If you do not know what a Sprawl Tee is yet, you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere and you NEED to get out! No worries, that’s what I’m here for. Sprawl Tees is making strides as one of the freshest t-shirt brands to hit the market and they mean business. They’re a graphic tee line that puts urban Jamaican sayings on their tees, appealing to the younger generation who are the driving force behind many of these sayings. I spoke recently with Kesi Gardner, the creator and driving force behind the line, to get some insider info on the Sprawl story:
Sprawl first hit the market in December 2006, at Stanley and Empress exclusive boutique in Cross Roads. It has been showcased on RETV, TheGleaner, Youtube,Hi5, myspace and facebook. We put out new designs every couple of months and to build up enough
interest we encourage people to vote for their favorite tee on myspace.com/sprawltees for particular designs.
Sprawl is a limited edition, t-shirt line. There are only 250 of each made, so its almost like a collectors item. It’s distinguished and not overdone. It is sophisticated, witty but also funny and sometimes over the top. Sprawl is not logo conscious, it is about the individual. The commentary is based on the Jamaican culture, and its for the hipster crowd who just wants to go out, hang out and have a good time. Sprawl is set to launch its online store in September 2007, as well as to continue to put out designs that the Jamaican young people can appreciate and enjoy.
Sprawl’s goals are to become a household name within a certain market, particularly younger people from ages 14-25, and to become a collector’s item so that years from now, they will still have their sprawl tee as a reminder of that time in their life.
Kesi Gardner is a graphic designer by training, she attended Pratt Institute and graduated in 2001. She works in the advertising industry. Sprawl is full time. Between delivering t-shirts and setting up the website, sprawl tees is an entity in and of itself.
Sprawl is easily identified, just like any other t-shirt brand. It is branded on the back and the inside of the tee. Sprawl is very exclusive, so you won’t see it branded all over the place. We rely alot on guerilla advertising, the web and demographic marketing. Alot of our buyers are internet users, alot of our buyers go to special live events which sprawl sponsors.
The people who rep for Sprawl range from Sean Paul, Jovi Rockwell, Katherine, Wayne Mcgregor of Black Zebra, Rootz Underground, Supahype, Cezar to people like Andre Bello who is a motivational speaker and boom party promoter, and Steve Wilson, owner of Mystic Urchin.
The website has since been launched so wherever you’re reading from, make sure you’re sprawling out as well. I visited the website to participate in the voting process and their “unable and worthless” design has a soft spot in my heart for reasons known to some of you. Of course I voted for that and if it comes out in the next set of designs(which it should since its one of the leading designs by votes) I will be first in line, iIt should be a hit at the day job! Check out what I’m talking about exactly here and vote for your fave.
After so much success in the relatively short time since Sprawl hit the shelves, the new designs are now being anticipated and should become available this Christmas. Kesi sure has a winner on her hands. Remember that Sprawl boasts exclusivity so get yours early before they’re all copped and Sprawl out fresh this Christmas!
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