America's Next Ed Hardy
If you believe in the notion that fashion should be a democracy, you’re going to want to check these two new websites out.
Online design sites threadless.com and nakedandangry.com not only provide wallet-friendly shopping, but encourage and reward product creation by the consumer.
Threadless.com founders Jake Nickell, 26, and Jacob Dehart, 25, created the site so aspiring designers, artists, in fact, anyone can submit their original prints, which are then voted on by the Threadless community.
When the votes are in, winning designers receive kudos and recognition as being the next potential Ed Hardy, $2000 in cash and prizes, and their designed printed on a t-shirt which then goes on sale to the public.
If you are like most students who long for the Urban Outfitter-esque style without the wallet-draining price tag, try logging on to www.threadless.com and vote for the latest designs. So far, over 100,000 t-shirt designs have been submitted, building a strong community of talented artists.
If you’d rather spend your hard-earned money sprucing up your room than your personal appearance, another site guaranteed to provide hours of potential procrastination time is nakedandangry.com.
An extension of threadless.com, Naked & Angry focuses on higher-quality products such as fabrics, wallpapers, and neckties. People are encouraged to submit pattern designs which are also voted on by other users for a period of one week, after which a final score is given.
Highest scoring designs are printed and products created from the winning pattern. Winners on this site receive a prize of $500 and five free Naked & Angry items.
The first print run from this website consisted of handmade silk ties, but this has evolved into wallpaper designs guaranteed to make all your visitors envious.
To check out these stylish new sites, log onto www.threadless.com or www.nakedandangry.com. Not only can you check out the featured designs, but also blogs and links to other design sites are sure to satisfy the inner designer in everyone.