Cool Places to Find Choke!

The guys at Choke are celebrating a new milestone.  Our line is now carried in over 150 stores across the country and online!  We couldn’t be more grateful for our customers who took our shirt company this far.  And now you wont have to look far to find Choke shirts on the shelves!

In celebration of this accomplishment, we decided to highlight a few retailers who carry our goods.  There are quite a few interesting shops scattered across the map.  Here are three worth checking out:

Clover House Gifts in Seattle, WA.

Clover House is located in the Westlake Retail Plaza in South Lake Union and offers “little luxuries.”  From indulgent bath and body products to unique gifts, accessories and jewelry, this boutique is the perfect place to discover treasures you would find anywhere else.  If you shop at South Lake Union’s Whole Foods, head up stairs to see what Clover House has to offer.

Kids at Heart Toys in Portland, OR.

Kids at Heart is not your typical toy store.  They pride themselves on offering specialty toys and exceptional service.  The store opened in 1990 by a mom who believed in “choosing fairly traded toys, fostering sustainability and building relationships with those who make the toys your child plays with.”  In addition to carrying unique toys, Kids at Heart offers masterful gift-wrapping and a birthday club.  Next time you’re in SE Portland, check them out!

The Black Market Boutique in Lexington, KY.

Fashion-minded folks in Lexington, Kentucky know where the best stuff is.  They avoid the mainstream and hit up the black market- Black Market Boutique, that is.  Melanie Williams, who established the shop in 2001, takes care to fill the shelves with new, vintage and handcrafted items.  They sell clothing, shoes, jewelry and art.  You can find the Black Market on High street in Lexington, but keep it on the down low!

Change is Good.

There are quite a few words we’d use to describe Choke Shirt Co.  Inert is not one of them.  We believe progress is a good thing.  If you have followed Choke for a while, you might have noticed a change inside your shirts, as we’ve been known to switch up our tags from time to time.

Last week, after closing the print shop, Jeff sat at the computer to check emails and sip on soda.  As hours passed, he started feeling creative.  The source of his altered mind state remains unclear.  It could have been the sugary drink or the dizzying array of words on the monitor.  But one thing is clear, Jeff felt compelled to make something.  This bout of creative energy eventually led to the new version of Choke tags!  Jeff took styling cues from our print shop site. We like the cleaner look of the new text, and the sizes are printed larger for convenience.  Keep a lookout for the new tags as we phase them into the line over the next few months.  What do you think?

Meet the Guys Who Make Your Shirts! Part IV

Today we’d like to introduce ACE!.  The Choke team wouldn’t be complete without our four-legged members.  ACE! Is a German Sheppard mix and an expert print shop watch dog.  He enjoys showing off his tricks, howling at ambulances, and running in the woods with his human, Justin.  We caught up with ACE! in the middle of his nap at the print shop to find out what makes him tick.

Choke: How/when did you first hear about Choke?

ACE!: Oh, it was about 10 dogs years ago.  My humans kept saying, "work this" and "work that".  I pretty much love any 4-letter word starting with W.

Choke: Where did you work before Choke? How long were you there?

ACE!: Before Choke I worked on the coast as a Tsunami Early Warning siren but they let me go due to too many false alarms. Those fire trucks trick me every time. They had to evacuate the elementary school a few times. 

Choke: How does working at Choke compare to working at your last job?

ACE!: Way better! For one I get to stay inside, but also the humans like to play. They say its good for stress relief. I'm trying to teach them how to fetch. 

Choke: What is your favorite type of shirt? (Blend, cut, style etc)

ACE!: I don't have elbows and have you seen my gams?  I'm too awkward for shirts.

  

Choke: What is the best part of working at Choke?

ACE!: Rick the UPS man. I can hear his truck a mile away. I show off my tricks and he gives me treats. I have him trained pretty well.  

Choke: When not at Choke what else do you like to do?

ACE!: I'm a Healer so I like to provide first aid to those in need.  I also like to sniff stuff, survey the perimeter, chase squirrels and make dinner. My humans take me running but I can't figure out what they're chasing. 

Choke: Who is the one person/group that you wish would walk into the shop and want to print shirts? Why?

ACE!: Cats.  The only thing better than a cat is a group of cats.  The only thing better than a group of cats is a group of cats in shirts.

Choke: What’s your favorite Choke Shirt Co. design? Why?

ACE!: “Pretty Kitty.” I am saving up my Choke dollars to get my own pretty kitty.

Spring Preview! Part V

Today we are excited to reveal “Hot Rhino” by Jeff.  He was inspired to create the design after he read a story about endangered black rhinos in South Africa.

“At first I thought the rhino in the pictures looked uncomfortable,” recalls Jeff.  “But after reading this story, I realized hanging the rhinos upside down is the safest way to transport the majestic beast.  The conservation group WWF Global transports endangered species away from areas where they are poached.  After tranquilizing the rhinos, WWF members tried caging them in trucks, but the ride was too rough.  Next they tried suspending the rhinos from helicopters in nets, but this method squeezed and suffocated the animals.  Finally, they discovered that hanging the tranquilized rhinos upside down from a helicopter was the most humane way of carrying them to safety.  This epic story inspired me to create the ‘Hot Rhino’ design.”

“Hot Rhino” is printed in black and red water-based inks on poly-cotton unisex and women’s tees.

Spring Preview! Part IV

Seattle’s sunny weekend put us in a good mood; so today we are revealing TWO new designs!  Say hello to “Gent” and “Fascinator,” by Brian.  These designs were created together, and embody a fun juxtaposition of classic and modern style.

Brian writes, “Before creating these designs, I took a step back and looked at others in our line.  There was a lot of buzz around our ‘Stache’ shirt when we released it last year.  The classic icons and bright colors made the design an instant hit.  People also really like our ‘Giraffe’ wall sticker.  The giraffe’s awesome shutter shades give it just enough flare and attitude.  I decided to take the mustache and the shades and build off their popularity.  The two objects immediately struck me as contradictory.  The stache seems gentlemanly, proper and old school.  The shutter shades are straight up gansta!  Adding the top hat, bow tie, and gold foil put this design over the top.  ‘Fascinator’ was designed for the ladies, but follows the same formula.  The feathery hat and ruby lips scream ‘roaring twenties.’  But those frames belong in the Kardashian Kollection.  Pick your favorite and rock the best of both worlds!”

Gent is printed in black with gold foil on teal and heather grey unisex tees.  Fascinator is printed in pewter with ruby foil on coral and heather grey women’s tees.  They launch on February 29th when Choke unveils its Spring 2012 line.

Spring Preview! Part III

Choke’s spring 2012 line will launch February 29^th!  This is our biggest launch ever, with over 20 new shirts added to our inventory.  In anticipation of the big event, we decided it’s only fair to give our loyal fans a sneak peak.

There is a story behind each Choke shirt.  From the drawing board to the printing press, each shirt is designed and printed by the Choke crew here in Seattle.  We are inspired everyday to create fun and unique designs for our fans to enjoy.  Enjoy this exclusive preview of the Choke spring line.  And don’t forget to pick out your favorite new Choke shirt on February 29^th at www.ChokeShirtCo.com!

Today we're taking a look at "Neon Bikes," by Justin.  He created a unique bicycle outline with a single stroke, then repeated the image for effect.  It reminded the other Choke guys of a neon sign, but Justin's inspiration was a little different.

Justin writes, "many things brought me to Seattle, but a big factor was the bike scene. Although I'm not as active as I once was, I still enjoy mixing it up with traffic, taking a detour on the way home, or rolling up to a pub with friends on a rainy day. Meeting up with friends often meant creating a bike pile, one bike leaned against another, and another creating this sort of hall of mirrors effect. The repeating pattern of the pile, compounded by the repeating patterns of a single bike lead to 'Neon Bikes.' I hope you enjoy...."

"Neon Bikes" is printed in lemon yellow and light blue on unisex and women's tees.  We're thinking about mixing this one up, so keep an eye out for new colors in the future!

Spring Preview! Part II

Choke’s spring 2012 line will launch February 29^th!  This is our biggest launch ever, with over 20 new shirts added to our inventory.  In anticipation of the big event, we decided it’s only fair to give our loyal fans a sneak peak.

There is a story behind each Choke shirt.  From the drawing board to the printing press, each shirt is designed and printed by the Choke crew here in Seattle.  We are inspired everyday to create fun and unique designs for our fans to enjoy.  Enjoy this exclusive preview of the Choke spring line.  And don’t forget to pick out your favorite new Choke shirt on February 29^th at www.ChokeShirtCo.com!

Today we're previewing "Anchor," by Justin.  For this design, Justin studied various anchors and sketched a few by hand.  The Choke crew unanimously agreed on the one to use.  It seemed simple, rugged, and unique.


Justin writes, "About 6 years ago I sold most of my belongings and bought a boat. Contrary to popular belief, living on a sailboat is not as romantic as one might think, it is however, amazing. It forces you to be self reliant and steadfast. I've been fortunate enough to have some adventures while sailing both alone and with friends.  'Anchor' symbolizes the hardiness of the sailor, the ability to hold your ground in the face of danger, strength."


"Anchor" is printed in light grey on a variety of colors.  It is also available on a women's raglan.