V for vendetta, T for T-shirt

Three young men have formed a T-shirt company with a unique twist.

CJ Berry, born and bred in Titahi Bay, set up Vendetta Boulevard last year with Ashley Wicks and Nathan Brown. The trio launched their designer T-shirts in March. Each T-shirt features a comic-type character and helps form part of an overall Vendetta Boulevard story.

When people buy a T-shirt they receive one volume of the story about the characters who inhabit the graphic landscape. The more shirts they buy, the more pieces of the puzzle are revealed.

‘‘T-shirts are not a new or original product, but our point of difference is our artwork and designs by our very own Ashley Wicks,’’ Mr Berry said.

Mr Wicks, 21, studied art design and art painting at Onslow College and has since undertaken the design course at Massey University, majoring in illustration.

His sketches are edgy depictions of characters such as Half-faced Hero, Feather Face and Bigger Bite. ‘‘I like working in black and white,’’ he said. The name Vendetta Boulevard was chosen because the three company principals were seeking something dark and mysterious, combined with a comic noir feel. ‘‘We wanted to depict a small area with a dark past,’’ Mr Wicks said. ‘‘The story is about characters in the boulevard and how they interact with one another.

‘‘The T-shirt drawings are a snapshot of the characters’ lives.

‘‘I get a lot of my inspiration from comic cover art, and that’s the main driver of the T-shirts.’’

The T-shirts cost $79.90.

Visit vendettaboulevard.co.nz.