"Desert Sun"

$30

Design by:

Michael Matheson

Santa Barbara, CA

The Charity:

International Rescue Committee

"Desert Sun"

$30

organic cotton

100% Organic Cotton, GOTS Certified and sustainably sourced in India from Chetna Organic, pre-washed for an extra soft feel
made by hand

Printed, Cut, Sewn, and Packaged by hand at a Fair Trade Certified facility in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Please note that there may be slight sizing and color variations from product to product
21" x 21"

Standard 21 x 21 inch bandana. Machine wash cold with like colors, line or tumble dry, warm iron, do not bleach

In considering his design for our Cactus Collection, Michael fondly reminisced on road trips with his wife and family through various deserts throughout the Southwestern U.S. Whether it was SoCal's Anza Borrego, New Mexico's Chihuahuan, or the Sand Dunes of Colorado, memories of the sun-bleached landscapes, kitschy road signs, and the array of different cactus species coalesced to form the inspiration for "Desert Sun." Michael explained that he sought to create a sort of "visual map" with the design, like one might use to find their way out of the desert.

The central tiger looms large, like the sun beating down on a lost explorer, while the cacti serve as roadside landmarks, guiding the journey. Lastly, the butterflies serve as a bright beacon of hope, renewal, and the transformative power of the desert. Like the landscape that inspired it, Michael chose the colors of his design to appear worn and faded by the sign, yet eye-catching like a road sign on a desert highway. Each element fits seamlessly into a design that feels like much of Michael's work -- entirely original, while simultaneously familiar - like it's always been there, just waiting to be discovered.

Santa Barbara, CA

Michael Matheson

Working under the artist moniker "Metal Teepee", Santa Barbara, CA based artist Michael Matheson has built a devoted digital following via decidedly analog mediums. If you take a stroll around Michael's hometown of Santa Barbara, your eye will undoubtedly be drawn to one of his vibrant murals, hand-painted signs, or storefront designs. Michael's work has a unique, vintage quality reminiscent of bygone era of Americana (he noted the kitschy roadside curiosities along Route 66 as a key influence), while simultaneously feeling completely of the current moment. Indeed, a peek at his roster of clients reveals a cross-section of the area's most in-demand coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques. With a background in woodcraft, welding, and fabricating, it's no surprise that Michael gravitates toward work that is tactile, hands-on, and primarily experienced in the physical world. He is a maker of things, beautiful and practical, using type, text, and color to create entire visual worlds on something as seemingly mundane as a sandwich board. Citing the hot-rod designers Von Dutch and Ed Roth as heroes, Michael expertly blends their hard-charging sensibility with the breezy, coastal calm of Santa Barbara to create a lane entirely his own. We've been admirers of Michael's work for years, and we're excited to see his "Desert Sun" design out in the world!

International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Founded at the call of Albert Einstein in 1933, the IRC is now at work in over 50 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas. They deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always seeking to address the inequalities facing women and girls.

The IRC compiles an annual list of the 20 humanitarian crises expected to deteriorate the most over the next year. For the past decade, this report has helped the IRC determine where to focus emergency services and lifesaving support to make the greatest impact.

In choosing to support the IRC, Michael explained that he's recent felt called to the problems facing the world outside of his direct community. Michael was drawn to the IRC's mission, and their ability to direct funds to places around the world that need it most. We're honored to help Michael use his "Desert Sun" design to support this worthy cause.

help.rescue.org/