T-Shirts Fame
Few months ago I got an email from someone called …, telling me that he’s starting a men’s magazine targeting middle-easterns. He told me that the magazine will be published in some of the hot spots of the region (dubai, beirut, cairo, …) and that he wanted to do a feature on my t-shirts.
I politely refused, mainly because It’s hard for people in kuwait to find my t-shirts (even through two outlets) yet alone people out of kuwait.
I just didn’t want to tease people with stuff they can’t easily get. I told him that I’m working on a solution and at the same time I planning to take this thing to the next level by importing high-quality t-shirts and starting my own screen printing studio.
I sent him the email but it bounced back, I tried again after few days … the same. I just gave up and he didn’t contact me again, so I thought he wasn’t really serious.
Yesterday, while trying to finish some project at the agency, I get this missed call from Jordan. It was the same guy, He told me he didn’t get a reply and I explained to him the whole thing and again I refused to do a feature on the t-shirts for the reasons I’ve already mentioned and I added another one that been bothering me for a while now. Although I posted the t-shirts on the blog, I think publishing them in a magazine (a printed, more accessible matter) might lead to a chance of my ideas getting copied and abused.
Then he suggested something. He was like “I really like that afro icon, why don’t we do, like, a profile on you”. That seemed like a good idea to me, I mean the t-shirts won’t be the main focus but they will be mentioned on the side. I mean a little bit of recognition won’t hurt anybody if we ignored the inflation of my ever-so-growing ego. Hmmm, That would look sweet on my resumé.
Now with my daily duties in this job and the demanding nature of the advertising business I hardly get any personal time. So the t-shirts project is on some kind of hold till further notice. I don’t think I will be able to follow up with anything anytime soon. I mean don’t get me wrong, I already have finished designing enough concepts for more seasons to come but I promised my self I WILL NOT print anything, anymore, unless it’s on a better quality t-shirts that comes in various sizes, different models and cuts.
I’m not sure really whether to do this free publicity thing or not, it’s like opening a can of worms. Ahmad, the editor of bazar, offered that they do something on me … maybe even do some kind of collaborative project of some sort. I’m all for it but I just keep on post-boning things forever, I don’t know what I’m waiting for really. Hell, I didn’t even write back to Villa Moda when they left me that comment.
Some people saw the big procrastinator in me and offered to totally take over the project and give me ,like, royalties and stuff like that and I absolutely refused. I just don’t like to give others the control end of things, especially with things I love so passionately like this project.
What would you do?
July 12th, 2006 09:53
Go the Syd Barrett route.
Release some amazing stuff. Take tons of drugs. Drop out & go in to seclusion releasing stuff spodacly.
Works every time.
July 12th, 2006 10:30
Come on, Tata, do it!
July 12th, 2006 10:39
hahaha … that was the editor of the magazine :p
July 12th, 2006 14:21
call the villa moda guys and do the magazine thing this is one time chance grab it
cause these kind of people they have alot to do and to find so if it aint u they will look 4 another
go 4 it dude
good luck
July 12th, 2006 16:09
Come on, you know it makes sense…! There is, as the old cliche goes, no such thing as bad publicity. And besides, think of any article as less of a direct advert for the t-shirts/products and more of a showcase for a genuine young Kuwaiti talent…
Other magazines write about David Hockney without the readership expectig a weblink to buy one of his paintings….!
July 12th, 2006 19:09
Strike while the iron is hot!
I mean you’re getting all these offers NOW, not to burst your bubble or anything, but there’s a chance you won’t be getting them again. So while the tata-craze is going on make the best you can out it! I mean it’s something you love, I’m sure it’s gonna be fun, and like you said, good recognition/resume building. It’ll also help you if you decide to open your own store/line in the future.
Good luck
July 13th, 2006 02:44
I think you should hold on to the independent spirit of your business, coz I think sticking to ur humble roots will save that special taste/quality in your products. I’d totally stay in the shadow and save myself from overexposure…
July 13th, 2006 08:58
You see … Alexis, here got a very valid point.
but I still think doing a profile on me, could help me personally not necessarily the t-shirts business and I doubt it would hurt the indie image my t-shirts have.
July 15th, 2006 03:51
I think you should contact Villa Moda and talk to them, and also do the interview about you and your tees!
Also, check out AMERICAN APPARAL, you can use their plain tees and print on em! They are higher quality & you can have an online store where ppl can buy them and you mail em out.
You have to think big dear
& I wont take NO for an answer! You know what I’m like when I’m pissed
July 15th, 2006 22:32
Dear Tata,
Call me and check our website;
http://www.alefmag.com
July 17th, 2006 13:58
hello tata
i think you should do it tata
good luck and allah e wafgek
yours
scale 1:100
July 17th, 2006 16:40
heey..just a quick question..where can we get ur shirts from?
July 17th, 2006 17:21
From Mukan Café or Bassinet.
July 19th, 2006 15:25
Hire a personal assistant!
(Im looking for a job - what a coincidence!)
July 21st, 2006 00:11
Dear Tata,
just wanted to say hi to you and tell you that your t-shirts reached france!!
more than 10 people asked me about the rock and roll t-shirt and some of them took your email already
July 22nd, 2006 07:09
Why not do both?….a bit like haute couture and high street fashion…then you’d have the best of both worlds…one for the pocket and one for the soul…Where can I get one in Abu Dhabi?
July 22nd, 2006 22:09
gooooooooo for it!!!!!!
and becareful he doesnt steal ur idea
July 27th, 2006 15:21
You should do the profile. Why not just say exactly in the article what you’ve said here, that you’re working on your t-shirt line, offer a link so readers can see the designs, but explain that you only are doing limited production now? Build the buzz…..
October 19th, 2006 19:07
I wouldn’t if I was you, villa moda is known for screwing the likes of us people!