Looking Good, Doing Good: SOTRU and Ropeadope T-Shirt Collaboration

State of the Re:Union (SOTRU) is a nationally-aired public radio show, distributed by NPR and PRX, that explores how communities across America are coming together, transcending challenging circumstances and the vital cultural narratives that make them so unique.

Ropeadope is a record label and coveted clothing brand that uses the tee shirt as a medium for knowledge and pride. Past collaborations with Blue Note Records, Okayplayer, The Love Movement and others have been well received amongst community tastemakers and fans.

The two organizations have teamed up to deliver a special, limited run of  T-shirts based on the cities and towns featured in SOTRU episodes. The designs are being created by celebrated artists based in the spotlighted area and a local charity has been selected to receive a portion of the proceeds.  An initial run of four shirts will be created and include:

Las Vegas

Release Date: March 19th

Charity: Shine a Light
Shine a Light is a community project that helps the hundreds of men and women living in the underground flood channels of Las Vegas. Founded by Beneath the Neon author Matthew O’Brien, the project provides water, food, clothes, blankets and other items (when available) to the people in the tunnels. It also provides a variety of services, including housing, drug, medical and mental-health counseling, case management and referrals. To provide these services, Shine a Light collaborates with HELP of Southern Nevada and its professional outreach staff.

Artist: Stephan Maman
Stephan Maman is a 17 year old graphic designer from Las Vegas. He started Dynamik Clothing at the age of 14 and although a success, closed shop in preparation for college and to pursue other interests. He will be attending Southern Utah University next year and majoring in Pre-Medicine. You can keep up with Stephan on his Facebook and Twitter page.

You can purchase the Las Vegas T-shirt here—sprucing up your wardrobe and helping Shine a Light in the process!

Los Angeles

Release Date: April 12th

Charity: PATH – People Assisting the Homeless
Since 1984 PATH has built a multi-denominational and community based organization with the mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness by empowering people with the tools for self-sufficiency.

From transitional housing and employment centers that help homeless job-seekers develop marketable skills and secure employment to street outreach teams and collaborative partnerships with area civic and philanthropic service providers, PATH is committed to providing “A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out.”

Artist: Jim Darling
Jim Darling grew up in the sprawling suburbs of Dallas, Texas. After high school he headed to Denver Colorado for art school. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Jim works as a fine artist and freelance creative. Darling’s gallery work ranges from intricate ink drawings to layered wood work with illustrative painted skins. Outside, Jim expands his tool set by including found objects and materials. His subject matter lives between play and real. Large issues are often looked at in simplistic terms and are then juxtaposed by intense detail. You can find out more about Jim and his work by visiting his website.

Purchase the Los Angeles shirt here.

Brooklyn

Release Date: May 17th

Charity: Urban Word NYC
Urban Word NYC’s award-winning programs utilize the written and spoken word to develop critical thinking skills and leadership in youth from across NYC. From free after-school workshops for teens to youth poetry slams, reading series and open micas, the organization works with 15,000 kids every year and promotes active literacy, critical thought and positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class, gender, culture and sexuality.

Artist: Aerosyn-Lex
Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic is a Designer, Typographer & Creative Director of The KDU (the world’s largest private design society.) Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lex is a graduate of both Pratt Institute and Temple University of Japan, and has lived and worked in New York and Tokyo. He is currently based in Brooklyn.

He has worked as part of the lauded design firm Graphic Havoc and as Senior Partner in The KDU Consultancy he has developed a client list including LVMH, NIKE, DIESEL, Coca-Cola, MTV Japan, Ogilvy, BEAMS Tokyo, Apple, Nokia, Samsung and many more.

Lex has been the Creative Director of various publications including URB Magazine (an established American music magazine focused on emerging music and culture.) In addition he also Creative Directs & Designs clothing for bespoke Fashion brand: Serum Versus Venom (SVSV.)

Austin

Release Date: June 14th

Charity: HAAM – Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Austin is considered the “Live Music Capital of the World” yet many professional musicians are self-employed and rarely have access to health insurance. HAMM’s mission is to provide affordable primary health care, basic dental and mental health counseling services that focus on prevention and wellness to uninsured and low-income professional musicians in the Austin area.

Artist: Brandon Ortwein
Brandon Ortwein (for he is bortwein) is a fine-arts graduate from the US East Coast but now hailing from the US counter-culture stronghold of Austin, Texas. He’s constantly working on graphic design projects at both home and work, and is always finding inspiration in “the random world around me.” When Brandon isn’t slaving away on his Mac, he likes to relax to eighties’ music and movies, as well as hanging out with this wife, daughter and two dogs.

For further information or to purchase your shirt, visit Ropeadope’s website.