2nd Avenue Saints: The freedom of expression

2nd Avenue Saints is a brand committed to staying true to the original graphic T-shirts worn by soldiers in combat. They believe the classic T-shirt worn over the past century will stay forever engrained in pop culture and society.  2nd Avenue Saints follows this time-honoured tradition by recreating that iconic art. Their shirts are reminiscent of American history and symbolise classic Americana.

2nd Avenue Saints draws from the graphic tees that originated from World War I, and uses the history of T-shirts as inspiration for their entire brand. This is what they have to say about the origins of the modern graphic tee, as World War II began the cotton T-shirt became standard issue in the US Armed Forces. It became common to see it worn as casual clothing by returning servicemen. It is around that time that the Graphic T-Shirt got its start. Soldiers would customise their T-shirts to identify their unit by using handmade cut-out stencils and spray paint. The earliest printed shirt was perhaps the Air Corps Gunnery School T-shirt featured on the July 13th, 1942 cover of LIFE magazine.

2nd Avenue Saints is committed to staying true to the style, feel and spirit of the original graphic T-shirt. Their artworks and messages embody the freedom of expression that veterans wanted to convey.

During the 20th century, the T-shirt went from ‘military wear’ to ‘iconic style statement.’ From a symbol of heroism during World War II, of rebelling in movies, to socially conscious apparel during peace movements – the T-shirt is a staple of everyday life. A ‘constant search for inspiration’ is what the creators of 2nd Avenue Saints says drives them. They say it’s not just a slogan, it is a dedication to stay true to the original graphic T-shirts and it’s symbolisms and meanings throughout history.

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Check out the 2nd Avenue Saints’ T-Shirt collection here.