What comes to mind when you think red and white? For overpriced t-shirt lovers, one obvious answer is The Supreme Box Logo. The universally recognizable classic red and white bogo is what put Supreme on the map, and enshrined them in the streetwear hall of fame. But, since their founding in New York in 1994, Supreme has proved skillful at thinking outside the box (ha ha), and has released many pieces featuring an unexpected twist on the classic logo we all know and love. Here, SHEESH! curated a list of 6 especially unorthodox bogos and explained the inspirations and collaborations behind them.
1. Supreme Monogram Box Logo (2000)
Long before Supreme garnered enough clout to collaborate with Louis Vuitton legally, they released a bogo in 2000 ripping off the esteemed French brand’s classic monogram pattern. Cheekily replacing the LV with an S that doubles as a dollar sign, Supreme stamped this design on tees, hats, and skateboard decks. Within 2 weeks, Louis Vuitton issued a cease and desist against them, ordering all counterfeit products to be destroyed. Due to the rarity of the still existing pieces, these tees are listed online for upwards of $1000.
2. Soprano Inspired Box Logo (1999)
A more subtle, yet still highly sought after bogo, is one that puts a deadly twist on the classic red and white. This design was inspired by the popular American TV drama The Sopranos, which was known for replacing the “r” in their name with a gun. This bogo dropped in 1999, the same year the show started, and since then both Supreme and the series have become infamous components of pop culture. Even though the only difference between this and the standard Supreme bogo is one letter, the difference in price is several digits. In 2017, one Grailed user listed this shirt for $5400.
3. Supreme x Nate Lowman Box Logo (2012)
To commemorate their Shibuya store opening in 2012, Supreme released a bogo that appears to have been on the receiving end of the previously discussed design. The bullet holes puncturing this tee are the work of artist Nate Lowman, who has incorporated this motif into some of his most popular works. Despite the neutral color palette, this bogo is eye catching enough to be listed on Grailed for up to $1800.
4. Supreme x Andrei Molodkin Box Logo (2004)
This bogo, which Andrei Molodkin designed for Supreme in 2004, is especially noteworthy because it appears to be drawn directly on the fabric with blue pen. Molodkin is a Russian artist, notorious for incorporating ballpoint pens in his large scale drawings and conceptual sculptures. Frequently, Molodkin even includes the carcasses of pens used up in the process of creation alongside the art itself, as a comment on ephemerality. While everything he made in collaboration with Supreme is rare, an ultra-rare version of this tee exists that features a portrait of Donald Trump on the back. This unreleased sample skyrocketed in value after Trump entered the 2016 Presidential campaign, and at one point was listed on eBay for $20,000.
5. Pollock Inspired Box Logo (1999)
Continuing our list of 6 unique box logos is yet another one inspired art— specifically, Jackson Pollock’s famous “Number 1” painting. Pollock is most known for his unique method of painting production: he pours, splatters, and drizzles paint onto his canvases (talk about drip!). While Pollock’s paintings have been known to sell for over $32 million dollars, Supreme fans can own the Pollock bogo for as low as $1000.
6. COVID-19 Relief Box Logo (2020)
Lastly, in light of recent events, Supreme teamed up with HELP USA to support “youth and families facing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The bogo, which features artwork by the flower-obsessed artist Takashi Murakami, released in the US and Canada online on April 24th. Since then, sales from drop have reportedly raised over one million dollars. On top of that, Grailed and StockX joined in on the altruism and pledged to donate proceeds from the reselling of these tees.
Whether you love it or hate it, Supreme has transcended skaters and streetwear to become one of the world’s most popular and easily recognizable brands. Let us know what you think of Supreme and these out of the box bogos on Instagram @sheeshmagazine.
Check out more streetwear related articles: “Profound Aesthetic Brings Care To Streetwear”, “Why Trevor Gorji’s One In The Chambers Are Worth The Hype”
