Welcome to the 60th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode we browse through the files of Supreme, remembering the stories behind the infamous ‘Portrait Tee’ and the history behind it all.
Before the global success, $2.1 billion dollar evaluation and die-hard fanbase, Supreme was a small So-Ho skate shop located on Lafayette Street, New York City. The store, despite its size, played a massive role in the upbringing of street and youth culture throughout the late 90’s and early 2000’s, breaching the rebellious laws of expression one t-shirt at a time.
Among the mass quantity of graphic tees Supreme has released over 28 years of operation, a slim few classify under the notorious “Portrait Tee” category. These garments feature a still of some of the most influential people in pop-culture, all of which wearing the classic Supreme Box Logo t-shirt. Widely captured by the brand's go to photographer; Terry Richardson, each frame tells a story of authenticity and growth, speaking to the brand’s now larger-than-life persona.
Dating back to 2005, the first Portrait Tee was released void of any prior advertising at the New York, Los Angeles and Japan locations. Featuring Wu-Tang’s beloved Raekwon and his bodyguard, the photograph was taken among a tickle-me-elmo and submachine gun, later garnering a cease and desist letter from the Sesame Street legal firm.
Despite the case, Supreme continued to pursue the format and queued Jim Jones and Juelz Santana of ‘Dipset’ the next year. Then in 2007, the knock-out New York native, Mike Tyson, was captured by Kenneth Cappello in his Las Vegas hotel room in between supposed temper-freakouts. Notable for its prevalence in modern media today, the tee resells for a measly $900 USD.
During the next decade of stills, names like Kermit the Frog (2008), Kate Moss (2012) and Gucci Mane (2016) would graze the front of Supreme’s newest collections. Refusing to collaborate with just anyone, the label has retained a distinct validity in the hearts of valued customers, praising only those who have made a true impact in the surrounding community.
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