CHICAGO, IL - July 23, 2009 - Many products have hit the market since Jackson’s passing, but only Redefine The Tee has pledged to give back to his hometown of Gary, IN. Like the rest of the world, Monique Spence, Founder and Creative Fashion Director of Redefine The Tee, was shocked and saddened by the loss of the King of Pop. Her response was to create stylish garments that pay homage to the King, with a purpose. In addition to paying homage to an icon, the MJ Tribute garments from Redefine The Tee will also serve as a fundraising mechanism to support school music programs in Gary, IN. To start, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the music program at Theodore Roosevelt High School, where the Jackson Brothers attended.
“We want to raise as much money as possible through Tee shirt sales, our goal is to present a BIG check to the Principal on August 28, 2009, in honor of Michael,” says Spence. “I was happy to find that artists across the country were interested in supporting the cause,” Spence continues in response to the support of artists like singer Vivian Green, rapper Too Short, actress/singer Drew Sidora, singer Syleena Johnson, legendary radio personality Herb Kent, comedian Damon Williams, poet Malik Yusef, new artist Tha Pope, radio personality Trey The Chocolate Jock, poet J. Ivy, and Gary native & Dreamgirls star Chester Gregory.
“We wanted to do more for Michael Jackson and the community than design a cute t-shirt. I thought about his humble beginnings in Gary, IN and thought it would be great to support young people in that community that are interested in music,” says Spence. After a bit of research and outreach Redefine The Tee connected with the high school the Jackson Brothers attended and discovered that their music program is in need of support. Every year the band at Theodore Roosevelt High School participates in the nationally televised Bud Billiken Parade and provides scholarships for 5-10 students attending Historical Black Colleges.
About Redefine The Tee
Redefine The Tee makes more than tee shirts. They make wearable art in the form of self-expressive, inquisitive garments. RDT has become exclusive value items for the Joffrey Ballet and represents elite schools such as Whitney Young High School (Alma Mater of First Lady Michelle Obama) and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business. The creative direction and design staff at RDT have backgrounds in Branding which increases their connection to the consumer, while at the same time having an appreciation for the quality of the materials and the Fashion elements that bring it all to life. For more information log on to www.mjtributetee.com.