Dogfish, Billy Reid make analog T-shirts for the digital age

Building on Dogfish Head's history of collaborating with like-minded artists and companies, Billy Reid is releasing two limited-edition T-shirts painted by Dogfish founder Sam Calagione.

Like Pearl Jam, Askinosie Chocolate, Grain Surfboards, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and other Dogfish collaborators, Billy Reid falls right in line with Dogfish's off-centered outlook.

"From the clothing designs to the antique store furnishings, we love that Billy Reid pulls from the past to make something new," says Calagione. "At Dogfish Head, we often revive ancient brewing practices or ingredients into compelling new ales, so we feel a great affinity for their creative spin on a timeless aesthetic."

Calagione, who has painted the label art for Festina Peche, Namaste and Noble Rot, was inspired to create two new Dogfish designs:

Tigerfish: A simplified and more aggressive version of the Dogfish logo with no words and a slightly asymmetrical jauntiness.

Brew Magic: A celebration of the interaction of science, art and magic that brings creative ideas to life, whether its a waxed-cotton hunting jacket, a love poem to Camellia blossoms or a raisin-infused brown ale.

Like Dogfish's artisanal ales, these T-shirts are made with unconventional craftsmanship that makes them worth the investment. The artwork is applied in a process known as flocking, which takes four times as long as simple screenprinting and gives the art a raised texture and appearance. The shirts are also enzyme-washed, giving them a worn-in-for-years feel. Not your average Beefy-T.

Billy Reid's modern approach to traditional American sportswear bears its authenticity in its Southern roots and a workwear-influenced heritage. Reid's twists on classics such as hand-tailored suiting, hunting-inspired outerwear, classic shirting, and sportswear made to endure a lifetime represent the core of his men's, women's, and accessories collections. In 2010, Billy became the first designer to win the GQ /CFDA Best New Designer in America Award and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund for his namesake collection.

The $56 shirts will be available at billyreid.com and at all Billy Reid stores on Oct. 19. Have a beer with Calagione at the launch party from 5 to 6 that evening at the Billy Reid shop at 54 Bond St. in New York City.