Our
Inspiration ...
Bustling
world street markets, where shoppers peruse spices and textiles
alongside the latest music, styles, and gadgets. Our original graphics
reflect a unique mix of cultural diversity, urban landscape, vintage style and
pop culture.
Within our wide selection we have special collections
on Jewish t-shirts and gifts, Asian t-shirts, vintage and retro
style graphics and quirky combos of all of these.
Who We Are & Where We've Been
"Move over, Ralph Lauren..."
... So said Blueprint Magazine NY, in a tongue-in-cheek manner when they featured some of my pop-culture t-shirts. Now, I harbor no delusions about posing any sort of threat to Mr. Lauren, but I am thrilled at how our shirts have been embraced by customers and reviewers.
I started Rotem Gear in 2002, as a part of my graphics and intercultural marketing company, Rotem
Design Studio, and the online shop took off on its own. What makes Rotem Gear different from so many other t-shirt sites? Not only are the designs mine, but the ideas and languages come directly from my own multi-cultural background. I wasn't always a designer by trade, but have always been a student and teacher of languages, cultures and aesthetics (I have an MA in Japanese and a BA in Asian Studies) as well as writer, media publicist, intercultural specialist and creative communications
innovator, and have lived and worked in Japan and Israel.
I’m captivated by textures, typographies, rhythms and architecture. This oddly cross-cultural view of the world come into play when I design ... connecting the dots between words and images, languages and aesthetics––as well as American pop culture and the kind of quirky humor I find amusing.
My vision for Rotem Gear is that global mixed-up nature: exotic and familiar, vintage and hip, local and connected, respect and humor -- all in an everyday sort of package. A t-shirt.
Rotem
Gear shirts have been featured in Metro NY,BluePrint Magazine and
the lifestyle+fashion magazine, ANEW (special
holiday section "Our Favorite Things"), as well
as Japanese Streets, YoYenta, ReallyNeat.com, ChosenThings, BlogHer, InTshirts, T-Shirt Casserole, MixedPlate, ThatITGirl, TeamSugar, Stylehive and virtual host ;-) of other
selection-by-editor's-discretion sites and fashion blogs.
I have been interviewed on Indie
Entrepreneur, The
Los Angeles Times, The New Paltz Observer, and the Digital
Eve media resource group.
Update September 1, 2008: Our shirts are featured in Lisa Alcalay Klug's new book Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe
!
Production
For
most of our online products we have partnered with CafePress.com to produce to produce our quality items. CafePress manages the
production, payment and shipping of our Rotem Gear merchandise
according to the highest standards so that we can provide the
best possible service.
Aside
from the products we produce through CafePress, we
also offer limited-production products, as well as personalization and custom design for individuals,
organizations and retail shops.
Currently under construction is an exciting new site for our upcoming exclusive "limited edition" line. Our limited edition products are currently available at select shows and festivals.
I also invite you to
sign up for our
newsletter
to learn about promotions, give-aways,
new products and fun stuff!
Thank
you for shopping with us!
R. Jean Roth
Mad Astigmatic Creative Force, Rotem Gear
Also under
the direction of Rotem Design Studio:
