A few years ago I decided to simplify my wardrobe and began wearing all black. No, it’s not out of goth motivations or anything like that. It’s just that in a darkened bedroom I can feel my way to my dresser, grab a set of clothing I know works together, and leave without waking up my wife and kids. I can also wash and put away everything the exact same way.

So— black pants, black t-shirt, black socks, and black shoes. Black dress shirt and tie when I really want to impress. Simple.

That worked well for awhile. But I missed having a little more expressiveness in my wardrobe. I used to wear a lot of t-shirts I’d acquire from various companies, and a few I bought at shops. Should I go back to wearing that motley bunch?

Why not do something more creative instead? How about becoming a walking art gallery?

So, I decided I’d make the following sartorial rule: I will continue to exclusively wear black t-shirts, which can be blank or meet one of the following criteria:

1. They must have a design by an artist I enjoy and can talk about.
2. If they have a corporate logo, it must either be of a corporation whose products I wholeheartedly endorse, or must rise to a kickass level of artistic merit.
3. They must have one of my own designs on them.

I’ve never really considered myself an artist, but I have always enjoyed working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and I have a good eye for design. And now that CafePress offers custom-printed dark t-shirts, I can wear things with my own designs and even offer them to my friends if I wish.

So I created my own CafePress.com store. I did it for me, and I really don’t care if it generates further business. But go nuts if you like anything you see there. And if you want one of my designs on a different product that CafePress offers, let me know and I’ll try to accommodate.

The types of designs I expect to produce fall into two categories. I have always enjoyed “mystical” symbols for their layers of meaning and often quite beautiful geometry, so the first category is Geometry Sacred and Profane.

I also enjoy Dawkinsian consciousness raising, so the second category is Atheism/Freethought and includes designs I can wear around town that remind folks they’re living in a pluralistic, freethinking society. Offensive? No moreso than cross-wearing workers at Wal-Mart or kids wearing God’s Gym t-shirts.

An example of the latter category is my American Atheist design.

This design features 7 outlined stars, which represent the 14% of Americans who identify as having no religion.

So, as my muse moves me I’ll create new designs and announce them here. At least I know I have one guaranteed customer: me.