T-Swap

Thanks For Stopping By to check out my Project T- Swap!
See the clip from our first swap, read the rules and regulations, special t-story submissions, and send me your e-mail for our next swap event!

See First T-Swap @ Ft. Greene Fest!

photo: Mikal Whitaker

REGISTER YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HERE FOR THE NEXT SWAP

INSPIRATION
I was inspired to try my T-Swap based on a moment I had with a friend who was nervous about moving on to start a new life. I offered her one of my t-shirts that she really loved. It was black with white letters that said " Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" in a cool font across the front. It was a personal gesture of support without saying it aloud. She still tells me from this day how much that meant to her since she wore it to bed the first few nights and that it really helped. About a year later I woke up one morning and thought "T-Swap For Peace"! I made that my first venture into the world of T-Swapping as a public event two weeks later Sept 8th 2007. Peter Tulloch, who coordinated the 1st Annual Fort Greene Fest allowed me to try this idea out on his audience. The turn out was small but the joy it brought the participants made it all worth it! More people wanted to swap after the official event and expressed how they loved the concept and wanted to participate in the next one.

logo: Roger Stephens

WHAT IS T-SWAP

It has been said that within some communities of Brazil, t-shirt swapping happens upon entry to a friends home as a symbol peace and respect. Within the International Soccer community, T-Shirt Swapping happens as a sign of respect among players on opposite teams.
My T-Swap is just another way to give up a little of yourself, while you obtain a little of someone else. A fun way to start up dialogue, share ideas and opinions, trade style and originality.
With the ever growing social networking engines as well as online dating, chatting via text and e-mail . T-swap encourages us to come together within a live setting to meet greet and swap! Adding more fun to the process of trading for a cause and giving more meaning to making friends with people who share the same ideals.
Today's culture is booming with self expression and the freedom speech that's printed across T-Shirts all over the world. These T-shirts are a fashionable vehicle for those who wish to use their body as a billboard for expression of who they are and what they feel. In a variety of colors, sizes and laced with bold, subtle, outlandish decals, dynamic typography, graphic designs, abstract art to fine lines reconstructed or deconstructed, these personalized possessions are an example of how important this simple apparel item has become to people from all walks of life .

photo: Jenny Baptiste

WAYS YOU CAN SWAP

1) one on one

meaning you find someone with a t-shirt you like and swap with that person

2) double dutch

you find one person to swap with who and then swap out that shirt with a second person

3) three's company

three individuals who swap within that group only

4) family style

a group of four or more people who trade only within that group

5) serial swapper

any one person who swaps several times either with t-shirts they obtain during the swap or t-shirts they carried to the swap
** if you have any other cool ways to suggest we try swapping, please send us and e-mail to the link above and be sure to register your info so we can credit your swap suggestion! Thanks ahead of time!**

photo: Richard Louissaint

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1) you must bring a clean washed shirt to the swap

2) if your swapping shirts off your back, you must be wearing undergarments

3) no groping or explicit behavior allowed

4) no selling of garments. this is a trade process only

5) depending on the event, you may or may not be allowed to wear the shirt you wish to trade

6) once our swap has completed. you and your t-friend must report your trade to a t-swap official to register the successful swap.

7) you are required to take a photo with your swap partner wearing or holding up your new t-shirt.

Everyone and everything has a story, even your T-shirts!

Send in a photograph wearing a t-shirt that has an personal story connected to it. You may have worn it during an unforgettable moment, a moment you really do want to forget, it may have an endearing memory connected to it or or just a story associated with it that you want to tell. <br>

Tell us the T-Story and we will post it here in our T-Friend Community! Be sure to give us your occupation, city of residence and your first name.

CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL YOUR T-STORY AND PHOTO!

Mara / Writer /NYC Via The Peach

This T-shirt was procured when my grandfather took me down to the Trust Company Bank in West Rome when I was 12. I opened my very first bank account with my $100 that I had saved over the summer from picking blackberries and peaches and selling them to family and friends. This was the only size they had and it was huge on me at 12. I used to just sleep in it but now it's part of my slacker fashion with a non-slacker undertone.

Duane / Photo Editor / Sense Mag / UK

click image to see Sense Mag website

It has been said that when I wear it, it gives me the Lynx Effect (women cannot resist me).  It is made of 100% organic cotton and was given to me for free by the clothing company howies, after i told them how much i loved it.  The design is beautifully simple and screams fun better than language alone ever could.  I love it.

Skye / Artist / Portland Oregon

click image for Skye website

  "My favorite shirt is this one! I realllllllllllly like it because it has a heart on it. One day I was wearing it and a woman walked past me and looked at me, eye2eye and do you know what she said?   YES!    She looked at me and said YES.   That’s it.   I think it’s reallllllllly important to say YES sometimes. I also think it’s reallllllly important to keep wearing this shrit.     Love,  Skye

Adam / Creative Director / NYC

No matter how many times I sport this joint or how corny it sounds I always feel like a Beastie Boy when I wear it and that feeling takes me back to those times in my life I never want to forget. Word!