Rhode Island 250th Commemorative Collab!

When the Rhode Island 250th Anniversary Commission reached out about creating some apparel to mark this magnificent occasion, we were incredibly flattered. Our steadfast designer set about to make something worthy of this honor.. . . 

Much of the inspiration for this project came from touring our state archives. The phrase "a lively experiment" is taken from the Rhode Island Charter, a document from 1663 that provided recognition of the government of Rhode Island by King Charles II. In New England, the charter was uniquely liberal for its time, and later became important not only to Rhode Island, but also to the foundational ideas of our country. Rhode Island was a "lively experiment" that "a most flourishing civil state may stand and be maintained...with a full liberty in religious concernments…." — a radical statement in the 17th century, and still a relevant one today.

The ornamentation around the Rhode Island Charter also provided visual inspiration for our project. Elegant flowers with bees, flies, and snails surround the text. (Snails!) If only we knew anything about the artist.…

Another delightful surprise was seeing original documents in Roger Williams' truly batshit handwriting. He was, of course, vital to the founding of our state and country, so drawing "a lively experiment" in the style of his handwriting seemed like a no-brainer.