A Good Shirt is Hard to Find

By Christine Wilson, 10.25.06


Christ-centered clothing is making its mark online and on shelves as born again designers create trendy threads for twentysometings. However, Christian companies’ past attempts at Christian wear have made some leery of watered-down messages and corny slogans.

Christian owned companies such as Simple Letter, C28 and Flaunt the Faith make apparel and accessories featuring Christ centered slogans, symbols and scripture. Instead of copycatting mainstream designs, the companies hope to bring new trends to the table.

“One thing we definitely pull back from is when the Christian culture will take something that is already pre-existing,” said Drew Clemens, Creative Director of Simple Letter. For instance, [taking] a soda that everyone drinks, and changing the logo or slogan to something that is Christianese and printing it.”

Clemens said at first glance, people think the shirts like these are promoting secular brands, but only later do they realize the shirt is promoting Christ.

“To us that is piggybacking on the world,” Clemens said. “That’s one sort of thing we try to stay away from.”

Charles Brown, a 23-year-old Christian from Los Angeles, believes clothes from Christian labels can achieve the vogue of secular brand clothes. He said he enjoys supporting Christian apparel companies as
long as they have good clothing.

“I would like to see more and more Christian companies that make the caliber of clothing that is comparable to what worldly companies put out, stuff that everybody would like to wear that is going to still be fashionable,” Brown said.

Faith based paraphernalia appeals to Christians and non Christians alike. Nick Ashe, a 23-year-old from Virginia, doesn’t profess Christianity but feels Christian apparel can be trendy. He believes a good message is a plus for already stylish clothes.

“If it is nice, I will wear it,” Ashe said. “As long as it doesn’t have a bad meaning. Christian [shirts] for the most part have a good message.

With the number of Christian clothing stores increasing in the past few years, each one promises to keep young holy-rollers on the cutting edge of style. But some say the modern culture Christian trendsetters are joining softens the impact of their message.

“Christianity is so engrained in pop culture that you don’t even think about the Christian connections until later,” Ashe said. “You see a cross and it almost goes without notice.”

Clemens said wearing faith based clothing does not make or break a true Christian’s faith. He said although Simple Letter puts the clothing on the market, the wearer’s lifestyle determines the effectiveness of the message.

“We realize that t-shirts don’t save any one, or bumper stickers, or even a Bible with a great cover,” Clemens said. “Salvation comes through Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are just providing an artistic way to express yourself.”

Brown wears the Christian gear both to be stylish and to be set apart from friends who wear secularly marketed clothes.

“It’s a profession of faith. It’s one thing to walk around with the name brand outfit that
everyone has on. You can just fit into the crowd so you don’t stand out at all,” Brown said.“But it’s another thing to have something on your shirt or on your clothing that has meaning and purpose that can spark conversation and interest.”