Need for better UW clothing for fans at underworldlive.com store?

[Milking Your Plastic]

This thought came to mind after I saw a newspiece and photo (quite a while ago now) on the Underworld site on the topic of John Warwicker's daughter Poppy who designed a Underworld inspired top and dress as part of her final college project which was in the style of the Dubnobasswithmyheadman cover, which I thought looked really cool.

Now, to say that I was a little dissapointed when I saw the fan clothing in the underworldlive.com store would be a massive understatement.
Afterall, since UW have strong roots in the design world with their work with Tomato it seems logical that the clothing they offer to fans should also show some artistic flair. But instead it's just generic grey jumper with hoodie and underworld logo with semicolon. Not my cup of tea. Definitely done to save a buck.

I think the best design work UW have done was the cover work for Dubnobasswithmyheadman. I would like to see this type of artwork on a T-shirt and/or jumper. If they did this I would wear it all the time.

P.S As you might have picked up on I am not a big fan of how they use a semicolon in their logo, to me it seems a little prentenious.

Any thoughts?

[Mike]

Your right that the merchandise lacks inspiration.

Why doesn't Tomato do more work with UW? Its probably because the collective has changed - the core people have moved on or are busy doing other things... they have nothing to gain by doing free work for their UW friends. These days Tomato is more like a distant relative to UW than a partner.

In general, Underworld seem to have been cost saving as much as they can since they were with any major record label. Everything seems to be a lot more low budget - The live on stage setup, the website, the merchandise and even some of the physical releases (for me there is something slightly "home made" about them compared with other things in the record shops). And not to mention some of Karl's home made shirts (http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2020/2232836110_37e2b97c1f_b.jpg) ;)

Its not a criticism, just an observation - this is the only way bands can survive without the financial backing of a major label by keeping the costs down, and not selling merchandise at a loss. It's about running a business as well as making great music.

[Mike]

PS: I bet there is also a bunch of legal issues preventing them from just whacking out a bunch of t-shirts with the dubno/stiti artwork, perhaps they don't own the rights to it anymore?

[negative1]

i still have that iron on logo sheet.
have to make your own stuff..

later
-1

[//\/\/]

...they couldn't be bothered to make their last album 100%, don't go holding your breath about clothing...


...or maybe Yannik could knock something up.

[TheBang]

http://media-cache6.pinterest.com/upload/199776933440575452_Ye6vGHtO_f.jpg

[joethelion]

yea - it is disappointing ... for several reasons, most of which Mike has already mentioned

It's really been in the last ten years that the distance between Tomato and UW has drifted apart (remember "Urban Action" ? Karl was even wearing those *cool* shirts in the EE dvd)... and as a result (amongst other things) - the clothing has suffered a bit. Now, I actually did like like the black t-shirts with the small earphone hole, but you're right - it is kind of cheap, b/c it's only one color printing, etc etc

(but I'd say, those designs didn't need more colors)

So like, what I'm saying - is that - Tomato and UW drifting is like the major "issue" - then as a result other things suffer

...I don't know if I would agree with the idea that the stage shows are cheaper though, bc remember during the AHDO tour? The selling point on why to see that tour was the BIG GREEN LAZER... which was only really used during "King of Snake." There really weren't many 'visuals' other than the inflatable mattresses that came up (like a alternative form of using a screen) and stuff was projected on them (clips from Dogboyheadset / UWlive)

having said all of that -
I can understand from a Tomato standpoint, to not want to do 'Dubno' clothing now (or ever)
b/c it was soooo long ago, it was made for a specific project, etc etc etc

[//\/\/]

Pedantic point - the KoS Big Green Laser was introduced for BF shows.

[potatobroth]

Pedantic point - the KoS Big Green Laser was introduced for BF shows.

Hmm. I saw 3 shows during the BF tour -- no laser. I only saw it when AHDO dropped.

[lectoid]

We're getting off topic here. :)

I have an Oblivion with Bells shirt I bought off of ebay. I don't wear it much because who knows when another good shirt will come along.

[potatobroth]

oops yea.

I love my UW Brixton tshirt. Wear it all the time.

[negative1]

having said all of that -
I can understand from a Tomato standpoint, to not want to do 'Dubno' clothing now (or ever)
b/c it was soooo long ago, it was made for a specific project, etc etc etc

i don't see a problem.. it could be released as a tribute
or anniversary issue...

lots of groups revisit their past in clothes, new order,
simple minds, etc etc..

the only problem is that i think they would be pretty expensive.

remember the underworld tomato adidas shoes! yikes!
(though i still have mine unused also)..

later
-1

[potatobroth]

i wear my Adidas UW shoes, but only on special occasions :) not like they are signed or anything *cough*

[Milking Your Plastic]

Cheers to everyone for their input. Thankyou Lecoid for getting the thread back on track. I suppose the first logical thought everyone will come up with is to just make your own stuff. But really is homemade any good? Regarding Dubno being old, really has Underworld done anything as good design wise recently. Part of the point of fan clothing is to make it recognisable for everyone else. Now the easiest way to do that would be to just put the band logo on the clothing. Pretty boring I reckon. The most recognisable artwork they've done is obviously the designs on their album covers. And Dubno is the best one I think, Barking just dosen't compare. A Barking style shirt is not to my liking, way to colorful. I don't want to be identified as a homosexual because I am wearing a shirt with every colour of the rainbow on it. Just briefly, I did not know anything about the Adidas shoes. I think that shows that I am one of the more least knowledgable fans on this site. I only discovered their music 5 years ago.

[scary man]

A Barking style shirt is not to my liking, way to colorful. I don't want to be identified as a homosexual because I am wearing a shirt with every colour of the rainbow on it.

:confused:

I'd have loved something as colourful as the 'Barking' design and I'm not a homosexual either.

[negative1]

I suppose the first logical thought everyone will come up with is to just make your own stuff. But really is homemade any good? Regarding Dubno being old, really has Underworld done anything as good design wise recently..

when making your own is the only choice.
it's what you do....

i prefer the second toughest era for artwork.
with dubnobasswithmyheadman second..
then the riverrun era third.. after that, i'm
not particular of the artwork..

later
-1

[potatobroth]

a very light blue shirt with the Second Toughest cover splashed across it would be crazy good.

[ndrwrld]

i wear my Adidas UW shoes, but only on special occasions :) not like they are signed or anything *cough*
:D:D:D
i also have the blue socks, a beaucoup fish shirt, and the Suck The Box shirt.
really WANT UW to put out a nice toque for those cold nights in Essex.;)

[Sean]

i still have that iron on logo sheet.
have to make your own stuff..

later
-1Ha! I still have that too! Never got around to ironing it all onto stuff. I should get on that...

[//\/\/]

Hmm. I saw 3 shows during the BF tour -- no laser. I only saw it when AHDO dropped.

Maybe they weren't allowed to bring it Stateside for BF? It was the talk of the dirtylist ;)

[ndrwrld]

curiosity...
does anyone have anything that karl / rick / darren / darren actually signed whilst located near you ? or just bought off ebay etc.
i'm sure big screen boi has tons....i'd bring up Yannick, but, well, you know it seems he doesn't need props right now.

[lectoid]

:confused:

I'd have loved something as colourful as the 'Barking' design and I'm not a homosexual either.

IT's hard to find colorful shirts that don't make you look homosexual. Like some of the shirts here. http://www.benetton.com/man/campaign/

[//\/\/]

Seriously considering doing a 'dubno' t-shirt off my own bat...

[scary man]

IT's hard to find colorful shirts that don't make you look homosexual. Like some of the shirts here. http://www.benetton.com/man/campaign/

I guess you're either man enough to wear pink or you're not.

[markreed]

Recent UW merch has been somewhat minimal. Even back then, the classic Nuxx, BF, and AHDO tour shirts were one/two colours at most (at least the ones I bought). When you have only a few colours on a shirt, its best to spend time on the design and make it memorable instead of look like a quick run off i.e.

1. choose font
2. write "underworld;" at weird angle / placing
3. print 100 b&w shirts
4. charge £25
5. PROFIT!

I know UW are a self-sufficient cottage industry and keeping costs down and profits up are important but when the products look cheap, people aren't going to pay expensive prices for them.

I'm more surprised they don't do a proper live release such as Tokyo. The footage exists. We need a sequel to EE, and a proper DVD of visual material.

[//\/\/]

If you look into their current tshirt 'philosophy' they've taken a lot of care to come up a high-quality product, with detailing such as the bud-lead wiring holes...

However, given the lack of dubno merch, I'm going DIY ;)

(like the look of the fridge-magnets...)

[//\/\/]

curiosity...
does anyone have anything that karl / rick / darren / darren actually signed whilst located near you ? or just bought off ebay etc.

Darren (Price) signed my copy of the OWB live show cd they'd just done at the Roundhouse. (Was having a nice little chat until some nerdy twat interrupted to ask a question about a sequencer:rolleyes:)

[Mike]

Darren (Price) signed my copy of the OWB live show cd they'd just done at the Roundhouse. (Was having a nice little chat until some nerdy twat interrupted to ask a question about a sequencer:rolleyes:)

Ah sorry about that, you should have said something :p

[markreed]

The only holes t-shirts need are the ones you put bits of your body through.

[//\/\/]

I'm sure they're very sorry:rolleyes:

[lemonjelly]

http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/

Get off yer asses & get busy, instead of moaning!;)

Incidentally, I hand painted a few t shirts a couple of years ago, mainly for fun, but also cos the design ideas were so niche, no-one else would've considered making anything like what I did.

[//\/\/]

http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/

Get off yer asses & get busy, instead of moaning!;)

exactly - very easy process...

[negative1]

ok, coming back to this.

looks like i'll be matching up some text with colored tshirts.

wlll be interesting to see what to make out of them...

https://i.ibb.co/kQ6C9qx/Image46.jpg (https://ibb.co/YpTsyf3)
https://i.ibb.co/xSkXv1K/Image47.jpg (https://ibb.co/svfbSKp)
https://i.ibb.co/58dxT5C/Image48.jpg (https://ibb.co/WyQpnc7)
https://i.ibb.co/kys8ZLt/Image49.jpg (https://ibb.co/n0NcpXF)
https://i.ibb.co/G7SvRQf/Image50.jpg (https://ibb.co/K6vjWxc)
https://i.ibb.co/5nQpQBj/Image51.jpg (https://ibb.co/WPr8rgz)
https://i.ibb.co/SJkMhMH/Image52.jpg (https://ibb.co/4JbX6XC)

later
|| | | ||| | |
ne gative 1

[negative1]

ok its not really clothing.

but the underworld adidas shoes are awesome.
https://www.borndirty.org/forums/showpost.php?p=170098&postcount=1362

sourced a new pair also.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vDMAAOSwS2tkndKX/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mn4AAOSwj1RkndK3/s-l1600.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vRAAAOSwTXtkndKX/s-l1600.jpg

later
|| | || |
ne gative 1

[dubman]

wasn't there a version with the text bits all over?

I couldn't snag a pair, but it launched my (ongoing) love for superstars

[negative1]

wasn't there a version with the text bits all over?

I couldn't snag a pair, but it launched my (ongoing) love for superstars

not that i know of. they all looked like this.

later
| || | | ||
ne gative 1

[potatobroth]

wasn't there a version with the text bits all over?

I couldn't snag a pair, but it launched my (ongoing) love for superstars

yeah they all have the text bits all over them. you just cant see the text unless there's a black light or bright light angled on them. the pic attached is the same yellow shoe with black light on it.

(I just sold my pair. those aren't mine, just a photo I found)

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ne8AAOSw~-ZcYD~B/s-l1600.jpg

[dubman]

ohhhh neat. I wonder how upset I would have been back then if I managed to get some and only saw these tasteful shades of beige.