Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Comedian Blakka Ellis wears one of the select T shirts from the new line designed for laughs.
Using T-Shirts to spread a message is nothing new. Neither is using them to cause a smile.
However, starting at the International Comedy Fest in June and continuing at the 'Canadian Invasion' edition of 'Sey Sup'm' at Weekenz, Constant Spring Road, on Sunday, Ellis International has given 'yard' touch to humorous fashion.
Their SMILE JAMAICA SHIrT designs carry witty, quickly read lines that created a stir at the International Comedy Fest, where they were on sale outside the doors of the Hilton Kingston hotel's ballroom.
Still, Owen 'Blakka' Ellis smiled as he told The STAR that "it's interesting. Everybody thought them sell off because the booth was full of people, but they were not necessarily buying the shirts".
Sexual performance
Among the quips on the shirts, which come in four colours including beige and purple, are 'Humour improves sexual performance', 'Laugh lickle louder, live lickle longer', 'I make my wife laugh every night' and, Blakka's favourite, 'Laughter improves beauty'.
The rib-ticklers were drawn from different sources, Ellis pointing out that he first heard 'Laughter, the second best way to relieve stress' from psychologist Dr. Leachim Semaj.
Ellis says the decision was to use general slogans that no one could claim copyright to, as well as to come up with some themselves. It was not all smooth sailing with the 'themselves', though, as Blakka said he and brother Ity (of the comedic duo Ity and Fancy Cat) tussled over doing the T-Shirt line. One didn't want to do it as he believes a project should turn a profit, the other wanted to go full speed ahead.
"Where we do agree is that there are other ways to share humour than a comedy show," Blakka Ellis said.
"Iceman (Donald Anderson) is always wearing some interesting T-Shirts," Blakka Ellis said, recalling one that says 'I'm dead serious. I'm going to kidnap myself'. "These things put a smile on people's faces," he said.
In stores
And so do the SMILE JAMAICA SHIrT designs, even if they are not yet selling in volumes proportionate to the grins, Ellis pointing out that people don't come to buy things like T-Shirts, drinks are the priority.
He is looking towards putting them in stores and pointed out that his father, who is now retired, designs and makes most of the vest-style clothing that he and Ity wears on stage.
And as for the comic wear, Owen Ellis grins as he describes them as "clothes that make you want to laugh when you put them on, and happily laugh and take them off".
Samples of Blakka Ellis' T Shirt line SMILE JAMAICA SHIrT. The T shirts are designed to bring a smile to the wearer and to those around him. - Colin Hamilton photos
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