THE PEOPLE MUST KNOW — CADRE THOMAS TEE · Edition Blanc treatment

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This piece is a reminder that democracy only works if the truth is reachable. Anchored by Ida B. Wells’ words, it centers the simple idea that people cannot act justly if they are fed distortion, outrage, and conspiracy instead of facts.
 
“The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.”
— Ida B. Wells
 
Edition Blanc uses our Carrara White organic cotton tee to echo clarity, but the real storytelling lives in the inks layered over it. Each outlet’s name is rendered in a different mineral-tinted tone: a grounded ochre for REUTERS, a press-plum for NPR, a graphite-violet for BBC, and a steel-teal for AP. The mix isn’t decorative—it mirrors the idea that truth is strengthened by many voices, each distinct but anchored in integrity. The weathered frame leans archival, giving the design the feel of something pulled from a newsroom ledger rather than a trend cycle.
 
The named outlets on the back aren’t about fandom—they stand in for standards: verification, correction, proportion, and accountability. This tee points toward a media diet built on evidence, not algorithms, and on reporting that serves the public rather than manipulating it.
 
Wear it as a quiet statement that informed people are harder to control, and that honest journalism is not a luxury item—it’s the ground everything else stands on.
 
⟡ Ida B. Wells (1862–1931) was a pioneering Black journalist, educator, and organizer who exposed the truth about lynching in America when it was deadly to do so. Born into slavery and later co-owner of a Memphis newspaper, she used reporting, public speaking, and international campaigns to challenge white supremacy, defend Black lives, and expand civil rights, women’s suffrage, and press freedom
 
This piece joins our Elevation ≥ Revelation collection, which reflects growth as truth and ascent as clarity. These designs honor the work of rising with intention, shaping identity through action rather than appearance.
 
The CADRE cut is your archetypal tee, elevated. Proportions are calmly balanced—shoulders aligned, body neither slim nor loose, hem falling at that precise point where it works as easily over trousers as it does half-tucked. The line is straight, the profile clean, giving whatever you pair it with a clear, intentional frame.
 
The fabric is smooth and substantial, with that refined organic hand that feels cool at first touch, then softens with wear without ever losing its shape. The collar holds its edge without biting at the neck, the sleeves skim the arm rather than gripping it. This is the quiet standard: a modern, everyday tee treated like a tailored essential.
 
DETAILS:
 
• Medium-fit unisex silhouette with set-in sleeves and ribbed collar. 
• 1×1 rib at collar, twin-needle hems. 
• Smooth surface for printability, comfortable everyday wear. 
 
COMPOSITION:
 
SHELL: 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton (24 singles) for smooth finish. 
 
WEIGHT: approx. 5.3 oz / 180 g/m². 
 
Each piece is created to order, crafted only when you choose it. This slower approach takes a little more time, but it keeps us thoughtful—producing intentionally rather than in excess. Your purchase supports a model that values quality, reduces waste, and honors the idea that what we wear should be made with purpose. Thank you for choosing pieces that are created with care, not stockpiled.