Some shirts linger on thrift store racks — marked by a small stain or two, but still full of potential. Too good to be discarded, yet often passed over. (Can relate.) The idea was simple: give these pieces a second life before they’re lost to landfill.

Around the same time, artwork was coming to life in a sketchbook — a design that felt like it belonged on a t-shirt.

And so the thought was… why not turn my existential breakdown into a merch project? It’s very meta… I think? Let’s not overthink this too.

Illustrated by me (Anna Pottie), Millennial Life Crisis began as a simple doodle in a sketchbook, later reimagined as a digital illustration.

It was created during a time when the world felt heavy and overwhelming, layered with a quiet sense of burnout. In true millennial fashion, that feeling was turned into a side hustle — a brand born from chaos, humor, and self-awareness.

The typography draws heavily from nostalgic influences like Goosebumps — the hand forming a peace sign adds a distinctly millennial touch: an attempt to keep calm and carry on while the world burns.

“This is fine.”

All t-shirts are sourced locally from thrift shops and carefully selected for quality and overall condition. Pieces with mild stains — often overlooked and unlikely to be purchased — are intentionally chosen, becoming the perfect canvases for tie-dye and renewal.

A huge thank-you to Thrifty Dutchess, who supplies a portion of these t-shirts free of charge!

Each shirt is taken home, pre-washed, and carefully prepared for the dye process.

Black and dark coloured shirts are bleach-dyed in a range of patterns before being tie-dyed, while white and light coloured shirts move directly into the tie-dye stage.

Once dyed, each piece is treated with a fixative to preserve colour and reduce fading. They are then placed in zip lock bags to sit for 48+ hours to let as much dye set in as possible.

The shirts are then rinsed thoroughly with cold water, washed and dried.

The final step is applying the illustration — printed as a DTF transfer through a professional online print shop — and then heat-pressed onto each shirt.

Tees can be purchased in-person at Thrifty Dutchess (8104 Fraser Ave, Fort McMurray, Ave) and at local events and markets. (Join the email list and/or follow on socials for updates!)

If you aren’t local but are interested in a t-shirt - send us a message!

Each shirt is hand-dyed, which means some colour transfer and natural fading should be expected over time. Washing with like colours is essential — and never alongside anything you wouldn’t want dyed. Cold water is always best.

For extra care, hand washing and hang drying will help extend the life of the garment. As colours soften and fade, each piece develops a more worn-in, vintage feel — that’s part of the intention.

The vinyl illustration is designed to hold up well through regular machine washing (approximately 50 washes), though slight peeling may occur over time. Thoughtful care will help keep both the colour and design looking their best for longer. Wash inside out for extra precaution.