DOTM Nov 2023: Deconstruct & Reconstruct

Our Design Of The Month for November 2023, made of 100% organic cotton, and supporting grassroots labour unions in South Asia. Outside the US, this design is available here a shirt made by a workers' cooperative.

This month's design celebrates the life of Shin Chae-ho (신채호), Korean historian, journalist, novelist, independence activist and anarchist, who was born on 7 November 1880. Shin had been Korea's most prominent journalist, writing for Hansong News and Dae Han Daily, and he drafted the Korean Revolutionary Manifesto put out by the Band of Heroes anti-colonial combat organisation. Shin's writings highlighted the relationship between destruction and creation:

"The revolutionary path begins at destruction, thus opening up new ways for progress. However, revolution does not stop at destruction. There can be no destruction without construction; no construction without destruction… In the mind of the revolutionist, these two are indivisibly linked: destruction, ergo construction". 

These ideas of progress in the form of continuous deconstruction and reconstruction inspired the musician and graphic artist Conny Ochs to create this new design with the slogan "Deconstruct to Reconstruct".

Shin was also well known for his idiosyncrasies. For example he was known to wear, at least occasionally, women's underwear, as he thought it was "beautiful". And when he washed his face, he would always end up splashed with water. When asked why this happened, he responded: "Because I refuse to lower my head for anyone till the day I die!" 

Shin was eventually arrested by Japanese colonial police and was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour for belonging to a secret organisation which led to his death in prison in 1936. He was trying to set up an Oriental Anarchists League with individuals in Beijing and Manchuria, which was also under Japanese occupation.

• 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 5.3 oz./yd.² (180 g/m²)
• Regular unisex fit
• Set-in sleeves
• 1 × 1 rib at collar
• Double-needle topstitch on the sleeves and bottom hems
• Self-fabric neck tape on the inside of the back
• The fabric of this product holds certifications for its organic cotton content under GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OCS (Organic Content Standard). Stanley and Stella Fair Wair Foundation-made
• Supports grassroots labour unions in South Asia through ExChains and social enterprise dna merch
• Printed in the US individually just for you, with no overproduction or waste
• Global shipping from the US

Size guide