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. (Relatable.) The idea was simple: give these pieces a second life before they end up floating in that garbage island.

Around the same time, artwork was coming to life in a sketchbook — one that came out of a place of burnout, anxiety, and deep self-reflection… a design that kind of felt like it belonged on a t-shirt.

And so the thought was… why not turn my existential breakdown into a side hustle merch project? Judging by the memes online, I wasn’t the only one feeling the same way. And it’s such a millennial thing to do.

We tried saving the ozone layer (or is that fixed now?), the trees, and the turtles… why not try and save some shirts? I’m disassociating while finding trinkets at the thrift store on a weekly basis anyways.

Illustrated by multidisciplinary artist and designer Anna Pottie, Millennial Life Crisis began as a simple late night 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 (yet loud) sense of burnout.

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

“This is fine.”

All garments 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.

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, while lighter coloured shirts are tie-dyed with darker shades.

The shirts are then rinsed thoroughly, washed and dried.

The final step is adding the illustration; printed as a DTF vinyl transfer and applied onto each shirt with a heat press.

At this time, shirts can be purchased in-person at Thrifty Dutchess (8104 Fraser Ave, Fort McMurray, Ave) and at local events and markets.

Stay tuned for future options.

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.