There’s a tee for every occasion and the one above sums up our feelings on
the whole blog thing. So, let us assure you that we will not be boring. Far from it.

Hi - My name is Eddie Zammit, I’m a T-shirt obsessive. By day, I’m the creative
director/partner of a design agency but by night I collaborate to produce a journal
called T.

The journal is called T-world, but I like to refer to it as T (you just can’t trademark
a letter, dammit!!). And it’s a journal not a magazine. We record our own observations
on this phenomenal culture, with an Australian slant. Anyway, I’ll keep the story
short and sweet. This will provide you some background to where the whole idea
developed.

Then we’ll get into all the T-shirt fun stuff. Mmmmmm... T-shirts.

The idea of my obsession on T-shirts has always been there. It just needed to be
released from my subconscious. Especially as all through my teens and 20’s, I have
been passed comments such as “I like your T-shirt.”, “Where did you get that tee?” or
simply, “Nice tee.” Hell, I even had an argument for wardrobe space with an
ex-girlfriend of mine.

And OK, this goes no further than you and me. Right? Well I got into the whole
rave thing in the early 90s whilst I was studying graphic design at TAFE.
Back then in the “good ol’ days”, as a school project, I designed a range of raver
style tees. I sold them with another friend back to such places like Octave and
Renegade (anyone remember those?). It really is only relevant to Melbourne people.

That was the beginning.

University happened next. During the conclusion of design school, I managed
to set up my own gig with another guy, before I had time to finish the degree I slaved
over. I don’t say this lightly either, because truth be known, I’m always interested in
finishing things that I start. And still to this day, I think about the fact I didn’t. But I
don’t regret the decision. Sometimes you have to rely on gut instinct!
In my third year, I did IBL. IBL is short for Industry Based Learning. In other words
it was ‘work experience’.

The place I did IBL for sold out, which was an unusual way to launch myself into
the design industry. Both my business partner and I were head hunted by a client in order to
take over their account. And we were off. After a few hard years, we became pretty
well known for its custom publications. So the two were bound to collide. And they did.

My T-shirt obsession sky rocketed, but I was endlessly frustrated by snippets of
T-shirt features in local magazines. I wanted more information. So I looked to overseas
publications.

I am actually a bit of a hoarder so it should come to no surprise that I have been collecting
ANYTHING to do with T-shirts for the last 11 years. I mean adverts, editorials, swing tags,
stickers - anything to do with T-shirt culture. ANYTHING. I use this archive everyday. It’s an
awesome place to refer to and research with, especially as there are three motivating factors
behind each issue we produce.

Quality, longevity and originality. Without one of those goals not being met, I don’t
really see the point of pouring all your passion into a project of this kind. Quality in
particular is a driving motivation because magazines these days have a real burn
and churn mentality.

My 30th birthday rocked around and the only thing I could work out that I really
wanted to do was to have a T-shirt party – because up until this point, T-shirts had
defined who I am.

When I reached the age of 31, a few significant things happened in my personal life,
and the outcome from those events was that I knew I wanted to do ‘my own thing’.
And whilst the design agency I still run, is a massive  part of my day to day activities,
I simply love T-world and what it has become. It’s a creative outlet that doesn’t need
a client approving the end job! I strongly believe that T-shirt culture has and will be
a major part of my life and T is a way of sharing it.

Apart from myself, there are two other instrumental people that make T happen.
It’s simply not possible without them. They are friends first and foremost and colleagues
second.

Their stories from their perspective is next. First will be Luke and then Mel.

T-ill next time.

Eddie Z