I’m lucky to be part of a wonderful culture here in Canada and that’s something I try to show off through what I wear on App Central. Each season I hunt for cool Canadian T-shirt designers. There’s no deal here, I just search through their catalog for something that catches my eye (and I’m pretty particular) and then, well, buy it and wear it on TV. They only find out about it when I tweet the fact or write about it here on my blog. It’s an easy way to express the creativity of our little world north of the border here.

I’ve already posted a showcase for Season One. Here’s my picks for Season 2.

By the way, I'm still on the hunt. If you know of a cool designer I've overlooked you can contact me at krisabel@gmail.com or through Twitter and Facebook.

 

Iron Robot by Ironhead

Episode S2 E3, E20

A brilliant group of designers that release regular batches of limited edition tees. That means, sadly, that you can’t get the Iron Robot image I love, but will find something new each time you visit them. Their designs are bold, wonderfully high impact, and reflect a range of themes including sports, rockabilly, and digital age counterculture.

epicycloid by Creative Zing

Episode S2 E4

Home to vibrant, friendly designs, this gang puts a lot of care into their threads. Their shirt was transferred to me in a small, designer box and very carefully folded. Nice. I like the cyborg idea of the graphic, that you could pull a hidden zipper back and find a world of neotech inside.

Man In The Doorway by Rotten Rags

Episode S2 E6

From raunchy horror tees to clever designer graphics, Rotten Rags can be both dark and sly. A lot of people really like this one, it has that X-files, secret agent feel. Check out their Shirt-O-Lanterns which I also have (and people stop me on the street to check out).

The Lament by Machete Premium Cuts

Episode S2 E15

Creators of original, almost Grindhouse horror-wear, I assure you they are very charming, nice people (which is exactly what you want behind such ghastly creations). This shirt reminds me of the kind of imagery you’d find in the old Metal Hurlant (Heavy Metal) magazines, that mix of renaissance imagery and stark madness.

Canadian Dragon By Stone Age

Episode S2 18 

Producers of souvenir-wear for the tourists, I was surprised to find this cool Dragon design on the racks at the Ontario Science Store. A nice change from the usual cartoon moose and beavers. And yes, as one of the richest deposits of dinosaur fossils, it’s safe to say there is such a thing as a Canadian dragon.