Made Around Here

The first Rendered gear showed up over the past couple of weeks: tees printed by Ryan and Paz at Belleville Screen Printing, and a pair of caps stitched by Ashleigh at ANB Embroidery and More in Granite City.

Me in the new Rendered gear: a black cap with the prism stitched tone on tone, and a black tee with the small Rendered lockup on the chest, outdoors in front of blurred trees and a pond. — Out and about this morning in a cap and tee from the first run, at the Lewis and Clark memorial near Alton.

I could have ordered all of this from a big print-on-demand site in a few clicks. But Rendered exists to be the marketing department for local businesses, so it only seemed right that local businesses would make the gear. Both shops treated a tiny first order like it mattered, which tells you something about why places like these stick around.

The cap is black on black on purpose. The prism only shows up when the light catches it, and I love that. It lets me represent without attracting too much attention to my forehead.

Me beside the stone Lewis and Clark Expedition marker at the site, its carved inscription weathered and faint, wearing the black Rendered cap and tee. — The expedition marker at the site, weathered almost past reading.

Close-up of the weathered Lewis and Clark Expedition inscription carved in granite, with my shadow, cap and all, falling across the faded text. — The inscription up close, with me photobombing as a shadow. Even granite needs somebody minding the message.

Wearing my own logo is pretty rewarding. Rendered is a big part of who I am, so it feels natural to wear it around. Plus, anything that makes my early mornings easier is a win in my book, and the little shirt-and-cap collection has simplified the daily dressing ritual. 👖👕👟🧢 ✅

Notes, by email