Heeb

Marek Grubel is your typical graffiti artist-cum-entrepreneur.  Which is to say not typical at all. With surprising ease Grubel (seen above with porn star Tera Patrick)  transitioned from tagging to branding, founding T.I.T.S. ("Two in the Shirt"), a line of tees and accessories featuring women in various states of undress. 

Though his biz is fairly new, Grubel isn’t worried about the future. When asked how the current recession has effected sales, Grubel claims the "T.I.T.S. brand is recession-proof."

How did you come up with the idea for T.I.T.S.? 

T.I.T.S. was originally a grafitti crew, the original acronym was ‘Trapped in the System’ and ‘Time is Too Short.’

What’s a nice Jewish boy doing selling vaguely pornographic t-shirts? 

I am Jewish but raised by a hippie mother who encouraged me to find a line of work I loved. I knew I needed to do something creative, and, in regards to being ‘slightly pornographic,’ that depends on how you look at it.

I view T.I.T.S. through 2009 glasses rather than 1950s glasses, a new way of thinking and viewing the world.

What’s your demographic? Who buys T.I.T.S. gear? 

Our demographic is ages 15-30, all races and genders. Sex sells, so we try not to pidgeonhole. 

 Too Short, sporting T.I.T.S. gear at a gig.

What do you say to those who criticize who T.I.T.S. for being degrading toward women, perpetuating the myth that a woman’s worth is only in her sex appeal? (I had to ask.  I’m a former women’s studies major.)   

I am always glad when I get asked this question because it exposes the double-standard, the hypocritical nature of those very question-askers. I tell these people that we are promoting a sexy women in a clever way with a clever concept. Our goal is to use the woman’s body as the main element in design. If people choose to view our designs in a way that is degrading to women, I have to question their motives.

It’s also a free market, and we can express ourselves any way we please.

Do you make a point of having diversity in your range of models? 

We do. Most of the women we choose for designs are what we classify as ‘other,’ which means they are mixed but you can’t necessarily nail what they are mixed with.

What’s the ‘Wifey’ line about? 

It’s not for the faint at heart, that’s for sure. It symbolizes what every man wants in a woman and, for the woman, if she is secure in treating a man how he should be treated. Then it’s a tee she can wear proudly. 

What does your bubbe and zadie think of T.I.T.S.? 

My grandfather thinks what I am doing is amazing. He was never good with money and is in amazement that I have built this thing from the ground up. He is 83 years old and has all four beach towels with our graphics on them and lays by the pool all day.

Interview by Marni Grossman