"Sometimes the best hiding place is the one that's in plain sight." - Stephanie Meyer
from the Gray man theory
And with this premise we started to envision what is now visible and tangible, offered to you as TC22.
The complete TC22 offering is presented as an ongoing project, and is envisioned around (in)visibility.
What does visible mean? Is it a bold overall print, a color, or could it be just the silhouette that will make you noticeable and even stand out at the right moment in the right setting?
What does invisible mean? And how does the art of camouflage come into play? Can camo serve just as an inspiration? Being applied without being used literary?
With this thought, we took from what surrounds and inspires us; playing with thoughts about duality and juxtaposition.
The idea of existing, at one point being present in a somewhat constant, even caged environment of a city, and on the other hand, wishing to escape to a setting which is constantly changing; the first being urban camo, the second, as much relevant and an obvious choice, being nature camo.
We built on what we presented as TC21 199144, items inspired with the utilitarian approach to dressing, the functionality of wardrobe a martial arts practitioner wore centuries ago, but this time applied it to an urban setting, as urban camo.
Black denim was chosen as key source, signifying the key source that is present in each city, this being concrete and asphalt, dark and sturdy, resisting the elements but also, in a way, accepting them and with that, allowing a visible change which happens over time, years, even decades.
Even with all of its lights, the city is a dark place with all the concrete walls and glass of skyscrapers, the streets, the subway lanes.
The raw black denim in all its roughness will start to adapt to each individual, becoming a unique item in fit and color, both being noticeable, but maybe just at the second or third glance.
With the moving force of each city, this being the working class we thought about workers as builders, creators; a tiny force of great magnitude.
Following the key premise of the Gray Man theory, the guidelines on how to dress to remain unnoticed, and with urban camouflage in mind, we set ourselves to create a uniform-like outfit, having in mind material, color, and the silhouette.
The TC22 199144 offering is with this presented as a uniform, a Basic Denim Overall Pant and a Basic Denim Jacket – as a layer of the Hybrid Jacket. Being neutral in color, fit and minimal in (visible) features, items, each in its own right, are envisioned and created as adaptable to each other and additional garments, thus serving you when creating your look, a uniform of a sort.
With a utilitarian approach to wardrobe the items are presented as spacey, oversized if you will, a comfortable wear, both being able to be worn in more than one way.
8 25 2 18 9 4
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A versatile servant of your expectations and needs when fighting the elements, being a hybrid item.
Consists of two pieces; this being TC Basic Denim Jacket, which can be worn as a single item, enriching your style through warmer months of early Spring and Fall, and the second one, TC Black Quilted Jacket.
The denim layer is crafted from raw black denim, fitted spacey oversized with two directions as an inspiration, comfort and functionality of worker overalls and 90s hip hop scene as a cultural reference, whilst honoring the aesthetics of the 21st century Far East, this again being Korea and Japan.
The quilted layer is created true to size. This item can be worn as a standalone protector from cold or can be styled two ways with the TC Basic Denim Jacket. Primarily envisioned as an inner layer, this one will serve your style as an outer layer as well.
A basic denim overall pant. At first glance. But if examined closely, when worn, additional styling techniques will emerge; playing with straps, using them as a belt, this item can be worn as a regular pant, high waist or low crotch.
Deeply hidden, two additional inner pockets will reveal themselves only when being carefully looked for.
As the theme we set for ourselves was function and hybrid usability, two inspirations created the main direction; one being 90s hip hop - #AllBaggyEverything - dropped crotch; and the second one, true to size - higher waist, functional workwear.
All TC22 199144 items are neutral gender, crafted according to TC vision of universal wearability.
199144
Reflective Calli Crewneck
This gender-neutral crew is a first piece from the 199144 collection. With a vision of neutral, universal items in mind, 199144 will spread through the seasons not constrained by time, location or fashion trends.
Inspired by Japanese culture and its minimalism and a sense of calm. With an ambition to be as plain and minimal as possible, it stills provides much needed details revealed only by the second or third look, such as the "199144" white embroidered logo on the chest, or the full "Tire Calligraphy" logo in silver on the back, coming fully to life when "attacked" by a force of light, as it is a 3M reflective element.
Fight Fire With Fire T-Shirt
Inspired by Japanese culture and its minimalism and a sense of calm, but also with regard to its overwhelming dynamic and fast change, with this T-Shirt we tried to juxtapose the two, playing with the term "a dog eat dog world", in this case presented by "sneaky" foxes. Kitsune, (Japanese: fox), is very common in Japanese folklore; a creature of mythical status, oscillating between a symbol of cunning, and a powerful possessor of great intelligence and good fortune.
This gender-neutral T is a piece of the 199144 collection.
Continuing our pursuit for the minimal, but still, garments optimal in wearability, the effort was once again concentrated in creating a line of timeless and fashionless items, we believe are, and will remain new-timeless-classics. To juxtapose the new 199144 pieces to the initial white ones, every item is black, fitting together perfectly.
Again, the inspiration was the East. This time it was ancient Korea and martial arts created in that period. As a symbol of wisdom, black was often used in Korean arts, from uniforms to ceremonial dresses. One such contemporary successor is the art of Hwa Rang Do. The black outfit the practitioner wears is called a dobokh (Japanese: kimono).
“Hwarangdo, (Korean: “flower youth”) youth group following a unique military and philosophical code developed in the ancient Korean state of Silla bout the 6th century CE. The hwarangdo were groups of elite youths (hwarang; the suffix -do means “group,” “disciple,” or “follower”) who were trained almost equally in academic and martial skills.”
SOURCE: BLACK BELT MAG 1977
“...More exactly, he shows them the secrets of the hwarang sul sa, the "magical" technicians of Hwa Rang Do, whose prime counterparts in the Asian world of long ago were the famed ninja of Japan. Both ninja and sul sa were regarded as almost superhuman creatures.“
SOURCE: BLACK BELT MAG 1977
“Hwa Rang Do is a highly balanced martial style incorporating physical techniques with philosophy, academics and healing arts. To demonstrate this idea of balance, Hwa Rang Do has two different, yet necessary, divisions of physical applications: Jeong do and Am ja.
Jeong do is the "way of the true sword." It means fighting in battle with honor and dignity, dueling to the death, never retreating in the face of the enemy, and dying if one must. In ancient times, the code of chivalry was up held at all cost, and the gentleman's code was practiced sincerely.
Consequently, there emerged a group of warrior elite known as the sulsa (knights of the night). … The sulsa were selected from the best Hwarang warriors. They were Hwa Rang Do's special forces, majoring in infiltration, exfiltration, intelligence gathering, assassination and survival.
They used whatever means necessary to carry out there plan. Unlike the ancient Japanese ninja, however, the most important asset of the sulsa was there ideal of hwal bop, which encouraged the warrior to save lives, rather than take them. If one one were able to kill, one should be able to heal.
The sulsa were experts in un shin bop, a subdivision of hwarang do which involves the art of concealing oneself in front of others. It employs a combination of distraction, suggestion, stealth, and camouflage. To be invisible, one must utilize what is visible. By controlling the elements which can be seen, one can appear invisible. We assume things are real by making associations with past experiences. We set expectations and anticipate the results before analyzing all the facts. When one can determine the boundary between reality and illusion, he no longer exists in the real world, but only in his illusions.
Am ja is the "way of darkness." In this division, trickery, deception and cunning are the key elements of success. One must use whatever method, tool, or strategy is necessary to gain an advantage and defeat the enemy. In am ja, the only honor lies in the ultimate outcome.
The Hwarang spirit has not endured 18 centuries becasue its techniques are superior, but because people who cherish the art understand the value of man, nature and the universe.“
Source: Black BeltMagazine 1986
We believe that practicing martial arts is the ultimate experience of mind and body, be it studying a choreography of movements in forms or using your hands in a different way, the “empty hand” techniques, or in weapon training, which can be applied to different cases in everyday situation with everyday objects, just as it would be simply propelling yourself through a busy street.
In a broader sense, training your body and mind, just being persistent in your practice, any form of movement, be it skateboarding, riding fixedgear, trail running or climbing and to expand it even further, yoga, meditation, just mindful walking, drawing, sculpting or tattooing, being aware of oneself, but also losing yourself in the moment, is an art for itself.
TC21 199144
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water.
Now, you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot.
Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water my friend.
Running water never grows stale, so you got to keep on flowing.”
BRUCE LEE (Rest in Power)
With this postulate and with every practitioner of mind and body as our direction and guidance, we set ourselves to create what is now offered to you as TC21 / 199144.
Following the philosophy of martial arts which is adaptability, and with sustainability in mind, every item can be used for more than one purpose and situation.
As the black Korean dobokh is a neutral and versatile garment in its own right, being used in its simple form in everyday practice, or a premium version used for ceremonies, every item from TC21 / 199144 is a versatile one, being offered to serve you in various occasions, from everyday use to “suite and tie” dress to impress life events.
With a vision of neutral, universal items in mind,
199144 will spread through the seasons not constrained by time, location or fashion trends. Every item offered is a neutral-gender item.
DOBOKH PANT
Black and simple
Envisioned as a chino pant with a twist. You can steam iron the middle of the leg for a more classical look.
With ankle-length, the pant allows you to show how strong your shoe or sock game is, without you needing to roll the trouser leg. Plus, you won’t have oil stains from your everyday bike commute.
Ladies can size down and wear the pant with a high waist for a capri pant look. Both can size up for a 90s baggy pant style.
The added, “built-in”, but also removable black belt follows inspiration from martial arts, but also, from a more contemporary source, skate kids, who kept their pants on by using a simple thing as a shoelace.
The feature of the Twill is its durability, which we find is a feature, not a “bug”. Similar to the black dobokh and the belt; with hours of practice, your movement and your sweat, both age and soften over time, becoming uniquely yours. Because over time, the Twill will age, adapt to your body and the color will age, as time passes, giving you the one-off unique look.
DOBOKH PARKHA
The most complex item from the TC21 / 199144 offering.
From the simplicity of a minimal black jacket, it allows you to develop your style depending on your own and the current mood of the weather.
Unzipping the sleeves halfway, allows you additional breathability, while removing them enables additional wearing technique to emerge.
Adjusting the belt strap lets you play with the symmetry of the front side, which is most times in sight. When you need to layer down, the belt strap lets you easily carry the jacket to your destination.
Made from the durable Twill cotton, this one will serve you throughout the entire year in the warm to transitional chilly periods.
Featuring an oversized hood for your protection against the elements, it also perfectly encapsules the hood from your inner layer.
New Life
BLACK T-SHIRT
Honoring the practitioners of fine arts. The etiquette of the elite “Flower Society” which were the Hwarang sulsa noblemen. On a more contemporary level, a black T-Shirt we always wanted to create.
An hommage to all of the artists and bands and their music, which formed and shaped us in many ways, through time which is now decades. Being (true) emo or hardcore etiquette, the philosophy of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and Straight Edge, when looked at from a broader perspective, for us means being persistent in one’s efforts to progress. Practice makes perfect. For us it symbolizes positive notions of new life, eternal life, flow of matter and circularity.
Deliberately chosen to be a slightly washed-out black, it features a simple true to size fit, as most of the band merch does. We still love buying band merch, to support the scene and because the designs are always on point.
More importantly it is an hommage to every person living through 2020. A virus does not discriminate. Nor does a natural disaster, such as an earthquake. People find a way to move on, by adapting, to learn and grow, to start a new life.
New Life
BLACK HOODIE
A black hoodie. We believe it should be a quintessential piece in every wardrobe. Almost like the little black dress.
This hoodie features a more classic cut, relaxed in the upper part and the sleeves for a comfortable wear. The “New Life” design is positioned on the back on purpose, for a more minimal, cleaner look, providing you a level of flexibility when wearing it. Sometimes you want to stand out in the crowd, but sometimes you just want a black hoodie, and with an additional item on your back, you have one.
The standard pouch pocket is present but positioned inside with a practical zip closing.
New Life
GRAY T-SHIRT
Envisioned as a single piece which tightly connects two collections, New Life and 199144.
Created from a heavier, French terry cotton with a relaxed fit, for a premium look and feel.
It also features the New Life design, but positioned on the back for a minimal look, which goes perfectly hand in hand with every item from the 199144 collection.
A simple, yet impactful color block for all of the items from both collections, which are black.
