Emperial Nation: Making History through Tees



"The history of a people is found in its songs."
George Jellinek
WQXR host, the Vocal Scene

Well now it can be found on its T-shirts, as well!

Although Emperial Nation does not have a long history of its own, from its inception the movement has sought to preserve history through innovative streetwear that encourages customers to “change their world.”

Created in 2007, Emperial Nation is already showcasing six different collections, each inspired by a specific period that features various historical figures, unique artifacts, and memorable events:

The Harlem Renaissance (1920-1940) The Wild West (1865-1890)
The American Civil War (1861-1865) Gangs of New York (1820-1852)
The French Revolution (1789-1799) The Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)

Shopping online at Emperial Nation is like a guided tour at the local museum. Not only do you find the price, name, color, and code of each article but you can also read a short historical background to the image on the T-shirt. One of my favorite examples is the photo to the right:

RUNNIN TEE
Wanted: Billy the Kid. Relatively unknown during his own lifetime, he was catapulted into legend the year after his death when his killer, Sheriff Patrick Garrett, published a wildly sensationalistic biography of him called The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid. Beginning with Garrett's account, Billy the Kid grew into a symbolic figure of the American Old West.

If you are a history buff or just in search of some cool new tees, then Emperial Nation is the right stop for you!

Photo bottom right Copyright by Emperial Nation.
Slide show Copyright by Emperial Nation.