Some of you might have come across rare band tees up for sale at shocking prices. Well, that’s because these wearables transcend more than just an everyday wardrobe staple – they encapsulate the essence of slogans and eras, becoming tangible time capsules of archival music.
For those intrigued, great news – Singapore is having its first ever exhibition, Teenage Angst Has Paid Off Well, showcasing twenty rare vintage band tees from genres such as grunge, metal, pop, goth and punk, loaned from private collections. These shirts celebrate some of the greatest moments in music and shirt designs of all time.
Ken Tan, avid collector of vintage t-shirts and organiser of the exhibition, says, “Would you have guessed that some of the world’s best vintage t-shirt collectors are here in Singapore? The purpose of this exhibition is to showcase their grails (a term used by the community for rare and desirable tees), and to share with the public the many stories of what makes an old beat-up t-shirt so coveted.”
At the exhibition, you’ll be able to dive into the history of each t-shirt, and appreciate the garment as a whole – think typography, graphics and its wear and tear over several years. The shirts on display are not for sale, however, there will be a vendor boot sale located in the backroom of WAOW Gallery organised by Josh Lee from the local vintage store Death Threads/Sonic Titan. The lineup of vendors include Loop Garms, Fibres Friction, Death Threads and Rookies Store.
Visitors will also be able to snag an event-only catalogue in the form of a CD medium that defined the era, as well as an exclusive exhibition T-shirt by the label The Salvages. Don't sleep on it – everything will be available only while stocks last.
