OUR STORY
Iced Tea - Wear your Aesthetic. Since 2017.
Foreword
I think that the best artwork comes from the obscure corners of the internet, where you will find small independent creators pouring their passion into their craft.
What if we were able to combine this art with high quality apparel. What would it look like?
Is that something that can be done?
In 2017, I said "Yes"
(And then I short circuited my neighbors house with a faulty t-shirt press).
The beginning
Located in Melbourne Australia, I went ahead and began printing some of my random artworks on t-shirts in-house.
I teamed up with some of my artist friends. Online and offline, and screwed up beautifully.
I teamed up with some of my artist friends. Online and offline, and screwed up beautifully.
I started printing my own shirts with a terrible heat press. I was a broke student and emptied my savings into that thing.
I ended up burning my shirts and short circuiting the electricity
for my neighbors house. I was close to giving up.
But I didn't!
But I didn't!
All it took for me to get up, time and time again, was the belief in what I am trying to do.
No other brand or store was selling the fan art and designs that we had in mind. Especially not from small-time independent artists from the corners of the internet (which I believe is the best kind).
I knew that the idea behind Iced Tea Aesthetics will work, it’s just a matter of how.
No other brand or store was selling the fan art and designs that we had in mind. Especially not from small-time independent artists from the corners of the internet (which I believe is the best kind).
I knew that the idea behind Iced Tea Aesthetics will work, it’s just a matter of how.
Things started to finally work out
It’s a long journey, from a room procrastinating for my university exams to running Iced Tea Aesthetics.
The first few years were definitely the hardest. I remember slaving away for hours with nothing to show for. It took over 2 years before I even recovered the cost of the faulty heat press from earlier.
For
most of 2018 and 2019 no one took my idea too seriously - until the results starting coming in.
When
your hard work begins to bear fruit, you get a feeling that I cannot
describe.
Fast forward a couple years, and I spent everything on expanding and improving the quality of what Iced Tea offers.
I switched suppliers multiple times untilI was confident and happy with the shirts I was printing.
I would never sell something I won’t wear myself. And often I have deleted best sellers simply because I wasn’t happy with the item.
I would never sell something I won’t wear myself. And often I have deleted best sellers simply because I wasn’t happy with the item.
As of 2024 Iced Tea Aesthetics works with a team of independent artists from multiple countries. Either we draw our designs ourselves, or we purchase it directly from the artist.
We have formed friendships and alliances and the journey feels like a rollercoaster.
Ultimately, the fuel that keeps us going is the passion of those small time yet incredibly talented arists you find in the corners of the internet. It is them that I thank for accepting to team up with me and allowing me to achieve the dream that I had.
Thank you for taking your precious time to read this.
- Alexander, founder of Iced Tea Aesthetics.
