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When a T-shirt Just Won’t Do

Helveticahaus

Back in February 2015, CK and Linda Anderson launched Helveticahaus, an online retailer that designs and handcrafts apparel celebrating its namesake Swiss font. A lot has changed since then. Helvetica-inspired T-shirts are now found in every corner of the globe, from California to Qatar and from Italy to Indonesia. A set of letterpress-printed coasters was introduced in time for the holidays last year; this year, mini-posters, notecards, and coffee were added to the catalog – along with free downloadable wallpaper for phones, tablets, and computers. And this month, the apparel line is branching out to include long-sleeve hoodies and ladies’ tanks. According to the Andersons’ manifesto, “Helveticahaus is about honoring the – dare we say it – greatest font on the planet. It’s about appealing to Helvetica admirers around the world while introducing its practical and timeless qualities to the next generation of designers.” It’s also about supporting that next generation, of course: All profits generated by product sales go toward funding scholarships for area graphic design students. It’s no small measure of the company’s success that the first winner, Isabel Heisler, received a $1,000 scholarship in September.

photo: J. Craig Sweat Photography