Threadless: A Crowd Sourced Success Story. And A Look Inside The New Book.

If you're anywhere near Brooklyn today, you should stop by the the launch party for the new book about the history of Threadless. (info at the end of this post).



Threadless, in case you are one of the three people on the planet who has never heard of them, officially began in 2000 as an online user-generated design, crowd-sourced, voting-produced, limited edition T-shirt company.





They have since grown into an enormous online and offline success featuring some of the most interesting and hilarious t-shirts around --with user uploaded designs that are voted into limited production by registered users. The online store spawned a Chicago brick and mortar store, an art print store and a cultural phenomenon inspiring cake baking contests, collaborations with Dell computers and more.


above: the Chicago store interior, photo courtesy of motherboard.tv

I've actually been a registered user since 2003 and own over 40 of their t-shirts. Below is a photo of me wearing one of my favorites (forgive me, my vegan friends):




The Book


Started by Jacob DeHart (no longer with the company) and Jake Nickell, who met in an online design forum when they were still in college, this story of how an internet T-Shirt company has led to livin' the dream has just been published in book form to be released October 10th.

A few spreads from the 200+ page book which contains over 300 images:









About the book (courtesy of Abrams)
Threadless.com is the phenomenally successful T-shirt company with more than 4 million tees sold since it began in 2000. It pioneered the online business model of crowd-sourced or community-driven design, in which people submit designs that are voted on by the site’s 1 million users and printed. Over the past 10 years, the company has amassed a vast archive of very cool, very hip, and often very entertaining designs, and Threadless is a spectacular showcase of 400 of the very best T-shirts created by the community—a barometer of art and design over the past decade.

Much more than a book of extraordinary graphics, Threadless tells the extremely interesting story that inspired Inc. magazine to hail Threadless.com as “the most innovative small company in America.” There are also profiles of individual designers and “think pieces” from influential admirers, including design guru John Maeda, Jeff Howe of Wired, and bestselling business/marketing writer Seth Godin.

Author Jake Nickell

Jake Nickell, above, is co-founder of Threadless.com and lives in Boulder, Colorado.
(photo courtesy of motherboard.tv)

Buy Threadless: Ten Years of T-shirts from the World's Most Inspiring Online Design Community
Threadless Book Launch Party Today In Brooklyn!
Threadless and Abrams are launching the Threadless Book at the epic Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn today. Threadless Founder Jake Nickell plus a handful of awesome featured Threadless artists will be on hand signing copies and undoubtedly, causing as much trouble as possible.

As an added bonus, their pals from the Etsy Labs will be there for an afternoon of making hands-on recycled t-shirt projects as part of a special edition of Craft Night. You can try your hand at reconstructing and repurposing t-shirts into necklaces, skirts, totebags, and more.The fun starts at 2pm.

If you're already planning to check out the DuMBO Arts Fest, be sure to pop in and say hello. Tasty drinks will be graciously provided by AriZona Beverages.

Powerhouse Arena
Sunday, September 26, 2010 from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (ET)
37 Main St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Brinca Dada Introduces The First Real Modern Furniture For Dollhouses.

Brinca Dada's 32 piece collection of modern miniature furniture for the Emerson House.

I blogged about the impressive modern doll house, the mid-century architecturally inspired Emerson House by Brinca dada back in February and followed it up with a sneak peek at their soon to be released Bennett House in May. Well, tighten your mini seatbelts because now I have a look at their upcoming miniature modern classic furniture line for both of their amazing architecturally inspired toy houses.


above left: Brinca dada's Emerson House and above right, the soon to be released Bennett House

Aside from the Vitra miniatures (which are drop dead gorgeous with a price that will make you cry) and the plastic miniature modern chair collections by REAC of Japan, one had to either commission modern miniature furniture or find it on individual seller sites like etsy.

Therefore, I was so happy to see that Brinca Dada will be offering one of the nicest, if not the nicest, line of miniature furniture for dollhouses I have ever seen this coming holiday season.


above: part of the new line of 3/4" scale modern dollhouse furniture by brinca dada

Designed by Brinca dada, the line is the perfect complement to both the Emerson House and the Bennett House. A clean and sophisticated aesthetic mixes classic modern design with contemporary “in fashion” highlights. In the words of their designers, “The key was to work on every detail to add an extra dimension of authenticity to this dollhouse. We used American black walnut as a common thread, giving a contemporary feel to each room. We then added color as accents, but also as an attraction to children's sensibilities.”








The line has 32 pieces, enough to furnish 7 rooms; living, dining, kitchen, office, bath, master bedroom and children’s room and is crafted with high-quality woods and non-toxic, lead-free stains and paints.

Price for the whole set $200. ($180 if ordered before November) pre-order here.

brinca dada

What's That Weird Hand Dance Video? Meet Irish Dancers Cleary & Harding.

This wacky and mesmerizing video has been rapidly climbing the viral charts since its debut on YouTube four months ago. A strange song accompanies a man and a woman at a table in front of an oddly decorated wall engaging in a choreographed 'hand dance.'




What is it? Who are these people? If these questions have plagued you like they did me, read on.

  

It turns out that this video, We Speak No Americano, is from Up & Over It, self-described as "Irish Dance for the Post-pop generation." A collaboration between Suzanne Cleary, Peter Harding and Jonny Reed, Up & Over It aims to stretch the concept of Irish Dance to its limits.

 

The duo spent four years with Riverdance, after which they toured with Magic of the Dance where they were quickly appointed artistic directors. They now perform as Up & Over It for live audiences and has created a series of videos of their performances as well as some multimedia films produced by Puck Productions.

Here's a few more of their videos for you.

Cleary & Harding live in Cardiff 2010, Music: Frankmusik - 3 Little Words:




A multimedia production for Up & Over It Spring 2010:




Here's a reel of behind the scenes, outakes and 'bloopers' if you will. Compiled by Johnny reel they call it their "Best Bits" and it really endears you to Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding:




Up & Over It

Meet Marcel The Shell With Shoes On.

If you haven't yet met Marcel, you're missing out. So let me introduce you.



Marcel the Shell with shoes on is a delightful little character in this stop motion animated short directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp and voiced (not enhanced) by actress, comedienne, writer and 2009-2010 SNL cast member Jenny Slate. The short film was written by both Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp.

Sweet and sad (in a Charlie Brown sort of way), Marcel has gone viral in a big way. And you can see why. Just watch the 3 minute and 20 second video below.




above left: Jenny Slate, the voice and co-creator of Marcel the shell, above right.

Marcel is so adored, he even made the New York magazine matrix - in the HighBrow/ Brilliant quadrant!


Marcel:


"Bestie by Bestie," is a web series about friendship that the former SNL star and her comedy partner (and life long bestie) Gabe Liedman screen at their weekly stand-up show. The video series is also directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp and the premiere episode can be viewed here.

Special thanks to my friend Jean Rhode who turned me onto this little guy.

UPDATE:
Now there's more Marcel to love. Check out the sequel, new book, and mobile apps here!

Colorful Credit -The PANTONE Platinum VISA Rewards Card In 5 PMS Colors.

And the Pantone Parade of Products marches on. The latest product to brandish the Pantone brand name and five of their trendy colors for 2011 is a credit card. Whether you're buying groceries, paying the dry cleaner or getting Sparky groomed for the dog show, now you can do it in style, with the new PANTONE Visa® Platinum Rewards Card.



Are you a Dynamic Firecracker? Or more of a Spiritual Lavender? The PANTONE Visa Platinum Rewards Card comes in five exciting hues, selected from the PANTONE Fashion Color Report for Spring 2011. One of these colorful cards is bound to express your Inner Shopper.

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trustworthy, noble, generous

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sensuous, tender, inviting

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The Pantone Visa® Platinum Rewards card is issued by UMB Bank, N.A. All applications for Pantone Visa credit card accounts will be subject to UMB Bank N.A.'s approval, at its absolute discretion. Certain exclusions may apply to benefits listed above. Please visit www.cardpartner.com/app/pantone for further details of terms and conditions which apply to the Pantone Visa card program.

info and images courtesy of Pantone and VISA