What the heck to the symbols mean?
It's a great question, and it's one of my favorite parts of Feather Three! You can watch a video about it here:
For those that don't want to watch a video, here's the short version:
I love symbology and logo design, and have since I made my initials into a monogram while bored in my 5th grade social studies class.
I'm also a big fan of first principles and simplification, and I think most of WCS can be boiled down to three classes of patterns, Pushes, Passes, and Whips.
The first symbol was the Pass, an arrow with three barbs, symbolizing probably the dance's most basic pattern, and acknowledging the triple steps that haunt ever westie's dreams (and nightmares!).
The second was the Push, perhaps the most iconic and beloved (beleagured?) pattern of them all. I wanted to represent both the follower staying on the same side of the pattern as they start on, as well as the bubble feeling of the compression and eventual release.
The last was the Whip, my favorite basic by far and the one I suspect most WCS dancers have the most fun with. Whips just feel fun, and although I know it looks like a bit of a tie-fighter, it was actually inspired by deconstructing an infinity symbol to show the stretch in both directions that both partners feel through the pattern.
If you don't like them? Cool, no worries, there are plenty of other shirts in existence. :)
What fabrics do Push Pass Whip products use?
Whenever possible, I aim to use cotton as much as possible. This is primarily to help minimize the proliferation of microplastics, but it also helps to control costs and help the longevity of printed and embroidered designs. Cotton is also just a natural, wicking material. There's a reason it's lasted so long in all cultures who use it!
Some products necessarily contain plastic-based products, and that is noted in the description whenever that is the case.
Don't you already have a merch store? Feather Three?
It's true! My first foray into the dance merch space still exists and happily sells shirts to whoever wants them. You can check it out here: featherthree.com
That said, I've long wanted to create a brand that is more grounded in West Coast Swing, where I now spend nearly all of my dance time.
I also wanted to explore a slightly more subtle, embroidery-forward aesthetic. Perhaps it's just me becoming an old man, but a nicely embroidered tee that can be danced at Boogie or TAP has more appeal to me these days. The splashy graphics of Feather three are still fun, but this feels like the next evolution for me. :)