Great Lakes Shirts

These shirts have nothing but an outline of the Great Lakes on them. No promo for your friend’s indie band. No logos. No cities, states, or any other political boundaries in the design. Just the lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. No explanation.

When friends from Texas ask, “What’s that random inkblot on your shirt?” you can answer them with a quick geography lesson. Or whatever else you want to say. I have my own reasons for wearing the shirt, you have yours.

I wanted to make a few of these shirts for myself and friends. I asked my graphic designer friend Vinh to help me make the design from an aerial photo, and I asked my screenprinting friends Mariah and Jeremy to print some on secondhand shirts. When I took a few to Ypsilanti’s Shadow Art Fair, more people wanted them. So I asked my other screenprinting friends VGKids to make some more for the next Fair. Soon I was getting orders for sizes and colors I didn’t have, so I decided to make this simple website with my limited web-design ability.

In case you're wondering (aloud, enough that I can hear you as you pass my table at the Shadow Art Fair), I did not "rip off" this design from someone else. I made the design in 2003, before Michigan/Midwest pride had become hip in certain indie scenes. Before then, I had never seen a shirt with just the lakes, although they've been used as part of countless logos and designs for years. Since then, I have heard about a few other places selling similar shirts. I won't wonder aloud (online) what I think about them, except to say that when you buy from me you can rest assured you're buying the ORIGINAL Great Lakes Shirts.

Since my stock is pretty low right now, it may take you a few tries to find a fit/color/size you want. Sorry. To request a specific fit/color/size, email me and I'll let you know when the next batch is printed. Bulk discounts are available for groups, teams, wedding parties, nonprofits, etc. Email me for custom orders.

GREAT LAKES SHIRTS