazy to post this before now, but check it out. It was partly what inspired our Strange Aeons design.

Known in cryptozoologist circles as ‘the bloop’, it was recorded by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, around 50°S 100°W in the Pacific Ocean, in 1997. Source unknown. It’s kinda creepy and something to think about the next time you go into deep water.

If you’re a H.P. Lovecraft fan, and you were a fan of Strange Aeons, then stay tuned for our next couple of tees…