vikungen:I strongly agree with this, make a number of fashionable t-shirts just like the one with some random text on them that everyone wears (especially young people), but have the text be in Esperanto.

I had the same idea yesterday, and even searched what Esperanto T-shirts I could find on the internet. There are a couple, but very few that I like enough to want to have them.

But I was thinking maybe I could make some designs myself. T-shirt design is not quite where my skills lie (I'm more this kind of artist), but I think I should have enough technical know-how and general artistic skills to make something that's at least worth buying. And there are sites like Redbubble that are quite suited for small scale t-shirt designs like this. (There are a few Esperanto T-shirts on there already!) I think as a komencanto it might be the best way I can contribute to the Esperanto community.

Maybe I should start a thread where people can share T-shirt ideas.

Evildela:I don't think it's really that rare anymore to bump into an Esperanto speaker. I've done it three times lol ... or maybe it's just me. Here's a story of one of my encounters:
https://youtu.be/ICOPKXU8dqQ

I imagine you are very outgoing based on your Youtube channel. The chances are much higher for you because of that.

Evildela:I was in Switzeland and my wife wanted to buy some perfumes ... I totally didn't want to enter the shop. She forced me in. The shop was filled with translators helping the tourists. My wife walked up to a Chinese translator. I noticed on her name tag she had three language flags: German, Chinese, and Esperanto. So ... of course after a few seconds stunned I started speaking Esperanto ... after that my wife had to drag me out of the shop.

That is cool. Maybe, this concept of wearing flags to show your language (especially for customer service people) will become common.

Evildela:I noticed on her name tag she had three language flags: German, Chinese, and Esperanto.

What you meant to say was: "I was looking at her chest and I noticed a name tag and on the name tag there was three flags..." You think we don't know what you were doing?

sudanglo:It is a pity that the wearing of the green star has fallen into disuse. If such pins or broaches sit uncomfortably on modern clothing, at least one could put a sticker on the rear window of one's car. (For a modest price you can probably buy such a sticker from your landa asocio, or you could just print something off on your computer and fix it with Sellotape/Scotch tape.)

Add your phone number to the sticker, and you could well be surprised one day by a call out of the blue. Even if you don't get a surprise call you are advertising to the world that Esperanto exists.

http://www.cafepress.com/+esperanto+gifts

They have all kinds of hats, shirts, pins, cups, even underwear.

I had a crazy idea that I have been thinking about. I should dress in Esperanto paraphernalia and paint my car green with two little Esperanto flags on the hood and a huge star on the roof with green racing stripes. Also, set up a booth in the mall where I give free hugs for Esperanto. But, I would only do that if I could make money from it. I wonder how many people would support me financially if I do that?

And then I could lobby organizations to have an Esperanto day at their establishment.

filmo70:

Altebrilas:
Now we have to design, in order to replace pins, something that should be a) reconizable, b) fashionable, c) useful and d) not too expensive.

I would say make an Eo t-shirt. Wear it whenever you go to some place that draws a wide range of people (city, event ktp)...

http://www.cafepress.com/+esperanto+gifts

Alkanadi:What you meant to say was: "I was looking at her chest and I noticed a name tag and on the name tag there was three flags..." You think we don't know what you were doing?

Hey, c'mon. What could be a bigger pleasure than starring at breasts with a reference to Esperanto on them? Who could resist, seriously?

EDIT: And remember: You can't beat biology

... Just noticed that this was my 700th post. Couldn't have made a better one.

I think a small pin is a much easier indicator that you speak Esperanto than a shirt. I have a small flag pin on my winter coat with a collar. There's no good place to put a pin on a coat without a lapel or a collar, but at any rate, I've never had trouble travelling with the pin.

erinja:I think a small pin is a much easier indicator that you speak Esperanto than a shirt. I have a small flag pin on my winter coat with a collar. There's no good place to put a pin on a coat without a lapel or a collar, but at any rate, I've never had trouble travelling with the pin.

Yeah well, but try convincing the general public or more mainstream people who happens to speak Esperanto to wear a flag pin on them at all times, maybe on their backpack or something, but on their clothes I don't see happening.

Rajzino:
I had the same idea yesterday, and even searched what Esperanto T-shirts I could find on the internet. There are a couple, but very few that I like enough to want to have them.

But I was thinking maybe I could make some designs myself. T-shirt design is not quite where my skills lie (I'm more this kind of artist), but I think I should have enough technical know-how and general artistic skills to make something that's at least worth buying. And there are sites like Redbubble that are quite suited for small scale t-shirt designs like this. (There are a few Esperanto T-shirts on there already!) I think as a komencanto it might be the best way I can contribute to the Esperanto community.

Maybe I should start a thread where people can share T-shirt ideas.

A man of action, this is what we need! That art is great by the way, did you make it?

And I like your idea of a thread on some media where people can share their ideas, as if many people contribute we will have see the varied tastes of the general public.

vikungen:Yeah well, but try convincing the general public or more mainstream people who happens to speak Esperanto to wear a flag pin on them at all times, maybe on their backpack or something, but on their clothes I don't see happening.

No one needs to be identified 100% of the time. A pin on the jacket, a pin on your bag, a sticker on your laptop. I wear t-shirts almost never and I would consider someone a little weird if they mostly wore Esperanto shirts. However, an unobtrusive symbol on a garment or accessory that you keep with you all the time (purse, bag, coat, hat, mobile phone cover -- whatever you carry with you) makes more sense to me.

Have a big green star tatooed on your forehead

erinja:No one needs to be identified 100% of the time. A pin on the jacket, a pin on your bag, a sticker on your laptop. I wear t-shirts almost never and I would consider someone a little weird if they mostly wore Esperanto shirts. However, an unobtrusive symbol on a garment or accessory that you keep with you all the time (purse, bag, coat, hat, mobile phone cover -- whatever you carry with you) makes more sense to me.

Well, like Filmo070 said, people could only wear them when going to events or places with lots of people. Or I guess on occasions where you want to be extra patriotic of Esperantujo, like on Esperanto gatherings or language festivals or whatever. But you are right, I guess for many people a pin, sticker, bag, or other accessory would be more sensible.

vikungen:That art is great by the way, did you make it?

And I like your idea of a thread on some media where people can share their ideas, as if many people contribute we will have see the varied tastes of the general public.

Yup, in fact I did. The boy is a practice piece based on a photograph, though.

But I guess I'll make a thread for that soon. Better try make one in Esperanto too. Although there is not really a proper subforum for it, so I'm afraid it will be buried by all the forum games.