Our T-Shirt of the Month for November 2023, made of 100% organic cotton by a worker-owned co-operative, and supporting grassroots labour unions in South Asia.
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.
This month's design can be ordered on black T-shirts as well as black hoodies.
This item is available strictly limited edition for this month only. Be sure to preorder yours by November 30 as all items will be sewn and printed together.
- 100% organic cotton, single jersey, 160 g/m², 0% elastane in fabric
- High quality water-based screen prints: environmentally and skin friendly
- Available in Unisex or Fitted for women/femmes, or as a hoodie
- Sizes: S - M - L - XL - 2XL – 3XL - 4XL - 5XL
- Made with dignity by the worker-owned Humana Nova cooperative
- Supports grassroots labour unions in South Asia through ExChains
- Learn more about our 'T-Shirt of the Month' collaboration with dna merch here
- Global shipping, from Germany
Size guide
Please make sure to carefully choose your size by checking the size chart below.
Width: Measured 2cm (1in) beneath the sleeves across the shirt
Length: Measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the bottom end of the shirt
| S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| Width (in) | 19 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25.5 | 26.5 | 27.5 | 33.0 |
| Length (in) | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31.5 | 32 | 29.0 | 33.5 |
| Width (cm) | 48 | 53 | 56 | 60.5 | 64.5 | 68 | 70 | 84 |
| Length (cm) | 71 | 74 | 76.5 | 79 | 80.5 | 82 | 74.5 | 85 |
When will I receive my t-shirt?
Sewing and printing of each T-Shirt of the Month will take approximately four weeks after preorders stop at the end of the month. The shirts will then be shipped from Germany by January 10, 2024. Estimated shipping time for the EU, UK and Switzerland is 4-7 days from then. USA and rest of the world will be 7-14 days.