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Carfree Chic

Some thoughts on clothing and other objects (bags, what else? I really don't want to say 'accessories') that could be used by carfree people to broaden awareness of the carfree movement and of their personal lifeway.

Added by colin #442 on 2005-06-03. Last modified 2006-03-19 20:24. Originally created 2005-06-03. F1 License: Attribution
Location: World
Topics: art, bike punx, business, cycling, design, fashion, Gay + Bisexual + Lesbian + Transgender (GBLT) Issues, media campaign \ propaganda, media: visual

colin holding bag side 1

colin holding bag side 2

2006-03-19-1057 Update: Microcosm has published the carfree patch!! The pattern for this patch can be found here carfree2.pdf (424K, illustrator editable).

carfree patch at microcosm

The problem:

Carfree people are walking around right now without anyone knowing they are carfree!

The solution:

Let them wear clothing and accessories that declare their carfreeness to the world.

Let's get started.

I am not aware of any line of clothing where the word "CARFREE" is prominently displayed.

If there was such a fashion label, I might not have enough spare $$ to buy it. So, let us make patches that can be sewn on to our bags or our clothing we have bought from thrift stores.

To the right, you can see a bag that my grandma, who does design for heat factory, made for me. I don't carry around a bag that big all the time, so I need:
  • Something to decorate my smaller bags
  • Something to decorate me

What is out there?

Before we go through the trouble of designing and producing our own patches or clothing line, let's see what we can find on the internet.

There are plenty of stickers, but this page is not about vinyl...
one less car stickers
and Carbusters is and selling a "Towards Carfree Cities" t-shirt.
towards carfree cities t-shirt


Microcosm publishing
, of Portland, OR, USA  has the anarchist/grunge end of things covered with their t-shirts and patches. Below is some of what they sell that is anti-car or pro-bike. Until the links go bad, clicking on the images should take you to the pages where you can buy them. They seem to be adding new stuff, so this page may soon be out of date. Some of their shirts are used (printed on pre-worn t-shirts. Nice.)!

Microcosm's t-shirts (with a carfree theme):

bike lane bike fist chainring heart
Every Car a Murder, Every Bike a Love Affair Evolution to bike fuck cars
My Bike Takes Me Places That School Never Could One Less Car t-shirt Put the Fun Between Your Legs T-Shirt
This is So Romantic T-Shirt Singer Traffic Report: Stop Driving T-shirt Singer Skeleton and Cars T-shirt

Microcosm's patches (with a carfree theme):

backpatches are bigger

The Pedal Power Don't Stop Patch Patch #111: Throw Away Cadillac Patch #110: Throw Away Corvette
Patch #100: Bike to work, live to bike! Patch #089: Woman on Bike 2 Singer Traffic Report T-shirt
patch: singer's skeleton and cars Patch #078: Put the Fun Between Your Legs
backpatch
Patch #073: This is so Romantic!
backpatch
Patch #067: No Cars Patch #063: Bike Explosion Patch #061: Bike Punks
Patch #060: Bike Fist Patch #058: Chainring Heart
backpatch
Patch #055: One Less Car
Patch #044: Wrench in the Gears Patch #041: My Bike Takes Me Places That School Never Could
backpatch
Patch #037: Fuck Cars
Patch #026: Reclaim The Streets Patch #017: Critical Mass Patch #008: Woman on Bicycle
evolution to bike patch Backpatch #101: Bicycles Allowed Full Lane
(backpatch)




Some of these patches are also available at stickergiant: fuck cars, car death (andy singer), one less car.

Now what?

So, we've inventoried the Microcosm product line, but they don't have what I'm looking for. I think what I want is a simple classy patch, perhaps an embroidered one, that says "Carfree" or "CARFREE" or "CAFRE" or some other creative variant. I'd like the patch both on a white background and, in inverse colors, on a black background. We also might want to make the "F" stand out like the US CarFree City group does, by changing the color or capitalization of the "F".

The audience I wish to target are not the rabid bike lovers, but the people like me, who would rather walk, and who rarely ride a bike.

If in the unlikely event someone wants to become the carfree "HILFIGER", here are two links to the somewhat interesting "Christian" project of making clothing lines that somehow express and advertize their faith:
The last link doesn't quite fit. But I could swear I saw a real t-shirt like that one that is made out of tape. And that impression I got--real or imagined--has lent a sinister air to all of the christian clothing companies...

If I or anyone starts producing the patches I'm looking for, I'll update this page.

Colin Leath <>    

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