T.I.T.S. (Two In The Shirt) Interview

by Matthew J.

All I have to say is “Word Association” with Marek was great … I’d even state it as being my “most memorable”. I won’t lie, some of his responses had me rolling. Perhaps, we’ll do another piece consisting only of WORD ASSOCIATION? Hmmm..

This is the TITS (Two In The Shirt) brand. The group who is creatively combining images of attractive women with some of the freshest designs on the market; all of this equalling one great combination (one great pair?). I’m telling you, people haven’t paid this much attention to any “pair” from Washington State since the days of Griffey and A-Rod … better yet, Kemp and Payton.

Props to Marek Grubel and the whole team at Two In The Shirt, without your help and contribution this piece would not have been possible.

Before we get into the interview, I want to give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and some of the people who embody the TITS crew. It’s crew love time! Who are the main contributors that help make the company run? It’s Crew love time.

My name is Marek G, I am the founder of TITS brand. I have a business partner who takes care of all the back end. Rex handles all of our online marketing and web sales. Bboy handles all of our PR and is the man responsible for kicking TITS brand into the porn market. Of course, I can’t forget Elaine, who is my “brain”.

[props to Elaine for the images]

We’ll start with something a bit easy: What is TWO THE SHIRT? How did it begin? And what is the mantra driving the company?

TITS BRAND is a brand that is driven by sex, sex sells sex, so that’s what we sell, and it sells!!!

What was the first print you made? How did that influence and/or shape the present-day designs for your brand?

Our first design was Wifey Material 1, which shaped our whole line. It’s like our single off our hit album. All of our designs have great concepts and imagery but the wifey is that bread and butter concept. Its our ‘thigh master’ product on the market.

I’d like to expand upon that “thigh master” statement, but it would be wise to talk graff for a few seconds! From what I understand, your crew has a graffiti background. How does it play into the images you make? How does graff compare to the graphics you currently design?

The main thing graffiti taught me was how to be creative and how to go about marketing your name on an international scale. Maybe a few color ways have been inspired by graff pieces, but other than that there is no comparison. We believe that graffiti belongs on walls with spray-paint!!

Ok, back to the gear. With the new Fall collections out, you’ve started branching into the production of neckties and scarves? Can it be that TITS is becoming a high-end apparel line?

No high-end for us. We are expanding out accessory line to show growth since we won’t be getting into any heavy cut and sew. We are a really really good graphic tee brand, now we need to show creativity with accessories.

What inspired this expansion (into neckties and scarves)?

We look for big mediums that we can slap our graphics on, ties and scarves allow for this to occur and look good at the same time.

How are you able to keep yourself balanced between being “underground” or “street” and becoming “mainstream”? I know the celebrity endorsements must help expose the line, but are you leery of mainstream success? Or is that an ultimate goal?

We don’t put a label on the brand because we sell sex … it would be like Playboy only selling to hip hop heads or only mainstreamers. Am I afraid of mainstream success? NO, not at all. The most money is made in the mainstream. There is next to no money in underground, I don’t want to be wearing a backpack my whole life!!!

Who are some of your celebrity supporters/endorses? Which one surprised you the most?

50 Cent is an avid supporter and so is Trey Songz … but the most surprising was Tera Patrick, which by the way will be on a TITS brand shirt very shortly.

How and when did the original concept for TWO IN THE SHIRT come about?

Drinking 40’s and eating macaroni salad from 7-11….

Macaroni salad from the 7-11? Is there something in that which helps stir up creativity? (laughing). Did you ever image the ideas you came up with, that night, would manifest into the successful company you’re now running?

It’s probably the expired mayo that sparked the think tank?? I had no idea, I just know that I have a rare talent which is being able to be creative and also have a business ethic all in one brain!!

A lot of brands are coming out with similar design styles to TITS’. Now, of course, women on t-shirts isn’t anything new, but you’ve done it in a way that is a little fresher than the average. What are your thoughts on these brands who seem to mimic your formula?

I do my best to inform buyers to not buy the ripped designs. Basically, the customer thinks its a TITS BRAND shirt anyway, so why waste the time buying the rip off?? We take it as a compliment, we also know that it helps our brand, but there is a fine line between help and flooding the market.

Of course, seeing women on shirts is not anything new, however, your brand has been one of the prominent company’s to use provocative images and it’s become apparent that many brands are now following the path your re-invented. With that being stated, in your opinion, is TWO IN THE SHIRT ahead of the fashion curve? Or are the other brands just being lazy with their designs?

I think we helped create the curve so it is only natural that we are in tune or ahead of the curve. Most brands sell logo tees whereas we sell graphics and we just happened to have the balls to do it as a brand!!

Word Association (I’ll give you a word or phrase and you give me the first word/phrase that pops into your head) :
- Aria Giovanni : Huge TITS
- Biggest Supporter(s) : Australians
- Biggest Disappointment (concerning the brand) : The failure of ‘who framed tits brand’
- Motivation : The building process
- Greatest Achievement : Fatherhood
- Brands who copy your style : Almost all
- Eva Angelina : Sexy star I’ve met besides Tera Patrick (amen!)
- Favourite TITS print thus far: Solid Gold
- Gianna Michaels : Dope
- Chances of you hooking me up with Gianna’s phone #? : Talk to BBoy

I think your brand has a lot going for it, so why has it taken so long [for your company] to get proper distribution in Canada? Are Canadians, too prudish?

We just picked up a Canadian distributor. I think Canadians are smart, they made sure we were a brand that wasn’t just a fad, and now that we have proven to be a solid company, they are ready to buy!!

Who will be your actual Canadian distributor? Where are they located? I want to find an actual store to shop in; all the online shopping is killing my Visa balance.
We just signed up with TM FASHIONS starting with the Fall/Winter 09 line, so if you can be patient, they will be hitting those stores!!!

Last question, let’s look to the future: 5.10.15. Where do you see TWO IN THE SHIRT going within the next 5 , 10, and 15 years?

In 5 years, we will stay perky. 10 years, we will be as plump as can be. 15 years, we will be as saggy as seventy year old scrotums.