Artist Quarter-Century t-shirt: DOUGLAS GORDON

One of those seminal artists known as the YBAs whose star ascended at the same point of time as St. JOHN, Douglas’ t-shirt expresses his preoccupations with identity and with mental and physical states, depicting his back as a canvas for his own blood. The image echoes St. JOHN’s own celebration and respect for the stuff of life and plays with expectation; seemingly a regular St. JOHN t-shirt from the front, with the shock of Douglas' back reproduced across the back of the wearer.

To mark the occasion of St. JOHN’s 25^th  anniversary we have commissioned three artists, who have each played a significant part in the life of the restaurant, to design three t-shirts according to their styles, whims and interpretation of St. JOHN. Printed in an extremely limited run of just 200.

Fergus remembers “all those years ago, after the initial flurry of excitement that comes with a new restaurant it could be pretty bleak. We used to stand outside and watch tumbleweed roll down St. John Street – one night I even thought I saw the northern lights. But somehow an extraordinary crew of artists gravitated towards us, perhaps it was the art-free walls that made them feel at ease, and they have stuck with us. Then others started coming too. It is thanks to all of them that we are here. We are honoured.” 

That St. JOHN is still going from strength to strength after 25 years is as much testament to the faith of those first customers, as to the faith and vision of co-founders Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver. These t-shirts are a celebration of the vital relationships which are the lifeblood of St. JOHN.

Screen printed on organic, fair-trade ringspun fine cotton t-shirts, made in factories signed up to the Fair Share initiative, committed to pay workers a living wage which is reviewed annually in line with cost of living. 

*Please note our sizing carefully as we cannot accept returns for these items*

SIZE GUIDE:

Small
Chest: 100cm / Length 70cm

Medium
Chest: 106cm / Length 72cm

Large
Chest: 112cm / Length 74cm

X-Large
Chest: 120cm / Length 76cm