Monday, January 17, 2011

Remembering Travel With T-Shirts

When I look back on my travels, I go through my T-shirt collection. Yes, you read that correctly: T-shirts, not photos. Sure, most people love to browse through their photo albums or slide shows on their iPad to reminisce about their vacation. But I have to be a bit different. Sure, I shoot plenty of photos to either accompany my story, as a way of documenting a trip, or as an artistic exercise. But I prefer to collect odd or unique T-shirts from my travels as a way to remember a scenic hiking trail or a restaurant that served the best Key Lime pie. My T-shirts also serve another purpose: When I wear them on my journeys, they become conversation starters.

I recently guest blogged on my favorite sourvenirs, T-shirts from my travels, for Pam MacNaughtan at Spunky Girl Monologues.

24 comments:

Alexandra said...

What a great idea! I didn't collect travel shirts, but rather concert Ts. Every once and a while I flip through them and finger the fabric, remembering the different bands that played Paris where I lived at the time and worked in radio.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Alexandra, That's cool that you collect concert t-shirts. Also a great way to bring back vivid memories of the experience.

NoPotCooking said...

I collect bookmarks while traveling. I love to look at them and remember where I got them.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi NoPotCooking, I love the idea of collecting bookmarks. A perfect way to remember a trip.

Stephanie Stiavetti said...

Ah, I love t-shirts too. I don't often buy them from destinations, but rather I remember them from periods of my life.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Stephanie, That's cool too. I buy 'em on my trips because I generally buy little in the way of anything else. And they pack small too.

Melanie @ Frugal Kiwi said...

You'll have to to a post with some photos of your faves one day.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Melanie, Yes, you're totally right. I'm working on it. Thanks for the feedback.

Sheryl said...

You must have collected a ton of tshirts from all your travels. How do you store them all? It would be fun to make a huge quilt out of them, don't you think?

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Sheryl, Because I live in NYC, space is limited so I have to rent storage space for lots of things, including the t-shirts. But I love your quilt idea. That'd be very fun.l

Susan Johnston Taylor said...

That's a great point about t-shirts as conversation starters. I already have a huge collection, so I'm not in the market for more, but I like this idea.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Susan, I always say that I won't buy another T-shirt but it's sometimes hard to resist.

Casey@Good. Food. Stories. said...

Sheryl & Jeanine, I'm in the process of making a quilt out of all my old R.E.M. t-shirts right now! It's not too hard and it will make such a cozy blanket when I'm sitting on the couch, reading about your travels. :)

MyKidsEatSquid said...

I think that's a great idea. I'm starting to collect t-shirts from my favorite places to eat while traveling. Often there are just some crazy-named restaurants. And you're right--it's a conversation starter.

Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart said...

That's an interesting option. I'd think over time storage might become an issue. Maybe when you post photos you could talk about how you pick the t-shirts you pick ... since so many of those available in tourist spots aren't that interesting.

Unknown said...

Great idea. The other great think about t-shirts is that they can be fashioned into a quilt or pillow or wall hanging.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Casey, I bet it'll look amazing. Definitely a conversation piece.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Roxanne, Thanks for that idea about a post detailing how I pick out my crazy t-shirts. I try to pick out shirts that most people wouldn't buy. I definitely don't go for the obvious.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi mjr, It's funny that I never thought about doing a quilt but it seems that everyone else has. Great idea!

Donna Hull said...

I used to collect t-shirts but somehow switched to buying jewelry as my travel remembrances. It's usually something not very expensive that speaks of the place that I'm visiting.

On the t-shirt front, I have an opposite shirt tale. I've worn the same Ga Tech sweatshirt in almost every cold weather travel photo that I've had taken. That sweatshirt has really been around and could tell a few tales. Fun to remember.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Donna, I think collecting authentic jewelry when traveling is also a good way to remember a trip.

Jennifer Margulis said...

I'm not much of a T-shirt wearer or buyer but I think this is a fun way to create memories. My grandma had a charm bracelet. She would add a trinket from every country she visited. (And, yes, it got too bulky to wear after awhile...)

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Jennifer, I always loved charm bracelets. I had one when I was a kid. It's also a great wear of collecting remembrances from travels.

canvas prints said...

I really like this idea, I think it's important to do something like this.