GRL PWR BUNNY TEES

The Bunnies are here!

Thrift Generation’s first in-house T-shirt design of a short run, reclaiming an icon for femisism. A hand-drawn illustration in bold lines, white on black.

Encouraging people everywhere not to judge on visual alone, but on the actions and words we create and speak out for. Inspired by the #GRLPWR movement and made as a reaction to growing up female in a male-dominated society. These designs are a continuation of a design I trialled at Nottingham Fashion Week Independents festival where we had t-shirts with 1975, year of the bunny, a combination of the Chinese animal of the year and a time when the playboy bunny was a revered icon, right up to 2000’s when Hugh Hefner opened more clubs. Now he has passed, I feel it’s important to move with the times and to see the bunny girl icon as an outdated symbol of femininity which can be played upon like we’ve done here, showing two women in a bold outline, leaning inwards uniting, strong, powerful and yes sexy too. These T-shirts celebrate the power of women everywhere, showing that we can be sexy and yes we are a force to be reckoned with. It’s about time we owned this image of the bunny girl and claimed it as our own. It’s ok to play dress up, but most of all do it for yourself, and have fun. ‘Know Thyself’ is the message. The T-shirts use Lenzing Modal which is C02 neutral and comes with a unique Tarot inspired keepsake swing tag, positive real life bunny girl success story and Rosette accessory, in sizes as diverse as the women who wear them. Being playful about serious issues can be fun!

Our bunny tees are set to be HOT property.

These are a limited edition run, due to the nature of the T-shirts personal connection and story. There may be more variations on this design in the future.

They were the first in-house from new design from Thrift Generation, before it became ThirftVIP. First launched back in 2017, I’m now bringing them to you on my first standalone site, here at ThriftVIP.

Read more about the design and concept of the bunny tees in two blogs as part of my GRLPWRWMNPWR Blog series:

• The Bunnies Are Back!Girl Power Networking Pop-up & T-shirt launch: 22/04/17

• Beyond The Bunny - Reclaiming An Icon For Feminism

Currently available in the following sizes: S. M. L. (sold out) XL.

The price reflects the true cost of the T-shirt, accessories, packaging and the fact that these are a limited edition of a short run. Please cherish each element. The cost price was quite high (£25.00) and this is before other costs too, so a labour of love in many ways.

I was lucky enough to be able to get a minimum order of 25 in total, of which there are now only 10 left. I’ve given most of them away but would now like to recoup some of the costs, and to also be able to donate a percentage of each sale to SWARM. So, if you’re considering a purchase, please also see it as a donation to a good cause. I will donate £10 to SWARM for each T-shirt sold.

The scoop neck design of the tee works really well with a choker and also looks great with a polo neck in black, or a contrasting colour, if you prefer your décolletage hidden.

They’re made from an organic cotton and Modal mix and are ethically sourced.

Modal is C02 neutral.

I used Stanley and Stella because they are part of the Fair Wear Foundation with a fair wear status ranking = GOOD.

Each T-shirt comes with a beautiful fuscia rosette accessory which can be used to adorn bags and clothes, or to wear on the T-shirt, to spread the girl power message. They represent the rosettes the Playboy bunnies wore at the hip with their names on. There may be an option to personalise these if I do a second run.

Swing tags come with empowering positive messages, and the envelope is sealed with a selection of original Playboy bunnies then and now, all success stories.

‘KNOW THYSELF’ is the main message here.

As Socrates said: “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”

To also know and understand others too is the key to compassion and empathy.

CONDITION CODE: N

Photo credits: Steve Edwards, Gabriella Zuliani, Benedict Cooper, Madeleine Wallner

MUA: Jess of Reign Beauty, Hattie Mustapha

Jewllery provided by Lyn Bulmer for Stella & Dot

We all have different experiences growing up as female, or identifying as female in society. We are all unique and have different life experiences, background and upbringings.

The design I’ve chosen to represent my feelings in response to the issue of sexism is this design. It’s a very personal one, born from a cathartic place.

Not all will agree with it, or understand what I’m trying to do, and that’s ok. If I wanted to project a sexualised typical bunny girl as we know them, I would have used one. These bunnies have no faces, are dressed differently, and ready for action, without the risk of falling out of their crop tops and shorts.

Those who get it and those who want to buy one of these T-shirts have a responsibility: to wear the T-shirt and help to educate others not to judge on the visual alone. Are you brave enough?

“I’m reclaiming an icon”

I’m owning my sexuality”

Might be some of the responses to any negativity from those who may judge, because they just see the bunny girl and girl power together and react to that alone. It is this juxtaposition that will attract the attention, unwanted or otherwise. So, let’s call this out and pass on the positive message - unify through symbolism and take it back for ourselves. Reclaim the icon!

Some of the earliest responses to it by some feminists managed to highlight the very point I wanted the tees to make, and that is not to judge so quickly on the image and iconography just as some judge on our looks alone. Other feminists saw the concept straight away. We all see things differently.

My blogs will explain more so if you’d like to get more in-depth on the subject of feminism, please read them, then make your judgements.

Are you ready to reclaim an icon for feminism?