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Everytime Sierra Kaplan puts on one of her many satirical graphic tee shirts, she can’t help but laugh. The Syracuse University senior’s collection of tees expresses her appreciation for early 2000s pop culture, an aesthetic that has trended on social media in recent years.

“I feel like Y2k is back, or at least we’re trying to make it come back,” Kaplan said. “If I could be my age in any other decade, it would be the 2000s.”

Before Syracuse winter overtakes students’ wardrobes with scarves and jackets, students express their summertime fashionability. As hot weather lingers in the first months of the school year, many people can be spotted around campus sporting a timeless classic: the graphic tee.

One of Kaplan’s T-shirts reads “Locally Hated” in a cursive font. She says the shirts are inspired by Paris Hilton’s and Britney Spears’ iconic Y2k outfits.

While some students express themselves through humorous attire, others hold deeper connections to their clothing.

Junior illustration major Freddy Toglia’s graphic tee reminds them of a fond memory with their father. The shirt depicts the Quickway Diner, a restaurant located halfway between Toglia’s hometown and SU’s campus. They bought the shirt on their first visit to campus, before they committed to the university.

Below the main graphic, the shirt reads “#38 on the Dove trail,” a reference to the The Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail that commemorates the famous Woodstock festival of 1969. The trail is made up of 50 hand-painted dove sculptures found at tourist destinations in and around the Woodstock area. Toglia said they’ve always been fond of the ‘70s and the Woodstock festival.

“We just so happened to stop at a diner that is one of those places,” Toglia said. “It’s perfect.”

Junior communications and rhetorical studies major Megan Halsey and junior television radio and film major Mario Esteb also hold familial connections to the graphic tees they wear.

Halsey’s shirt was originally her father’s, which she took a liking to for its baggy fit and vintage look.

“I like taking my dad’s clothes because they’re bigger on me and they’re all vintage, which is coming back,” Halsey said.

Esteb’s shirt, like Halsey’s, maintains a vintage aesthetic while also incorporating his regional identity. His shirt references The Minnesota North Stars, the hockey team prior to the current Minnesota Wild. The tee represents Esteb’s support for the team and memories shared with his family.

Alicia Hoppes | Contributing Photographer

Megan Halsey wears her father’s shirt for the baggy fit and vintage look. The patterned apparel is much more than just cloth for the Syracuse University student.

“I never got to watch the North Stars, but my dad was a big fan, so he always showed me cool highlights,” Esteb said.

Many students like Esteb have turned to second-hand shopping to achieve their desired vintage look.

On one thrift trip, a red top caught freshman Adil Oryspayev’s eye. On the shirt was an outline of the state of Maryland with its flag as the pattern. As Oryspayev is from Stamford, Connecticut, the shirt holds no significance to him, other than thrifting with a group of friends. He said he likes the inexpensive nature of thrifting.

Freshman Mykie Kamberos thrifted their Harley Davidson tee with friends and appreciates the novelty of a quality thrift find.

“I just really love the aesthetic of a Harley Davidson T-shirt and how nice they are,” Kamberos said.

SU sophomore Katie Huang admitted the Betty Boop shirt she was wearing wasn’t her own, but her close friend’s. She said she went searching for a top to match her skirt after feeling drawn to the character she dressed up as for Halloween last year. Huang said wardrobe-swapping with her friend has created unique outfit combinations.

“My friend has some interesting pieces. I have some interesting pieces. It’s interesting to watch those intertwine in outfits,” Huang said.

Some shirts go beyond sentimental value or fun fashion, as other members of the Syracuse community shared political meanings associated with their shirts.

During SEIU Local 200United negotiations, Lisa Hairston, a food services worker at SU, wore a tee showing her membership with the university-recognized union. Hairston said she wears the shirt in celebration of the recent decision between the union’s members and SU leadership. The agreement came a little over two weeks after workers held a rally outside of 727 Comstock Ave, demanding wage increases and better working conditions.

“We just finished negotiating our contract for four years, so it means a lot today,” Hairston said.

Regardless of depth or special meaning, graphic tees allow community members to show others something that represents them through their outfit. From family stories to satirical pop culture references, each top represents a diverse perspective on SU’s campus, something Esteb finds fascinating.

“There are plenty of graphic tees that have individual stories of how they were bought or handed down, and each shirt tells a little bit about a person,” Esteb said.

Culture Editor Rosina Boehm contributed reporting to this article.

Published on September 12, 2024 at 1:09 am