The Tiger That Tanked?

Probably early 90's on white 100% cotton. Has the usual curse of the twisting weave after a bit of wear and a few washes. Not quite sure what challenge we were actually taking on.

The Body Internal

1980's or early 90's poly/cotton. What can you really say about this...? It's got me stumped.

Image drawn by the late, great Weg...but what for?

A Couple of Old Racers

A quick post to get these awesome guys up on the blog. Many thanks to BJL Auctions for these - now part of the treasured tee collection.

The blue is an original screen print on poly/cotton. A B.V.D. by Nile made in Australia. Size 14.

The black is also a size 14 Exacto made in Australia with original 'Old Fords Never Die...' iron-on. It really does look much better in real life...but here it is at least.

Enjoy!

Koalas, Bears & Flightless Birds

Clutching Straws - Beaking Wings

I will admit it - it has never been denied - I was born in Bunbury, W.A. but never actually lived there as such. Still, it's my home town in a sense and the local Wombat Lodge sold a great line of leather and suede rippled sole boots. I seem to recall a fine cake shop in the Plaza across the road from the Highway Hotel.

Several stones thrown consecutively will get you to George Street which is where this fine example from Little Aussie Travellers was knocked out in 1986. Look, it's cute but I do struggle with the logic - if the Emu is, to a degree, simply satisfied with clasping its beak to a fixed wing aircraft as a means of flight then just what motivated the koala to move its hairy backside down from the eucalypts, through flight school and into this pilot's seat? The red and black scarf is another matter. The Bombers took out the VFL flag in '84 and '85 but it was the Hawks year in '86 and the Perth (red & black) Demons last took out a flag in 1977 and haven't even contested another since '78. And it was a good 3 years later before the Australian Pilots Strike took place when the then Labor government recruited emergency replacements from exotic sources.

That still leaves us stranded in '86 although The Flying Emus did take home the Instrumental Of the Year AND the Vocal Group (or Duo) award at the CMAA awards that very year. Spooky!

Southern Crossed

White Ensign, Anyone?

This size 14, polyester/cotton piece was turned up in the U.S.A. - unusual, we might think, but then again I imagine that the majority of country specific souvenir t-shirts would be intended to ultimately leave the country of origin. Makes sense, right? But I am still left with the question of whether this was a stock standard, run of the mill, Aussie souvenir from the 70's or early 80's. Its World Series Cricket styled 70's bog simplicity makes me think it still could be - its lack of
unashamed 80's hideousness could sway me to t'other side. Some doubt is sown by its striking similarity to the White Ensign...and here's the USA connection.

Royal Assent for the Australian White Ensign (Union Jack and blue stars on a white background) was granted in 1966. In the sixties the Australian Navy had sought permission for a distinctly Australian flag of its own. In part, this was due to Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War - an action significant in it's lack of British involvement and reafirmation of the close Australia-USA alliance. Old ties severed. Out with the monocle, plus fours & tweeds - in with the Ray Ban, Levi's and t's. We gained simple beauties like this t-shirt and lost the Sao, Esky and Ugg. Fair exchange? Well, we do now have 'new' Vegemite so I guess we won that little exchange.

The Johnnys

(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown

Spencer P Jones has already managed a visual mention (previously as part of the Beasts of Bourbon 1990 Tour T-shirt) but his main claim to 1980's era fame was in The Johnnys. Spencer picked up the reigns in The Johnnys shortly after their formation around 1982...the band itself rising out of the earliest Hoodoo Gurus (or le Hoodoo Gurus) incarnation. Kinda same but different with these two groups but what made them both entertainingly good was a fine sense of fun and piss-takery that broke the mould of ice-cold post-punk in the late 70's and early 80's.

...and that's what is so good about this shirt- a forboding sense of a good time about to be had (rather than the ominous shootout that appears ready to break out). In a way, it mostly reminds me of James Baker's fabulous Banana Men t-shirt in the 'Gurus' "I Want You Back" video from 1984. I wonder where it is today...?

This is a nice white polyester/cotton number with a slight scoop neck made somewhere in Australia (has a Sydney phone number on the tag). Fits a size 18 but would comfortably accommodate any member of the posse if need be. The print itself is wonderously colourful - the orange contrasted with pale blue really helps. Nothing like the many standard, drab rock t's of the period and (sadly) how the 80's should have turned out (but never did). A big 'thanks' to the great Phillipa for this.

Paradise In A T-shirt

Surfing Magazines

Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens best summed up the 'coolness from afar' attitude to surfers by a landbound suburbanite in 'Surfing Magazines' from the band's 2000 comeback lp 'The Friends Of Rachel Worth'. Trust Robert to capture the yearning for that free-spirited and nomadic lifestyler even if it was actually lived by the local fitter and turner from the next street across. We lived vicariously through the pages of Tracks magazine and t-shirts like this.

Ok, so Surfers' was hardly the breaks of Bali or the Northshore in those days (and probably even less so these days) but wearing a beauty like this back then might just have captured the sought after look ('though more likely a swift beating and 'royal flush' for your troubles). But maybe Surfers Paradise of years past was some kind of Shangri-la...certainly if you could find golden delights just like this.

No tag on this fella but it does look and feel like a classic Bonds Gotcha. Definitely polyester/cotton and most likely a super tight size 14. The image is actually an iron-on - not a big favourite of mine although to its credit it has lasted pretty well with just a little crackling and super bright colours (and smirking dolphins). A little piling all over but just what you'd expect. Golden sunsets!