Shirt is undoubtedly an Icon
Wear Many Hats showed up to Available Works Book Fair at WSA presented by friend and guest of the show, Geoff Snack of Wrong Answer
Shirt participated at the Available Works Book Fair at WSA and his table was my favorite. His art stood out to me because I’ve known about his work previously so it was good to see it in person as well as Shirt announcing to guests that he all items are free. 2 per person but there is a ‘pay what you can’ model if you wish. Shirt’s upcycling and wearables brand, Rongwr0ng, is where Shirt is out here bootlegging merch. My favorite is the ‘American Standard’ logo on select items.
What is the American standard today?
Shirt says it all in the caption:
Thankful for the love for real . Each day I brought some 25+ items and each day they were all gone, with even someone able to take the print off the wall like 4 minutes before closing. Want to clarify the idea ‘All items free’ doesn’t mean I don’t need money. It’s really the complete opposite in fact.But whether i’m up or down personally ,what the moment calls for is just that to me: we need new and old ways and new methods. It can’t just be this I sell/you buy shit forever and “if you don’t buy we don’t connect.” I need more out of our meeting here.You know how rare it is that we meet in this lifetime??? You know how many more billions of people in our same era we never meet? I promise there can be more to an exchange between us than the monetary
For someone who has also been giving out Wear Many Hats merch and stickers for free since it’s inception as well as sell a couple pieces, I abide by this because meeting people all around the world is what I enjoy doing. Connecting with others in this lifetime.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
On my for you page on TikTok, it fed me a coffee shop that makes passive income by selling stickers. The owner says he forgets he even sells it. It reminds me of the time when Mishka NYC, a streetwear brand that was huge during the 2010 hipster days, had the best selling stickers and making a killing off it. Tourists from all over the world would come to their shop in Brooklyn, buy their clothing, and bring home their stickers as a piece of New York City.
This year I was at Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 and felt it was exciting again because of the book fair being back at MoMA PS1. I only purchased a t-shirt for my close friend and long time favorites, Vacancy Projects. I too, was also eyeing the stickers. I was thinking about getting the stickers but didn’t know where to stick them because I stick them to our business tax and receipt folders (I know, I’m boring now, grown up, semi-responsible, and stickers aren’t on skateboards anymore) so I wouldn’t know where to stick them elsewhere. I was feeling out the vibes and Kristofferson San Pablo would not budge to give them out for free even with purchase. The stickers are part of his business model. Respect.
Matsar, my food and beverage brand, did a pop up at a art-store-zine-shop in Bushwick and the owner said that the Book Fair is anti-merch. I thought that was interesting to hear but maybe people are just tired of paying overpriced pieces of clothing or merch realizing that at first glance after you buy, you won’t wear it at all.
I was someone who didn’t like to talk about monetizing or bringing up money conversations. It’s been on my radar since rising costs but I think about something coming in for Wear Many Hats.
Wear Many Hats is a passion project. Time is valuable. I don’t want to be stretched thin but I’m not in my twenties anymore. There has to be a balance. Dahsar, my advertising studio supports Wear Many Hats. Matsar, my food and beverage brand supports Wear Many Hats. Can Wear Many Hats pull it’s weight? Only time will tell.
I enjoy it when PR pays for dinner or a friend gets a matcha from Matsar to support our projects. Friend and guest of the show, Jean Pierre Consuegra, stopped by the Matsar pop up because he lived next door and said “you’re always hustling!” It’s second nature but agreed. It’s in my blood but I enjoy running the show because it’s fun. Cardio baby. I don’t have a 9-5 so I gotta do something in-between reps.
I’ve always admired Shirt from a far because of his art. His music hits hard. Shirt dropped a single, The Drama of Being Alive and it’s on repeat.
I’m working out in my Nike and Adidas t-shirt by Shirt. I’m doing blue collar work in my American Standard t-shirt by Shirt printed on a Front General Store blank t-shirt.
What is the American standard again I ask? As I sit on an American Standard and scroll TikTok. For me, it’s by keeping busy, doing things you enjoy, and staying positive.
Projects are projects but you still have to set up an account with the tax man. In the about me section on Spotify, Shirt has a photo from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance where it’s sent to:
Mind is a Muscle, LLC