BEHIND THE TEE [CAROLINA KIDS IN TOKYO]
🗣️🗣️ YOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! What’s up everyone. Just wanted to come up here and explain our most recent drop, kind of give you a little back story and explain a few of the details. So I just recently got back from a 2 week trip in Japan. A place that has been special to me and my upbringing since I was a child. For those of you that don’t know me all that well or at all, I actually lived in Japan for 5 years. A lot of the life experiences and things I took from living out there allowed me to incorporate them into who I am today. From visiting yen stores with my Mom, to picking flowers to plant, mornings at the baseball field with my Dad and even helping set up shop at the local flea markets. When I look back at the moments and lessons learned at that age to where I am today, it’s almost like a no brainer. Like, “Ahhh that’s why I enjoy doin this, etc.”
After moving from Japan and coming back to the states my Dad, being military, had the option to be stationed in either California or North Carolina. Due to the majority of our extended family living on the east coast and the cost of living being much more affordable, my parents decided on North Carolina. At that time it was me and my 5 siblings and only my Dad had been working. My Mom was a stay at home Mom. A stay at home Mom, but a hustler. I, first hand, got to see my mom flip thrift finds, turn trash into useable items that she’d flip at flea markets, and turn baked goods into a whole other set-up we would have at these flea markets. I say all that to say, that the cost of living decision my Dad had to make to put us in North Carolina was a smart one and from there the rest is history. I spent the next 15 years in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina being where I grew up for the most part of my life and the birth state of Wise Mind, it will always be home to us. Not just that but Ash & Collyn are both born & raised in North Carolina.
Carolina Kids in Tokyo is as straight forward as it sounds. Just some Carolina Kids in Japan, Tokyo to be exact 🇯🇵. Bridging two places of history behind the brand. Not only that, but on this trip was also my little brother Christian and little sister Amanda. Both Carolina babies as well. Amanda, born & raised in NC. Christian, raised in NC and has lived there now for about 24 years. The 4 bears on the front of the tee resemble “kids.” Also 4, in reference to this past trip having us 4 North Carolinians in Japan. We placed the prints on a camo canvas to rep NC and the Red/White hits to represent Japan. Obviously those are the colors of their flag, however when your there those colors are displayed just about everywhere. We placed a large red Torii Gate above the bears. Torii Gates in Japan signify the entrance of their Shinto shrines. Specifically on this tee it resembles us entering Japan. Entering the gates in Japan is to signify you entering into a sacred space. A place of peace, of stillness. Other than shrines you can find these gates at the entrances of cemeteries, gardens, and mountain paths. Flying around the bears is origami birds and above the bears are lighted lanterns known as chōchin. These are all just small details to help pull the tee together and to us, mean more than just a graphic design.
This tee was cooked up by myself and the forever GOATED Collyn in the span of like 2-3 days. Placed on press and dried in the span of like a week. Currently the tees are in the finishing stagges. Getting their neck labels applied and getting them retail ready for packaging. We will have all orders shipped out no later than next Tuesday, April 8th. S/o to everyone that copped theirs. To those that haven’t, their probably at the cheapest price you’ll ever see us sell a tee of this quality for. Just $28, grab your’s here while sizes last. Lastly, thank you everyone that has always showed us a tremendous amount of love and support on this journey. From everyone in NC, to CA, and even Japan, we’re forever indebted 🙏. Have an amazing day and may this week bring you some wins. Much love homies, stay wise!