The story of the “Pork” t-shirt 🔥 This is one of the first t-shirt designs I ever created. It’s over 25 years old. When I came up with it, I was a recent college graduate, still living in Alabama. Today (in 2024), this design would take about 30 minutes or less to create.
However, back then, we didn’t have all of the design tools and apps we have now. There was no Canva, Photoroom, or CapCut. And Photoshop was EXPENSIVE! It was mainly used by professional designers who could afford a license. (Or, by those who could get someone to “burn” them a copy on a “diskette”.)
When I first came up with the design, I jotted my ideas on paper. That was the easy part. But to get a mockup of it was a tedious process.
First, I needed a good picture of a pig. So, I went to Huntsville library and looked for one in the “encyclopedia”. (Some of you youngins may need to look that up. 👨🏾🦳) It was early Internet, so I couldn’t just go online and search Google images. Hard times!
I found a picture I liked and made a copy of it on the library’s printer. The picture was small, so I took the copy, enlarged it, and made a copy of that. Then I took the new copy, and enlarged the enlarged copy. It came out good, and I drew the sections on it.
Next, for the text, I typed the different words in WordPerfect and printed them out. 🖨️ (Yes…WordPerfect!!! I know Word was the popular program, but I was a dinosaur even back then.) I cut out the words and taped them on the pig. It took me a few days to finish everything and get it print-ready…but I had my mockup! 🙌🏾
Then, I took my mockup to a local printer to have the shirts printed. He studied my design and said he could do it. We talked for a while and he told me his story: He was an entrepreneur with a Black-owned business…trying to make something happen. ✊🏾 (I could identify with that.)
He also told me that if I wanted, I could start coming by his shop and he would teach me about screen printing. (Kind of like an internship.) And so I did. And I did learn. But, I had come to him during his busy season. He had a lot of work to do for Alabama A&M, local businesses, and plus he was getting ready for Freaknik. 👀
I had been dropping by his shop and had learned how to screen print. And so one day soon after, He offered me this deal: if I would help him get caught up on his orders, he would sell me blank shirts at cost, and let me print my own design for free. I took the deal! 🙋🏾♂️
But somehow, over our next several conversations, he convinced me that I should hold off on printing my design. He suggested that instead, I buy some of HIS designs and ride with him to Atlanta (Freaknik) to sell them there. It made sense to me at the time. 🤦🏾♂️ WE were busy cranking out HIS orders and I’d probably have to wait to do mine anyway. Plus, I’d have a free ride to Freaknik AND could make a little change while enjoying the festivities. No brainer, right?!? 🤷🏾♂️
Well, I did go to Atlanta…and I did make a few dollars…and I DEFINITELY did enjoy the festivities. 😀 But after I got back and tallied up the cost of the trip, the cost of the shirts, and how much I had made…the math just didn’t math up. 🤔
Many years have passed since that experience. And I learned two valuable lessons I’d like to share. (I learned more but I’ll just share two.)
One, don’t let anyone or anything divert you from YOUR plans, goals, or dreams. They’re YOURS…not his, hers, or them’s. Stay the course. “To thine own self be true”. And two, sometimes a deal ain’t really a deal. 😒
Now, I said all of that to say this: My new t-shirt, “Oink”, IS AVAILABLE NOW! 🔥🔥🔥 Get one…or two. Support your boy. It’s been a long time coming. (Plus, you get free shipping if you order now at this page: ajanisartsandcrafts.com/oink) And if you can’t get one at the moment, please share this post with your favorite vegan or vegetarian. I’d appreciate it! 💯
.
.
.
“What happens to a dream deferred?”
Answer: You come back to it 20+ years later and make it happen! 🙌🏾