Imaginary Foundation is a brand I've come across several times here and there. I'd see a tee in a shop, come across it online, etc. Because of their ties to the art world I could have sworn I've seen their 'Somewhere' tee in the SF MOMA store too.

Anyway, I finally stumbled upon their site and started browsing...and wow. They do some amazing stuff! They have a whole theme of amazingly designed Monty Python-esque prints featuring the stiff, monochrome figures of old juxtaposed with bright, popping colors and modern elements like spray cans, turn tables, and microphones.

Then there's their two-tone streetwear styled prints. Especially nice is the 'Tools of the Trade' tee (bottom left) which features musical and art instruments both in print and reverse, i.e. if you look closely, there are spray cans, scissors, and brushes silhouetted in the negative space between the printed elements.

And what kind of streetwear site would this be without all-over prints? I have to include one every few posts or I lose my license :-) Good news is these all-overs are damn nice, especially the blueprint hoodie, which unfortunately is already sold out. Wish I was up on that one earlier - it's one of the best I've seen in ages.

But what kind of BFA holding art school grad would I be sitting here commenting on design without seeing what the artists themselves have to say? From their site:

"The Imaginary Foundation is a think tank from Switzerland that does experimental research on new ways of thinking and the power of the imagination. They hold dear a belief in human potential and seek progress in all directions. The small clandestine team is headed up by the mysterious "Director" a 70 something uber intellectual who's father founded the Dadaist movement. Avoiding direct publicity the team has sought streetwear as an unlikely vehicle for bringing their ideas beyond the academic realm and into popular culture.

"In his vision for the Imaginary Foundation, the Director knew that the human mind has more than one mode, that indeed it has an "ecology" of being. He knew that imagination, intuition, inspiration are basic to psyche. . . . A philosophy of research began to form: imagination as fundamental to all learning; artistic making as a model of integrating vision, materials, structure, and imagery."

I nominate that for best brand 'about us' statement in history...sounds like they're the Illuminati brainwashing the world through streetwear! Oh well, if you're gonna be brainwashed, you're probably better off being re-programmed by mysterious Dadaists rather than MTV and/or pop-culture.

I highly recommended you check out Imaginary Foundation here. They have stuff for men and women, as well as art prints for sale.