FARQLIFE

It seems that many people make a decision on whether to buy a t-shirt depending on whether a "celebrity" has worn the same one. Even the children of celebrities seem to be inspiration judging by some of the "as worn by" images we've seen splashed across some t shirt site home pages. 

In the absence of having a regional news readers brother photographed wearing a Far t-shirt, or the girl who does the weather, we thought we better get in on the act too. Trawling through the Beatles archive we came across an image of the Fab Four from the 1960's and quess what ... they'll all wearing Farq. Rather than keep that quiet we, reluctantly, decided to publish it. Always ahead of their time, we see each band member wearing a t-shirt design for a popular culture event that wouldn't actually happen for years to come.      

March 12th 2016 sees the 24th anniversary of The Jam's final studio album "The Gift". Whilst coming to prominence at the same time as many punk rock bands, The Jam were more sophisticated in their music (and attire) and really were at the forefront of the mod revival movement that followed. Until their break-up at the end of 1982 they produced a series of chart hits, influencing many British bands that followed. Our new Jam t-shirt celebrates their music.

Highly controversial in life, Che Guevara has taken on an iconic status in death. Achieving fame and notoriety as a Marxist revolutionary until his death in 1967, he has since become a symbol in popular culture for all thing anti-establishment in the same was as James Dean since his early death. Che's face adorns a wide variety of items, not least the everyday t-shirt. Even today Che's face can be seen on t-shirts for men and women throughout the world. The most commonly used shot is based on the facial caricature by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick (pictured) which has undergone countless revisions and reinterpretations but always remains unmistakably Che.

 

For many, this is the big movie of the year. Forget Antman or Fantastic 4 from 2015, or Batman v Superman or Captain America from 2016, this eagerly anticipated "superhero" movie is set to break new ground and shake the whole comic book movie industry up. You may have seen the trailer, you may have seen the movie posters and billboards, and if you're one of those in the know, you'll already have worked out which new movie our superhero movie t-shirt is inspired by, if not you'll probably need a clue to work it out (it begins with "D").

The movie came into being rather unconventionally. Those eager to make the film produced a three minute "test reel" in January 2012. They hoped to encourage the studio bosses into making a full length feature - but it didn't work. They were unconvinced this type of "super hero" movie would be popular enough. Mysteriously, in August 2014, the 3 minute film found it's way into the public domain and guess what - there was a hugely positive reaction on social media! The rest, as they say, is history. (incidentally, the content of the test reel was re-created for the movie).  

So you've seen the brand, "got the t-shirt", and noticed all are carrying the Farq brand name - but what does it mean? Those with an ear to the ground will already keep up to date with the latest in the ever growing number of new "urban" words added to our language each year. For others we offer this explanation. First of all "Farq", written without emphasis on the Q (as in "Far Q" - geddit?) may at first glance appear rude, but it isn't really offensive at all.  In fact, it's the polite way to use an expletive in mixed company.    

Here's what The Urban Dictionary says: FARQ. adverb; the apropos method of saying f**k in a crowded room without offending your parents." 

So wear your t-shirt with pride safe in the knowledge that you're being very considerate to those you may meet (just be careful if they ask you what it means).  

Heard the news? The greatest exhibition is coming to the O2! What's it about ? ...., "The Greatest" of course!  The opening bell is scheduled to strike on March 4th 2016, where Muhammad Ali fans will be able to take in more than 100 artefacts on the greatest boxer (we say sportsman) or all time. Exhibits include a full size boxing ring, rare and unseen video footage and photographs and personal memorabilia lent by Ali himself, who the organizers are hoping will attend. Co-curator Davis Miller has said "I know he wants to come and I hope that he does.” Miller added “I saw him last September and he looked surprisingly good. He had put on about 30 pounds and he looked like Muhammad Ali. He was playful, playing with kids, doing magic tricks and was very alert and joking.” Now wouldn't that be the greatest sight the O2's ever seen.

OK, producing a new Beatles t-shirt isn't exactly original, least of all if the design is based on one of their many famous album covers. We're not sure which Beatles LP cover is more famous than any of their others, as all have taken on somewhat iconic status over the years. Certainly the Abbey Road cover has been mimicked more than the others, with countless fans photographing themselves making that well known crossing, but we've taken another angle to our latest t-shirt design - how about no Beatles?  Look closely (albeit not too closely) and you'll find John, Paul, George and Ringo in there somewhere, Where's Wally style.

Update: The Beatles still pack a punch even so many years after they disbanded. This re-working of the iconic cover has had a bigger response on social media than the other of our Farq t-shirts we've designed since our launch. Clearly they're still "Fab" to many.  

Will he? Won't he? Everyone's talking about the Best Actor Oscar nominations for 2016 and whether Leonardo DiCaprio will make it sixth time lucky. That's right, he's been nominated on five previous occasions as either actor or producer without walking off with the award. He's up against some fine actors again this year, including "Matt Damon" and our very own Eddie Redmayne, but we're rooting for Leo even if he's playing it cool. As he said: "I am really moved by all the people on the internet demanding that I should win an Oscar. But to be honest, I only do this job because I love it, not to win prizes"

Well anyone who goes 10 rounds with Paddington and lives to tell the tale deserves all the awards going, so good luck Leo.  

There's strikers and then, as Alex Ferguson would say, there's "top top" strikers and with his Big Game mentality Didier Drogba certainly was among the very best. Scoring in numerous FA Cup finals, Carling Cup finals and a vital Champion's League final headed equalizer few could boast the sort of big game performances Drogba put in for Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge. Our new Drogba T-Shirt pays tribute to one of Chelsea's finest and most important players (oh, did we mention that coolest of cool penalties too). One in a series of sporting icon t-shirts from FARQ.