Morning Comrades!
I am taking a little break this week and probably next week as well from releasing any Black Lodges gear for a number of reasons and I would very much like some feedback and input from you all. On that note, do join our telegram group - I posted this and some other questions in there yesterday and I find that format of chatting easier than responding to emails on here. In any case, as I wrote on Monday there is a “fuck it, I’ll support this dude with a 10’er a month” option to this newsletter which, being a full fan of transparency, at this point pays for my rent - and that is so damn awesome! Again, my rent is little in comparison to the normal rent levels in this damn town but that has no bearing on my relief in regards to that fact. Trust me, it makes me life that much easier. Excuse the shameless plug, but you know, feel free to to do so below.
The point being is that I looked at the rest of the year and realized there isn’t all that much left of it, and with this newsletter covering a large part of monthly costs I wanted to re-focus Black Lodges towards bigger, more comprehensive drops for the rest of the year that will balance the mutual aid work we do as well as cover the rest of the my expenses for the year - by making things that do take more work to make but also give you more. I have always done off-beat gear outside the t-shirts but I want to hear from you, in terms of categories what interests you. I am already looking at a few jacket options, some track suits and more embroidery for products like sweat suits and so on so bear that in mind. I have ordered a fuck tonne of new stickers for the rest of the year that will be included for free in all orders once they are here but I know I am missing a bunch of stuff here.
That’s where you come in. Do let me know what you’re into and what would excite you to see, no holds barred - at this stage I am up for the challenge to move beyond tee’s and hoodies. Slowly, to be sure and also be assured that I have no intention of turning BL into a “fashion” brand or any nonsense like that but I do feel comfortable enough these days to explore a little. Either comment here, reply to this email or drop a line in the Telegram Group. Thank you.
In other product related news, I am shipping the RHEK Collab Thursday and will be dying the Yuppie Scum Shirts on Wednesday to ship over the weekend as I need to wash and hang dry those before I send them out. Thank you for your support and patience, I am excited to start tie.dying those damn shirts!
I wanted to share this with you readers in case they aren’t following Verso Books on whatever social media platform you are using. Verso just put together an incredible reading list that seeks to highlight and promote women writers from across all walks of life, all languages, and all experiences, with an obvious political stance, one that I am down with and I assume you are also. Click on the above image to expand that literary horizon with this selection of amazing works.
Totally unrelated but also most definitely worth sharing is a very recent interview with Jason, one half of Sleaford Mods that popped onto my radar the other day.
Back to more educational material however, and remaining on the topic of Afghanistan I implore you to watch this. Ignore the semi-sensationalist headline for this cover, this is a really good take with several good perspectives:
Awesome work dude, opening my mind to so much of how fucked nearly everything is bit also to solutions to them as well 🤘
For me I think 5 panel caps would we sweet, or big beanies like the classic carhartt ones?
Anyway thanks again!
✊🏼Appreciate all your work. For many reasons. Thank you.
Kids sizes. Of some of the more kid appropriate and size appropriate work. The “No Planet B” drop, is always such a conversation starter for both children and their parents. My big one is going to wear it out before they outgrow it. A rarity.
There’s a big gap in finding ethical and “political” issue t shirts for issues that affect children.
It also helps them understand “all profits to x” because my older one at least tells “everyone” that fact, and seems very keen to spread that concept.