What is NEW VINTAGE? Vol.133 All of them are “colorful and catchy. Mardi Gras” T-shirts to wear in early summer!

In the 1990s, the term "vintage" was used to describe vintage clothing that did not meet the definition of "antique," but still had value, as opposed to "antique" clothing that was 100 years old. Nowadays, there is a movement to find new value in "new vintage," even in old clothes from the 1980s onward, which used to be called "regular" vintage clothes. In this project, four vintage clothing stores with different styles propose new ways to enjoy vintage clothing. Each of them will talk about the charm of vintage clothing with their own sense of style.

Before we know it, this series will be in its 17th season! The 133rd issue, which tops the second round, is at SWANK, a 5-minute walk from Setagaya Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line. What kind of new vintages will Ms. Nogami and Mr. Odaka introduce to us?

Text_Tommy
Edit_Yosuke Ishii

Shunsuke Nogami, Director of SWANK & Yuki Odaka, Shop Manager
Vol.133_T-shirt with Mardi Gras motif

Last time, you hit on the exquisite line of “catchy and minor”.

We chose the same route again this time with the theme of "Mardi Gras" (Mardi Gras).

What is Mardi Gras?

It is the last day of Carnival, a Christian and Catholic festival held in the southern United States, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe. In short, it is a time for Christians to "drink, eat, and be merry before Lent," because after Carnival, they will enter a period of abstinence (Lent), during which they will be prohibited from eating meat. That's what it's all about.

I see. No wonder it is not so familiar in Japan.

The date of Mardi Gras varies from year to year, so we have not been able to attend the event yet, but we have seen T-shirts with the event's name on them from time to time.

I was wondering if you could introduce us to the Mardi Gras commemorative T-shirts.

That is correct!　I have always liked and collected souvenirs from festivals and events like this, and when I looked closely at them I thought, "I like the design of this one," and found that many of them had a Mardi Gras pattern. Whenever we get them in stock, they sell out quickly. So this time, I prepared three kinds. Here is the first one. The body is a heavyweight Hanes, made of cotton 50%/poly 50%.

Haynes “Mardi Gras in Bossier City,Louisiana graphic” T-shirt ¥12,100(Swank)

Oh! What a nice atmosphere.

The icon of Mardi Gras is the mask. The masks are used to hide the true faces of people of all ages, regardless of their status or class, and are used to enjoy the fun of the festival in an impolite manner. Purple, gold, and green symbolize justice, power, and destiny, respectively. The text at the bottom reads “Bossier City, Louisiana. Bossier City is located in northwestern Louisiana and is a major city in North Louisiana that combines casino resorts, shopping, and military history.

I see that it is flourishing in the southern part of the U.S.

New Orleans, Louisiana, is especially famous. New Orleans, also in Louisiana, is particularly famous. The religious atmosphere has disappeared and the festival is now centered on parades and music, but it is still one of the world's major carnivals, along with Rio Carnival in Brazil, which is called the best carnival in the world. The items are often designed in rich colors, and this one is really stylish with a touch of graphics.

Are there any other standard design elements?

The name of the venue and the year of the event are promised. Some of them have back prints, such as this second one. On the back is the text “BBC THE MYSTIC KREWE OF BREW”. I looked it up and it looks like it belongs to a long-established brewing club in New Orleans, Louisiana. I heard that Mardi Gras and alcohol are indispensable items, and that they are seriously drunk to death, so "Exactly! I'm just saying.

Fruit of the Loom “Mardi Gras in New Orleans graphic” T-shirt ¥12,100(Swank)

The front design is also very New Orleans-like, with a southern color scheme.

The body is made in the USA by Fruit of the Loom. The body is made in USA by "Fruit of the Loom". Both of them were made in the late 90's. The year on the print is 1996. The year on the print is 1996. The beaded necklace around the neck of the masked character in the center is one of the icons of the festival. The freehand hand-drawn graphics give it a more local feel, and the atmosphere is really nice.

It's quite an elaborate design, but it's a silkscreen print and it looks like a lot of work. ......

It is not a solid coloring, but a pattern in the atmosphere of chalk art with shades of gray, and it is freehand, with this many colors. The production cost is the same, but it would also be troublesome to make different editions, and if you tried to make the same item today, it would be a real pain in the ass (laughs). (Laughs) In that sense, I think it is one of the pieces worth looking for in second-hand clothing.

This is the new vintage. Now, please give us the last one!

The body is made by SIGNAL SPORTS, a blank body manufacturer founded in 1991, and is popular because it is made in the U.S.A. It was made in the 1990s and has an American-style design.

Signal Sports “Mardi Gras in Galveston graphic” T-shirt ¥7,700(Swank)

Is this somewhere in Louisiana?

No, we believe it was held in the city of Galveston, Texas, which is also noted on the front design. The text “MOMUS PROCLAIMS” also appears to be a phrase used by Knights of Moms, a Mardi Gras support group that operates there, to announce the parade.

Wow, there is a lot of information hidden in one T-shirt, and it's fun not only to dig and wear it, but also to look it up.

I heard that it is popular in the South, but isn't Texas in the West? By doing some research, you will learn that it is actually in the South, and you will be able to enjoy the festival one step more deeply. As I mentioned earlier, many of them are colorful and fun, so you can try them on with a lighthearted summery feeling. In fact, there is a growing number of people who are saying, "Wouldn't it be fun to have a colored body? I think that more and more people are saying, "Maybe a colored body would be fun," so I would like to encourage people to try out flashy body colors instead of the standard black and white.

Shunsuke Nogami / Director, SWANK & Yuki Odaka / Shop Manager
In August 2024, the actual store "SWANK" opened near Setagaya Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line, focusing on U.S. goods, but not focusing on so-called rarity or added value such as age or brand, but rather on vintage and regular items, The selection is wide ranging from vintage, regular, classical, culture-inspired, and even designer brands.
Instagram:@swank.usedclothing