Wear the Contrast
SON OF A TAILOR
*George Byrne’s Capsule for Wildfire Relief
written AMANDA MORTENSON
A city is never neutral in George Byrne’s work. Its forms, shadows, lines, and spaces absorb and reflect.
This sensitivity to urban rhythm now moves into textile, as Byrne unveils a limited-edition capsule of T-shirts created in partnership with Copenhagen label Son of a Tailor. The three-piece capsule is part of the brand’s Canvas series, which invites artists to use the T-shirt as a medium of expression. Byrne’s works for this collection were made during a focused period in Copenhagen, with all proceeds supporting California wildfire relief via the California Community Foundation’s CalFund.
George Byrne
Clock Tower, 2024
George Byrne
Pink and Blue Wall, 2024
“It wasn’t just fashion for the sake of it—there was a great cause at the heart of it, and that made it meaningful.”
George Byrne on his collaboration with Son of a Tailor
SS2025
The connection is personal. “Supporting wildfire relief in California gave the project a personal edge,” Byrne says. “It was a way to give back to a city that’s given me so much.” Printed on 100% Supima cotton, produced in Portugal and made-to-order, the shirts are available in both custom and standard fits. Each of the three artworks is limited to 250 editions, individually numbered and never to be repeated. The scale of the print dominates the back; the front carries a label marking its edition. These aren’t souvenirs, but archive-bound objects made for wear.
The pieces emerged through Byrne’s immersion in Copenhagen—his first time in the city. “Landing in Copenhagen from LA does feel like being dropped on another planet—in the best way,” he says. “The pace, the architecture, the way people move through space—it all shaped how I engaged with the project.” His compositions draw from what he calls a dialogue between environments: the structured rhythm of Copenhagen and the emotional texture of Los Angeles. Having lived over a decade in LA, Byrne is deeply familiar with its volatility.
“Wildfires are a part of life here. I grew up in Sydney, so I know that strange orange light, the acrid air,” he shares. “It changes how you see things. I wanted to take that emotional residue and build it into something constructive.”
For Son of a Tailor, choosing Byrne for the Canvas series was more than an aesthetic alignment—it was a reflection of shared intent. “There’s a kind of understated elegance in inviting an artist to work with the T-shirt,” says Andreas Langhorn, co-founder and product director of the brand. “George’s approach to architecture, color, and form felt right for the Canvas series. And knowing he already wore our T-shirts every day added another layer of authenticity.”
Langhorn had followed Byrne’s work since his book Post Truth and was particularly drawn to his interpretation of West Coast light. “That aesthetic struck a chord with me,” he notes. “My family lives in California, so there was also a personal draw. It all came together very naturally.”
“We designed this Canvas edition to let the artwork breathe... It’s wearable art with purpose.”
Andreas Langhorn, Co-Founder of Son of a Tailor
George Byrne
White Wall
The collaboration is produced in alignment with Son of a Tailor’s values—zero overproduction, full transparency, and B Corp certification. Every shirt is made-to-order to avoid waste. “We designed this Canvas edition to let the artwork breathe,” Langhorn says. “The oversized prints reference vintage graphic tees but with refined construction.”
Byrne sees the gesture of donating all proceeds not as marketing but as an act of alignment. “You don’t often see that level of commitment—100% of proceeds,” he says. “It shows what’s possible when you lead with values.” Langhorn echoes the sentiment: “Sincerity is everything. People recognize when something is real. This collaboration reflects who we are—and who George is—on many levels.”
The George Byrne x Son of a Tailor capsule is available for pre-order from April 24 at sonofatailor.com
