Prior to shipping out for the holidays, t-shirt rolling stations were set up to package the gifts properly. Each shirt was rolled in a way that would showcase the Ted Perez 'Offical Product' logo on the sleeves. The varying colors of the logos coordinated with the corresponding main graphic, giving the recipient a sneak peek of the four unique designs. The tees were then bound with twine upon which hung a hangtag with the related quote printed on the front, tying in the concept [literally] of these Ted Perez 2009 shirts.

El Gallo Blanco

“In that fight, I was knocked down seven times, but I stood up eight.”
- El Gallo Boxing Club, Sierra Maestra, Cuba - 1958
Speaking to Martin Rivera.

Rustic [one might say amateurish], handmade typography was the primary goal for the El Gallo Blanco boxing shirt. Reminiscent of the hand-painted signs that can still be seen on the walls lining the streets of Havana today, the lettering, created by Teddy Ballgame, was designed the old-fashioned way: with a brush and paint. This bold yet subtle graphic conveys the straightforward, no-nonsense attitude we imagine surrounded the Cuban boxing club in its heyday.

Zaire Game Tours

“Am I a good shot? Yes, but I have never killed for anything other than Sport, Survival or Love.”
- While on safari with Pol Pot, Zaire, Africa - 1985
Those present contend Ted's response to the Cambodian despot was more a thinly veiled threat than anything else - a collective opinion only substantiated by the curious disappearance of Ted's prized .458 Winchester that very evening.





The Zaire Game Tours safari shirt was the trickiest to create out of the four designs. There's a fine line between looking too authentic and looking like you just stepped out of a gift shop at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Luckily, Senator Hayes found the perfect balance between the serious sport of gaming and the generally fun vibe we were going for with these tees [with not so much luck as it was talent]. A fierce lion head, epic elephant tusks and hunting gear adorn the front of the shirt while the right sleeve showcases the tour's logo.

Bayside Branch YMCA

“Some are blinded by a single grain of sand, others made lame by sand in their moccasin, while an oyster makes a pearl, by and by.”
- Bayside Branch YMCA, Fall River, Massachusetts - 1978
Commencement speech for adult ESL Saturday classes.

With an affinity for children’s illustrations, the Bayside YMCA quote was a perfect fit for our third designer Sloppy Jo. Playing off the exploitative themes used during the 70’s, the “Pow! Wow!” Indian graphic is stereotypical to the tenth degree [sincerest apologies to any Native Americans reading this]. A fun, bold graphic in gold on a forest green shirt exemplifies the classic summer camp counselor look…and no camp counselor tee is complete without the authoritative ‘STAFF’ title emblazoned on the back.

The Commercial Club

“If it were not for the wood, iron and blood of this shrine, ours would be a kinship of a singular bond: gluttony.”
- Pioneer Saloon, Ketchum, Idaho - 1945
Bidding farewell to the crew he oversaw during the construction of the landmark Pioneer Saloon, [nee The Commercial Club]. Ted left Idaho with the clothes on this body, a dog named Inez and one goal: Find True Love.





Hailing from Ketchum, Idaho himself, the Commercial Club quote has a special significance for designer Alexi Rinkskevitch. Using his skills at typography and his penchant for details, this shirt is the most intricate of the set. Keeping it classic, stylish, yet subtle was the main goal for this design. Monochormatic colors give the tee a truly vintage feel while small nuances in lines and shading are almost invisible until you see the image up close.