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♡ thank you ♡

for purchasing a cyanotype t-shirt!

the information below will help you learn a little about the historical significance and process behind your one of a kind t-shirt and how to best care for your garment to preserve the print's longevity.

what is a cyanotype?

cyanotype is an alternative photographic printing process that uses the sun, or another UV light source, to expose materials coated in a photosensitive solution to create an image.the cyanotype solution consists of two chemical mixtures that are then mixed together to create an "active" solution. this is brushed onto any natural material such as paper, fabric, wood, rocks, etc. the solution initially appears as a yellowish-green color, but once exposed to UV light shifts to a deep blue, prussian hue.the process was originally discovered by sir john herschel in 1842 and used, not for photography, but to reproduce his astronomy notes. the process was primarily used for reproducing notes and architectural plans, hence the term "blueprints".A year later, Anna Atkins (an English botanist and photographer and friend of herschels) created the first photographically illustrated book: a collection of 421 seaweeds created by placing seaweed directly on coated paper (called a photogram). she's considered the first female photographer.

wait...aren't cyanotypes supposed to be blue?

all cyanotypes start out in their iconic prussian blue hue. however, cyanotypes can be "bleached" to lift the deep blue color, allowing the print to be toned brown or lavender using various solutions that include tannins. tannins can be found in common ingredients like coffee, black tea, and red wine, but can also be distilled from steeping acorns, leaves, and other materials.

garment care & washing tips

solarpunk solutions for the desert environment

inspirational solutions for improving our desert environment that can be initiated by local coalitions, volunteers, and government officials.

heat reduction

desert-adapted plants and trees are our best way to reduce heat in a sustainable, enjoyable way. these could be integrated as tree-lined streets, increased urban farms and low cost community gardens (including in apartment communities), replacing rocks with food forests, and more.man-made shade structures (like those often found at dog parks, covering public transit seating, or on playgrounds) can be used as a temporary mechanism to provide life-saving shade until desert-adapted trees have a chance to grow. however, these structures should eventually be replaced with natural alternatives to reduce the urban heat island. if man-man shade structures are necessary to remain permanent, they should include green roofs filled with desert-adapted plants and shrubs.other heat reduction resources might include: increased public air-conditioned spaces, solar powered fans at public transportation stops, and smart urban planning where buildings create shade canyons.

water retention

water in the desert is precious. we should focus on conserving and collecting as much as possible. all homes and apartment buildings should be outfitted with a rainwater capture system for use in a home garden, an apartment community garden, or other food forest purposes. public spaces should include public rainwater capture systems that include a water filtration system to provide clean water access to our unhoused neighbors.urban and rural agriculture should integrate water retention mechanisms familiar to permaculture like swales, half-moon planting, check dams and contour trenches. agricultural processes to slow the evaporation of water and collect existing rainwater from monsoons is critical to support our desert agriculture.in addition to collecting and conserving water, protecting our waterways from litter is incredibly important. already integrated in other countries and cities, installing mesh trash traps throughout our waterways would collect trash before polluting our water and becoming deeply intertwined in plant roots.

solar power integration

a solarpunk future relies on us collectively disconnecting from the oil industry and adopting sustainable energy solutions for our future societal and environmental health.luckily, solar power can be integrated into existing structures and city elements. panels can be used as man-made shade structures that also provide a source for device charging. transparent solar panels could replace glass in city buildings and homes. they can be used as highway noise barriers. solar panels could be integrated as apartment balcony railings or hung as a separate element on patios. not to mention on building and public transit rooftops or to power our cars and light-rails.our downtown light-rail could be extended so much further! imagine being able to travel from the east side of tucson to downtown and not have to find (and pay for) parking. public transit should be free to encourage car-less travel and provide a public benefit to the community. buses should be frequent and reliable. bike paths should be integrated throughout the city with light-rails and buses incorporating bike storage during transit.

[free] food forests

we have so many rocks. touted as a way to reduce water consumption in the desert, these hot, rocky surfaces aren't helping our urban heat island. instead, these vast rocky areas could be repurposed into [free] food forests that nourish our neighbors.some of our tree-lined streets could be desert-adapted fruit trees like citrus, figs, and dates that require lower amounts of water. desert-adapted produce could be grown vertically on harvest walls that allow neighborhoods to harvest for free.farmers markets could feature a free food stall that partners with community gardens and includes donated food from community members for low-income neighbors. this should be in addition to free food pantries and fridges scattered throughout the city, filled by community members and managed by local government or nonprofits.finally, all apartment complexes should have free garden plots for residents. apartment residents should have the same ability to grow food as those with single family homes. in the same manner that apartments offer a community pool or a clubhouse, all apartments should integrate a small garden plot per apartment — either on a rooftop or within the property.

sympathetic architecture