This is the FIRST EVER glow in the dark edition of "Hang Loose" -- or of ANY Gecko Hawaii shirt... EVER! We released the first batch of this classic as GITD in early June and it sold out in 48 hours! We decided to give it another go.. but it may not last long, so get it while you can! (Or buy a back-up if you got it the first time around!)
100% Ringspun Combed Cotton 6.1 Oz. Super Soft Made in the USA. This tee is belt printed front and back and then tie dyed by hand. No two are exactly alike. You will love wearing this 80s throwback!
The first of Gecko's Artist Series Collaborations!
Only 600 Tanks & Tees Made!
Gecko Hawaii X Brian Viveros
Gecko Artist Series are limited edition shirt collaborations with some of the industry's leading artists. These are artists who have been inspired by Gecko over the years and artists who have continued to keep Gecko inspired!
Less than 100 available in each size!
100% Ringspun Cotton
Printed on a Jet Black T
This is one of our only designs where the graphic is on the front and the limited edition logo is stamped on the back.
About Brian Viveros Brian has done it all. In the world of fine art & graphic design, Viveros is well known for his signature DirtyLand World that features "Powerful Kick-Ass Women." His fine art is all about "Women of Power" and you have more than likely seen a few of his famous pieces (if not in real life, it's ALL OVER the web.)
Below is an excerpt from an interview with Brian Viveros on the details of the design and his process in creating Gecko's newest design:
What was your process in creating the art? Was it difficult to do? Or did it flow? I wanted to design the Gecko in a way that was connected to my fine art world. I paint portrait style paintings of kick-ass female characters in helmets and head gear. I had the idea of a realistic rendering of the Gecko in sunglasses wearing a helmet. The vision I had in my mind was pretty solid and clear from the start, so it just flowed. I was actually anxious & excited to get started. Its been years since I’d illustrated a t-shirt graphic but once I got going, it was a blast! I’m really happy with how it it turned out. I even included the classic OG icon in the helmet along with the year Gecko was established.
Original Release Year: "Gecko Beach" was released in 1989 and was a staple in Gecko's shirt line for years.
The Story of Gecko Beach: A major seller at surf shops, Nordstroms, Macy's and more -- we ran different versions of Gecko Beach for over 10 years, as it was one of our best sellers. The design itself was hand-drawn -- and it's one of the things that really makes the original Gecko Designs so different. We honestly believe that through the process hand drawing the art (versus creating it digitally on a computer in a few hours) the small imperfections, which helped to capture the soul of the art. The hand drawn element captures "The Soul" of the artist.
Back then, the artist would go surfing, draw a little, smoke a little, surf a little, draw a little -- and wind up with their final sketch. The process would take over a week. Then, the artist would send the design via FedEx (the days before email). Gecko HQ 2 in California would receive the art, potentially make some notes or recommendations (changes to colors, etc) over the phone, and then Fed-Ex it back to the artist, where they would surf a little, draw a little, etc. -- then send it back with the changes made.
Gecko Beach is one of the Gecko designs that worked on EVERY color shirt. For our first go-around this time, we added it to black, white, grey and denim shirts for an extra "neon-pop!" Gecko Beach went through a 7 flash process, (a classic/retro shirt printing style that is not used often these days, because it is a more expensive printing process -- but it's what gives these shirts an all "new" dimension of color. People are so used to getting shirts "printed on demand" -- that these days we are all used to less quality and less color in order to produce shirts cheaper and faster. Not at Gecko! We spare no expense to make it EXACTLY the way you remember!
Gecko Beach Tee White - The colors of this POP LIKE CRAZY! The retro printing style give the shirt a color dimension that almost doesn't exist anymore!
The Story of theGecko BeachDesign:A major seller at surf shops, Nordstroms, Macy's and more -- we ran different versions ofGecko Beachfor over 10 years, as it was one of our best sellers. The design itself was hand-drawn -- and it's one of the things that really makes the original Gecko Designs so different. We honestly believe that through the process hand drawing the art (versus creating it digitally on a computer in a few hours) the small imperfections, which helped to capture the soul of the art. The hand drawn element captures "The Soul" of the artist.
Back then, the artist would go surfing, draw a little, smoke a little, surf a little, draw a little -- and wind up with their final sketch. The process would take over a week. Then, the artist would send the design via FedEx (the days before email). Gecko HQ 2 in California would receive the art, potentially make some notes or recommendations (changes to colors, etc) over the phone, and then Fed-Ex it back to the artist, where they would surf a little, draw a little, etc. -- then send it back with the changes made.
Gecko Beach is one of the Gecko designs that worked on EVERY color shirt. For our first go-around this time, we added it to black, white, grey and denim shirts for an extra "neon-pop!" Gecko Beach went through a 7 flash process, (a classic/retro shirt printing style that is not used often these days, because it is a more expensive printing process -- but it's what gives these shirts an all "new" dimension of color. People are so used to getting shirts "printed on demand" -- that these days we are all used to less quality and less color in order to produce shirts cheaper and faster. Not at Gecko! We spare no expense to make it EXACTLY the way you remember!
The perfect fit, super breathable — a fantastic shirt that helps make men’s arms look stronger, and women’s arms look smaller.
Gecko Hawaii art on white t-shirts really takes the “pop” of neon colors to the next level! They are also great for tie-dye experiments as they absorb the dye extremely well.
(Here is a little “Easter Egg” a.k.a hidden secret for you too...
This white version of “Hang Loose“ ALSO Glows In The Dark for a limited time! We only printed 300 white GITD Hang Loose shirts — and this may be our last batch of white GITD for a long while. We originally only let a few close “Gecko Friends” know about it via email, but now we are “soft releasing” what’s left of those. So, if you’re lucky enough to be reading this description, it means there are still some available! Please note: Now that we are “taking it public” — and letting the world know that the white Hang Loose t-shirt also glows — we will probably be sold out within a few days. It just depends on how many people actually take the time to read this!
Take a stroll with in the Gecko Hawaii Time-Machine as we travel back in time and bring Primitive Gecko back to the future!
100% Ringspun Cotton (Super Frick'n Soft!)
Retro Printed With Puff Ink
Dark/Bright Neon Pink Front Pocket Logo
1989 was the dawn of a new age for streetwear and when the "Primitive Gecko" design made it's first debut! The blockbusters (now cult favorite) movies that radical summer were Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Weekend At Bernies -- if you've never seen either of these movies... it's about time that you did! They aged like a fine box of wine! ) At this point in Gecko Hawaii history, the brand was exploding across the country and "Primitive Gecko" was hard to keep on the shelves -- which made it even more sought after!
Several weeks ago we launched this design to our Gecko Family (those who have helped support our relaunch and are a part of our special mailing list) as a secret shirt (only 150 printed) in an Electric Mango 80's tee -- which sold out in about 4 hours! We will NOT be remaking Primitive Gecko on the Electric Mango Pigment Dyed Tee (sorry to all of those who missed out), but the design on our signature black ringspun cotton tee is still a MUST HAVE for any Gecko Hawaii fan!
This Original print will bring you back to the year 1988. The Art makes wraps around the entire shirt and is sure to turn heads. The art still has Copyright from the parent company Happy Shirts, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
