Time to ring in the New Year by celebrating the old! 2019 was a wildly creative year for our artist community. We saw tons of new work—fun, weird, bizarre, mind-blowing art. Whether it made us think or laugh, the art created by the Threadless community in 2019 is memorable (so memorable, you’ll want to grab them on tees to wear in the New Year and beyond). Get the best designs of 2019 on your favorite zip-up hoodie or comfy regular t-shirt, and sing auld lang syne at the top of your lungs. 

Pinkies Up

Design by Vincent Trinidad
The Great Kanagawa Tee” design by Vincent Trinidad

Ride the wave of high tea with this design mash-up. Art history lovers will recognize the nod to the classic Japanese woodblock print from the late Edo period and tea drinkers will recognize their favorite beverage turned into a natural disaster in a porcelain cup. Something for everyone. 

The Final Frontier  

Design by Angoes25
Jellyspace” design by Angoes25

Blast off into deep space, which, turns out, has similar inhabitants to the ocean’s depths. For everyone out there who nerds out about space or can’t get enough marine biology, this design has you covered.  

Particle Humor 

Design by Michael Buxton
Never Trust an Atom” design by Michael Buxton 

Science lovers, molecular geeks, and dad joke fans, this design’s got you in mind. It’s punny and sweet with a little hint of crazy. Get it on tee and wear it to your local science fair or trivia night at the bar.  

Robot Woes 

Design by Grant Shepley
Robot Problems” design by Grant Shepley 

Technology got you all fired up? Well, imagine how it feels for robots, every time they try to authenticate their existence online. Grab this design for the irony of it or gift it to your favorite IT person at work. They’ll understand. 

Cowabunga! 

Design by Vincent Trinidad
The Great Retro Wave” design by Vincent Trinidad

Another, way more 80s, take on the classic Japanese woodblock print, this design blends surfer culture with Japanese influences. Cruise the boardwalk, catch the wave, and ride into the sunset.  

Foolproof Folds 

Design by Lucas Scialabba
Rhinogami” design by Lucas Scialabba

Did you have an origami phase? Where you bought stacks of the beautiful, shiny, colorful paper squares and folded them over and over in an attempt to make the shapes look like something recognizable? Well here you go. A perfectly formed, totally recognizable rhino in origami form.

Aliens Love Cats 

Strange Planet design by Nathan W. Pyle
Strange Planet: I Found This It’s Vibrating” design by Nathan W. Pyle 

These delightful blue beings highlight the joy of human behavior from an outsider’s perspective —and we’re all about it. This design’s purrrfect for cat people and UFO believers. Or really anyone who wants a good laugh.


2019 saw some great designs, but these were top on our list of must-get, must-wear looks. Commemorate the best parts of the end of this decade with these hilarious, artistic, culturally relevant designs. Then step into 2020, feeling footloose and fancy-free. Same you, new artist-designed style. 

Sarah Fischer

Doting on my house plants is how I fill my time when I'm not writing, reading, running or playing with my darling cats, Evelyn and Charlie. In a past life, if any of us live more than once, I might have been a French poet or horticulturalist. Powered by: beautiful cake, morning sunlight and black coffee.