el STRANGEco

photo by McCarty PhotoWorks

In the Summer of 2003, I was working with STRANGEco furiously preparing for our first San Diego Comic-Con. In the buzz of activity -- pressing Mini Treehouse buttons, printing press kits and the like -- I created these customized t-shirts of lucha-ish character, el STRANGEco. We ordered those nice, slim-cut cotton tees from American Apparel and put the iron and scissors to work. I made a variety of masks with different materials and color combos, all on a navy tshirts.

In retrospect, I realize this design was a combined influenced from my years living in National City, San Diego, and my brief stint in the 80's in an all-girl breakdancing crew. Ha! Funny story, the latter one, which I won't get into. The connecting thread being the heavy influence of Chicano styling: the lowriders, neatly pressed chino'ed guys with plaid shirts buttoned at the collar, heavy eyeliner and those handmade shirts bearing our crew name on the back and our "nickname" down the sleeve. Throw in an iron-on, glitter rose and bandana and you were ready to rock that body.

100% navy cotton, sweatshop-free American Apparel tee, 2-color applique of recycled cotton/jersey/tweed/twill, purchased gold Olde English letters added for whomp. torso: Brian McCarty, location: Los Angeles.