I have a little rule: I never wear clothing with a designer logo or copy on it, no matter how handsome, envy-inducing or “brag worthy” a garment may be. This personal policy of mine does, however, have two exceptions:
1. I’m being paid to wear it.
2. The garment, designer, institution, artist or business directly supports a cause or idea I strongly believe in. (This does include my alma mater, but I wouldn’t consider sports companies, beer & liquor organizations or super fierce designer labels “causes.”)
John Bartlett is not only a smart men’s designer with a rugged, handsome, American aesthetic I’ve always loved. He is also a fervent animal lover whose efforts in the way of dog rescue have directly changed the lives of dogs and humans alike, myself included. (I adopted Smokey at one of his North Shore Animal League adoption events.)
After the death of John’s dog Tiny Tim – an adoption from a rescue shelter – he created an affordable line of casual wear and accessories for men, women and our furry companions called the Tiny Tim Collection. 10% of all profits from the collection go to the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, which helps support and fund animal rescue groups and shelters who pull animals from high-kill shelters across the country, and provides these deserving animals with medical care, training, love and the opportunity to find a loving, permanent home. [See my original piece on the Tiny Tim Rescue fund here.]
The collection features t-shirts, sweatshirts, swimwear, accessories and more, including “wag swag” like leashes, collars and shirts for dogs. And all the merch showcases the Tiny Tim logo, which is an actual silhouette of John’s dog – a logo I wear proudly on the Tiny Tim items I own. For Spring/Summer 2012, the collection brings in some fantastic pops of Popsicle color, like red, blue, yellow and orange. Images from some of my favorite pieces are in the gallery below.
These handsome (and helpful) goods come in an extremely reasonable range, from $25 for tanks, trucker hats and dog gear to $70 for the Tiny Tim Signature Hoodie, and everything else in between. Among other things, I have my eye on that beach towel ($40).
Images of my favorites…
