Warner Bros. Records is joining forces with Threadless, the community-driven design company, to produce band merchandise created by independent artists for some of the label’s most popular musical artists. In an ongoing collaboration between the two brands, Threadless will host design challenges for Warner Bros. talent, inviting the global Threadless artist community of 2.5 million members to design and vote on t-shirts and other products inspired by the music of each artist.
“This partnership with Warner Bros. is an incredible opportunity for the artists on Threadless,” said Threadless Founder and CEO Jake Nickell. “Music is a powerful source of inspiration, and we’re honored to be working with a label that has supported great music for so many years. This ongoing partnership will help to further Threadless’ goal of providing independent artists with new and creative outlets for their art, while providing musical artists on Warner Bros. Records with some incredible artwork for their merchandise.”
The initial design challenge for this new partnership, launched May 13, features The Flaming Lips, a band famous for their commitment to creative innovation and ultra-extravagant live performances. “The Flaming Lips are the perfect band to kick off this partnership,” said Nickell. “Their eclectic, arty image and fearless creativity fit perfectly with the Threadless community’s aesthetic diversity. We expect to receive some of the craziest, most whacked out submissions we’ve ever seen!”
Submissions to the challenge will be open from May 13 to June 3 at threadless.com/theflaminglips. Fans can continue to vote on which designs should be made into t-shirts through June 10. One grand prize winner will receive $5,000 cash, a $500 Threadless gift certificate, 2 tickets to an upcoming North American Flaming Lips show, the Record Store Day exclusive release of Zaireeka 4-LP vinyl box set, a signed CD copy of The Terror, and a double-LP vinyl copy of The Terror. Other top designs will also be sold on Threadless.com and beyond.
The winning design won’t be chosen until voting closes on June 10, but customers can pre-order the winning tee now at threadless.com/theflaminglips/presale. From now until June 30, 2013, $10 from the sale of each tee will go to the American Red Cross to benefit those most affected by the Oklahoma tornado of May 20, 2013.
The Grammy award-winning Lips are touring the world now in support of their 13th studio album, The Terror, released on April 16. As always, THE LIPS continue to command critical accolades:
“The Flaming Lips have been on one of the most remarkable creative streaks of any band, let alone a band that’s been-this is their 30th anniversary, they started in 1983. They are at the peak of their creative career right now at a point when other bands long ago would have hung it up. This band is amazing and they continue to impress just when I think they can’t impress anymore.” – NPR.Org
For more information about the design challenge or this partnership, please contact kyleg@skinnycorp.com or visit http://threadless.com/wbr
