Some shirts linger on thrift store racks for weeks and months... marked by a small stain or two, but still full of potential. Too good to be discarded, yet often passed over. The idea was simple: give these pieces a second life before they’re lost to landfill.
Available at Thrifty Dutchess (Fort McMurray, AB) and at pop-up events!
About the Artwork
Millennial Life Crisis began as a simple doodle in a sketchbook, later reimagined as an satirical side hustle.
It was created during a time when the world felt heavy and overwhelming, layered with a quiet sense of burnout. Saving the turtles by drinking out of paper straws hadn't worked, and we were all missing Yahoo chat rooms again. At a time when priorities were being shaken up, I thought... "I should be doing more."
The typography draws heavily from nostalgic influences like Goosebumps, along with a hand forming a peace sign to add a distinct millennial touch - keep calm and carry on while living through the next existential crisis.
About the Process
Each shirt is taken home, pre-washed, and carefully prepared for the bleach/tie dye process - using multiple different folding techniques for unique and creative effects. Afterwards, the shirts are then rinsed thoroughly with cold water, washed with a mild detergent, and dried.
The final step is applying the graphic! The image is printed as a vinyl DTF transfer, and applied with a t-shirt press.
*All t-shirts are sourced locally from thrift shops and carefully selected for quality and overall condition.
~*CaRe iNsTrUCtiOnS*~ : Each shirt is hand-bleached and dyed, which means some colour transfer and natural fading should be expected over time. Washing with like colours is essential, and never alongside anything you wouldn’t want dyed. Cold water is always best.
For extra care, hand washing and hang drying will help extend the life of the garment. As colours soften and fade, each piece develops a more worn-in, vintage feel - that’s part of the intention.
The vinyl illustration is designed to hold up well through regular machine washing (approximately 50 washes), though slight peeling may occur over time. Thoughtful care will help keep both the colour and design looking their best for longer. Wash inside out for extra precaution.