Dylan’s T-Shirt Club has collaborated with Michelle Pfeiffer and conquered Cannes Film Festival – all before its founder has reached his 12th birthday
He’s just 11 years old, but LA-based designer and entrepreneur Dylan has already been growing his business for over half a decade. It all began when, aged six, he encountered a major dilemma: cool monster-themed t-shirts were hard to come by. So, he did what any six-year-old would do and made his own.
Five and half years later, Dylan is on t-shirt number 317. He’s made two t-shirts for Michelle Pfeiffer and collaborated with her perfume brand, Henry Rose. He created a series of dog t-shirts for Jamie Lee Curtis, and has had his designs worn by the likes of Pharrell, Pierpaolo Piccioli, and most recently, Elle Fanning during Cannes Film Festival last month.
During the photocall for Fanning’s upcoming film, Sentimental Value, the actress wore a pair of blue denim jeans and a plain white tee. Simple though it was, the message scribbled onto that tee caught the internet’s attention: ‘Joachim Trier Summer’ (Trier being the Danish-Norwegian director of the movie Fanning was promoting at Cannes). And it’s not the first time this year that that same message has been broadcast to the world, Charli xcx was the first to proclaim it during the end credits of her Coachella set.
Less talked about was the back of Fanning t-shirt; almost hidden behind a swathe of her long blonde hair, read the words ‘DYLAN’S T-SHIRT CLUB’ in neon-pink fabric pen. T-shirt number 316 had made it all the way to the French Riviera. Fanning might be Dylan’s “super cool friend” – as he wrote on Instagram – though it’s also worth mentioning that his mum is celebrated stylist Samantha McMillen, who works closely with the actress, as well as Jodie Foster, Ana de Armas, Kirsten Dunst and Daisy Ridley, to name a few.
Sure, Dylan might have had a little help from his mum, but you can’t say that he isn’t serious and dedicated to expanding his streetwear business (when not at school, that is). He may have conquered Cannes already, but Dylan has big ideas for his brand – he wants to collab with Supreme, Lego, and dress Billie Eilish too. The A-list has already joined Dylan’s T-shirt Club, it’s about time we do too. Get to know the young designer below.
Hey Dylan! When did you first start making t-shirts?
Dylan: Hi Dazed! Thank you so much for doing this interview with me. You guys are awesome. I started Dylan’s T-Shirt Club in late 2019, when I was six years old.
Do you remember the first one that you made?
Dylan: Yes! It was a monster character I made up with big teeth and spiky hair. Back then I made them for myself and then by number four I began making them for friends and family as gifts too. It went from there and the overall model is roughly the same as today. In recent years I’ve been lucky to add some cool collaborations to the mix too.
What inspired you to start making t-shirts?
Dylan: I was always drawing from the earliest I can remember. Back in 2019 my grandma – who is an awesome artist – came to visit from England and she gave me a set of fabric pens. I made that first t-shirt as a fun test and loved the result, so I decided to keep going! The name Dylan’s T-shirt Club is hand-written on the back and still is to this day. My family and I thought it would be cool to number each t-shirt in one corner and the name of the recipient in the other corner. In the early years I made a bunch for myself because unique, cool monster and villain designs were hard to find on shop bought t-shirts.
Roughly how long does it take you to complete a t-shirt?
Dylan: Depends on the design. Typically an hour or more but sometimes I work on it over a period of days.
Is art your favourite subject in school?
Dylan: It’s one of mine for sure. I also love science and robotics.
Do you think you want to be a full time streetwear designer when you’re older?
Dylan: I love design of all kinds from fashion to building Lego sets. I have always loved art and creative projects in general. Things are going well so far after doing this for five and a half years. Who knows what the future holds at the moment. It’s something I hope to continue doing and build out the brand.
I have been building Lego for years – it would be cool to collab with them on a set. A Dylan’s T-shirt Club Fortnite character skin. I’d love to design album artwork for a cool band
Do you have any favourite brands or people in the fashion industry that you look up to?
Dylan: My mom is a stylist so I’ve been surrounded by designer clothing my whole life and that definitely helped me become aware of brands and fashion people from a very young age. There’s Small Talk Studio, Kate and Laura from Rodarte, Nike, Louis Vuitton, Gucci. I’ve made t-shirts for Pierpaolo Piccioli, Nicolas Ghesquière, and Pharrell. They are all amazing inspiring people.
Special shout to the men’s clothing shop Woven in Durham, England. My dad grew up in Durham. They are super cool and supported me early on by being the only physical store that has sold my original t-shirts. I’ve done two capsule collections for them.
You’ve given your t-shirts to some very famous people, have you ever been starstruck?
It’s not so much that I get starstruck. I just get excited that I’m giving the t-shirt to someone that I really like. Recently there was A$AP Ferg, Denzel Curry and Harry Mack.
Who were you most excited to meet or to see your t-shirt on?
Dylan: Elle [Fanning] recently in Cannes. Josh Brolin on Hot Ones. And super star, positive vibes, Pokemon YouTuber ‘Real Breaking Nate’ who did a live unboxing on YouTube wore if for the remainder of the show.
How did it feel to see your t-shirt being worn by Elle Fanning at Cannes Film Festival?
Dylan: It felt so cool. I have known Elle my whole life and she came to me with this specific design idea for Cannes. I was touched that she trusted me to do it. I woke up one morning two weeks later and saw photos all over the place of her wearing it in Cannes. I was blown away.
You have some pretty cool parents, how have their jobs influenced your t-shirt club?
Dylan: I grew up in an extremely creative household. My parents are both very creative people as are my grandparents. I absorbed all of this growing up and it’s a major part of my life. My parents always made sure to support me in the different creative avenues. Also they work really hard and this motivates me to do my best too.
Mom is a stylist and is hugely influential in what I’m doing. I’ve seen mom work with clients and designers from idea, to sketch, to the end result. This helped me understand that ideas can become reality. Dad comes from a background in film and TV development having been an exec at some production companies here in LA, before branching out to do his own thing. He also recently created a program teaching card magic to the homeless people in LA to help build confidence and reduce social anxiety. He’s been great at working with me on keeping Dylan’s T-shirt Club moving along in terms of strategy ideas, logistics and photographing every single one I’ve made. He also helped set up and handle collabs with people.
Who is someone that you’d love to see wear one of your t-shirts?
Dylan: Ice Cube, Eminem, A$AP Rocky, and Billie Eilish would be amazing! Fingers crossed that it will happen someday. DM me!
Would you like to open a physical shop?
Dylan: Yes! That would be incredible. It would have racks with one of a kind, original t-shirts hanging up for sale. Also screen printed tees. Fabric pen supplies and blank t-shirts. Cool books and vinyl records that I like. In-house workshops so that people can come and make t-shirts in the store! Blank canvases for people to create artwork. We could hang them on the wall too.
You’ve already done a few collabs, who else would you like to collab with?
Dylan: Gucci. LV. Supreme. Chateau Marmont. Nike (Jordan x DTC). I have been building Lego for years – it would be cool to collab with them on a set. A Dylan’s T-shirt Club Fortnite character skin. I’d love to design album artwork for a cool band.
How do you find the time to juggle school and the t-shirt club?
Dylan: I usually focus on the T-shirt Club more on the weekend, or during the week.
Apart from designing t-shirts, what else do you like to do in your spare time?
Dylan: Chess. Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I’ve been training in both for four years. Collecting and trading Pokemon cards – especially sealed product and graded cards. Playing basketball. Also, I started getting into some canvas artwork and have been doing a series of album covers I like. I love listening to music on my iPad.
Finally, a question for mum and dad: What’s it been like for you watching Dylan’s business grow and reach global audiences?
Ben and Samantha: We couldn’t be more proud of Dylan. Not just seeing him keep going after this many years, but also for the joy they bring when people receive them.