Inspired by Detroit: Shades Apparel Collection Launched

There’s no denying that Detroit is a unique city with a rich, colorful history, and now some of the most iconic symbols of its street art are available for a limited time.

Antonio “Shades” Agee, one of Detroit’s best known street artists, has partnered with MyLocker to create an Inspired by Detroit: Shades Collection. MyLocker, an e-commerce company headquartered in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, is using automated embroidery technology combined with state-of-the-art color printing to recreate Shades’ designs on clothing, including hoodies, t-shirts, bags, and hats.

Shades, a Detroit native, has been commissioned by such companies as Universal Studios, Chrysler, and Fiat, and he has two pieces archived at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Shades takes great pride in his work, which heavily reflects his love for the City of Detroit. The available designs in the MyLocker collection include a several of Shades’ iconic creations: “Lips”, a graffiti-emblazoned drawing of the word “Detroit”, and a lovable character called “Blooey.”

“Detroit is my muse and my canvas,” said Shades. “Now it’s time to expand that ‘canvas’ into clothing – and help young artists along the way with each sale from the collection.”

Shades isn’t the only artist whose work is included in the collection. Several students with Art Road, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making art classes available for Detroit students, will have works included in the collection. One fourth of the sales from the Inspired by Detroit: Shades Collection will go towards Art Road to help the organization continue its mission to reintroduce art to local public schools.

“Proceeds from this collection will help us expand our efforts – and the benefits that come with them – like the clear increase in student attendance on days when our art classes take place,” Carol Hofgartner, founder and executive director of Art Road.

Want to see the collection? Check out the lookbook, or you can shop the Inspired by Detroit: Shades Collection and support Art Road here.