‘We Are Numbers,’ a global tee shirt community art project, was initiated by the mysterious Number 1 (aka Dutch artist Twan Verdonck) as a protest against hyper-fashion consumption.
“We’ve been consuming much too fast, that’s why we are in recession now,” says Verdonck. “And with global fashion companies such as H & M and Zara launching new styles almost every week, it’s only a matter of time before unethical disposable fashion will be mainstream.”
Instead of developing these “one-night-trend” tees, Verdonck decided to make uniquely numbered tees with only one graphic. The longer you keep these shirts, the lower your number gets in comparison to the majority of the group. An early number, such as 500, may be cooler than a later number like 10,000. So instead of going out of style, the shirts become even more stylish with time.
For 30 euros you’ll a tee that’s hand-painted by Number 1 with your own unique number. You are then asked to submit a photo or video of your numbered tee.
The first 1,000 participants will appear in a book.
So far more than 300 people have joined the ‘We Are Numbers’ art project. Besides the photos and videos, the website below also shows the world map and personal links, so numbers can track down and meet other numbers. Check out the ‘making of’ video above.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Sustainable Fashion
- Creating uniquely numbered tees that become more stylish with time challenges the fast fashion industry and promotes sustainable fashion consumption.
- Community Art Projects
- The 'We Are Numbers' global tee shirt community art project encourages collaboration and connection among participants, fostering a trend of community-driven art initiatives.
- Personalization and Limited Editions
- Hand-painted numbered tees offer a personalized and exclusive experience, tapping into the trend of limited edition and custom-made fashion items.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fashion
- The fashion industry can explore sustainable practices and promote limited edition designs by incorporating the concept of uniquely numbered tees that improve with time.
- Art
- The art industry can leverage community art projects like 'We Are Numbers' to engage participants and organize collaborative art exhibitions or publications.
- E-commerce
- E-commerce platforms can capitalize on the trend of personalized and limited edition fashion by offering hand-painted numbered tees as unique products available for purchase.
