From Idea to Reality: The Bulgarian Folk T-Shirt Arrived!
It’s been a little while since the last time I wrote about my idea to turn my Bulgarian folklore illustration into a T-shirt. Other projects came along, taking photos took some time and before I knew it, time had passed. But now, finally,I can share how it all turned out.
When the delivery van turned into our street, I ran to the front door. I was so quick that the driver didn’t even get the chance to ring the bell. I opened the door as if I were greeting an old friend. Which, in a way, I was, because inside that parcel was my long-awaited Bulgarian traditional dancer. The courier looked surprised at how swiftly his job was done, handed over the package, and moved on. I closed the door, parcel in hand and then there was a little nervous tension: What if the print turns out disappointing?
Luckily, as soon as I opened the package, relief washed over me. The print looked exactly as I had hoped, the colors vibrant, the lines crisp. The shirt itself feels soft and of nice quality (though if I’m being picky, a slíghtly thicker cotton would have been perfect).
At lunchtime, I surprised Rony with the new T-shirt. He immediately put on the T-shirt and proudly sent a selfie to his brother. The reaction? Pure enthusiasm. Since we’d shared the artwork with him before, he recognized it instantly and wanted to order one right away.
The next day Rony wore the shirt to work. Without even pointing it out, people noticed and reacted. Some colleagues said it was cheerful, others smiled when they saw the design, and one person even recognized it as definitely something Bulgarian. I loved hearing that the illustration sparked joy, that it made people smile just by looking at it.
For me, that was the most rewarding part. What started as a sketch inspired by Bulgarian folklore has now become a wearable piece of art that brings happiness to others! That makes me both proud and excited to see where this journey might lead. Because, this one shirt doesn’t have to stand alone. What if there were more? A mini-collection, illustrations of figures in traditional clothing, from Bulgaria or beyond. The female dancer that originally accompanied this Bulgarian folk figure might be the next in line. This first step has given me a taste of how powerful it can be, to see an artwork come alive in everyday life.
If you’ve read this far and thought: “I’d love to have this shirt myself”. That's good news! I’m opening up a small pre-order. If I receive at least five orders, I’ll have a batch printed. The price for a T-shirt is €29,95 excluding shipping costs. You can place your interest by leaving me a message through the contact form on my website. Then I will send you the size chart so you can specify the preferred size. Oh and... Altough this is a male dancer, ofcourse we can print it on a female shirt!