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Blood is the New Black Collaborates with Premium Vintage Boutique Filth Mart

Los Angeles – March 16th, 2011 – Today, Blood is the New Black (BITNB) announced its collaboration with Los Angeles based vintage emporium Filth Mart. The Blood is the New Black x Filth Mart collection features 5 designs by co-owner and artist Mike Sportes.

The artwork in the collection reflects imagery associated with finding one’s way. Ranging from compasses and rulers to weather vanes, items which help us gauge where we are or how we might get to where we are going. Sportes’ meticulous hand drawn artwork in this day and age of computer generated tee design is a refreshing and much needed addition to an overly vectorized world. Curator and Owner Mitra Khayyam finds that Mike Sportes’ “art nouveau influenced images are mind-blowing in their complexity.”

Filth Mart is known to be an authority in the world of vintage tees, offering highly curated vintage graphic tees from the 50’s through 80’s. With this selection also comes Sportes’ almost encyclopedic knowledge of every tee manufacturer, their fits over the years, and how the tees stand the test of time. Blood is the New Black is also known for developing fashion forward bodies for both men and women ranging from a dolman-sleeve crop top for women to a men’s tank top. All Blood is the New Black tees are sewn, dyed, and printed with care in Los Angeles.

Filth Mart and Blood is the New Black played six degrees of separation for a while. According to Maggie Fox, co-owner of Filth Mart “Some friends of ours had collaborated with Mitra and told us how rad she was and that Mike should totally meet her. Another friend randomly acquired some BITNB T’s and we were all ‘hey those are that chick’s T shirts!’  Then one day the nicest young woman came into the shop and purchased the cutest denim jacket. It was Mitra! It was meant to be! We were thrilled to get to be involved in what Mitra does. It is such a great idea. Helping talented artists reach such a huge audience is admirable AND the shirts are great.“

In addition to the Filth Mart collection, Blood is the New Black will be releasing over 100 designs by 30-something international artists as part of their Summer ’11 season. The tees will be available in stores as of March 15th and retail for $44 – $50 and are also available for at http://www.bloodisthenewblack.com/shop/store.php?crn=2837 . Well into its sixth year, the art, design, and fashion powerhouse’s tees are available at Oak (NY), Colette (Paris), ASOS (UK), Delta (Japan), Harvey Nichols (Hong Kong), Neu (Taiwan) as well as online at www.bloodisthenewblack.com.

About Blood is the New Black:

Launched in 2004 by Mitra Khayyam in Los Angeles, Blood is the New Black has continually served as a fount of fresh art and design from the world over. Blood is the New Black encourages the public to explore current art and design trends by prominently featuring the work of underground artists, photographers and illustrators on the company’s soft, well-fitted T-shirts and products.

The line provides collaborating artists with an avenue to explore social topics of his/her choice, while also bringing attention to issues, which may not be part of the mainstream discourse. Those daring enough to wear BITNB products, instantly become a walking canvas and conversation piece. From the company’s genesis, the focus has always giving artists and collaborators a place to express not only their designs, but also their points of view on a range of topics. Blood is the New Black tee shirts are worn by celebrities worldwide including Jason Schwartzman, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Michael Pitt, and fashion blogger Tavi. http://www.bloodisthenewblack.com

About Filth Mart:

The infamous store Filth Mart was conceived in New York’s Lower East Side. In 2007 owners Mike Sportes and Maggie Fox embraced the city of Los Angeles and relocated Filth Mart to Hollywood.  Today the walls are lined with vintage rock t-shirts, perfectly worn levis, a montage of leather jackets and fitted vests. Such articles of the past where inhibitions are dissipated…the present moment is a blissful state of dreams.  Filth Mart premium vintage has been worn by celebrities including Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, Rhianna, Ellen DeGeneres, Johnny Depp, Josh Duhamel, and Ellen Page. http://www.filthmart.net