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BEST PICTURE NOVEMBER 09

BEST PICTURE WINNER NOVEMBER 2009

Jeth Calder wins our Best Picture of November competition with this great photo of himself wearing our Nexus-6 T-shirt on duty at a patrol base in Helmand, Afghanistan. If you have any ideas you’d like to submit for our December competition, then send them in to us to: info@lastexittonowhere.com for a chance to win. Good luck and thanks to all that entered this month.

LITTLE WHITE LIES

Little White Lies

MIKE FORD
Interview by Adam Woodward

In a society where art and taste have become a perma-fixture of personal paraphernalia, the inherent geekiness of cinema still requires an element of discretion. Last Exit to Nowhere, then, is the movie geek’s Mecca. The T-shirt company, which was launched online in June 2007 by Mike Ford, a former guitarist with Nottingham punk-rockers, Consumed, is imaginative, subtle and unashamedly nerdy.

Paying homage to some of the most memorable places, companies and corporations in cinematic history from Goodfellas to Brazil; The Italian Job to Jaws, Ford’s distinctive array of faux-brand merch is thoughtful, colourful and occasionally bordering on out right genius. To put it simply, Ford knows his shit, and his eye for an in-joke makes Last Exit one of the coolest companies of its kind. Ford recently gave LWLies the low down on his unique film fashion site.

LWLies: Where did the idea for Last Exit to Nowhere come from?

Ford: The idea for the company developed from my love of cinema, collecting T-shirts, and a feeling of being creatively stifled at the design agency I worked for at the time. My brother is a screen printer by trade, and I’ve always been able to take ideas from popular/retro culture – including films – and design and produce bespoke garments.

It seemed that T-shirts with a film title or the actor’s likeness printed on them were 10 a penny. I wanted something different to wear, so I set about looking for references within the films I liked to produce T-shirts that act as a subtle appreciation rather than blatant fandom. Whilst cycling to work one day it occurred to me that I could supplement my income if I wove these elements together and offered something unique, original and affordable for those who felt the same way as I did. Within a few of months of the site going live I had to leave my job to pursue the idea full time.

LWLies: How do you come up with fresh ideas that have never been done before?

Ford: Most of the ideas in the current range come from films that I either grew up watching, mostly at friends’ houses on Betamax/VHS videos, or from films that I appreciate today. Any new ideas that come my way are from the same source really.

LWLies: How do you go about designing the T-shirts?

Ford: When the idea is set then I begin working up the artwork. This involves creating/recreating the design using pencil, ink, PhotoShop and Illustrator. I try and design the garment in a way that is sympathetic with the era or feel of the film and its location.

LWLies: How do you decide what films are suitable for T-shirt designs?

Ford: The simple rule of thumb I use is the reference has to be from a film that appeals to me first and foremost. I’m not into producing T-shirts from films that don’t interest me just to sell them.

LWLies: How much creative freedom do you have? Have you ever needed special clearance on a design?

Ford: When and where it’s relevant we negotiate the legalities of selling our items. The creative freedom is still there, though.

LWLies: Are there any films you have wanted to do, but haven’t been able to realise?

Ford: We’d love to do a ‘Lunar Industries’ design from Duncan Jones’ Moon. However, it appears that Sony Pictures have complete ownership of any reference to it.

LWLies: Have you had any major set backs?

Ford: Only a couple of technical set backs with the website really, nothing to write home about – touch wood.

LWLies: Where do you take the company from here?

Ford: We’d like the company to continue in the way it has been developing, offering new and interesting designs along the way. We’ve recently added a ‘Join Us’ section to the website where you can qualify for discounts and special offers. With enough members we are hoping to conquer a small country.

If you feel like fuelling your inner fanboy, take a peek at the site’s online shop. We did, and we couldn’t be happier.

Best Picture Novermber 09

BEST PICTURE WINNER NOVEMBER 2009

Jeth Calder wins our Best Picture of November competition with this great photo of himself wearing our Nexus-6 T-shirt on duty at a patrol base in Helmand, Afghanistan. If you have any ideas you’d like to submit for our December competition, then send them in to us to: info@lastexittonowhere.com for a chance to win. Good luck and thanks to all that entered this month.

Best Picture October 2009

Best Picture October 09

Andy Bergholtz wins 3 T-shirts from our range for submitting this great Rocky inspired image into our Best Picture of October Competition. The shot was taken outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia – also known as the ‘Rocky Steps’. Try entering our November competition for a chance to win 3 T-shirts too – simply send your idea featuring or wearing a Last Exit T-shirt to us at info@lastexittonowhere.com for a chance to win. Good luck team.