Carrotees stands for alternative fashion with a focus on veganism, environmental awareness, and sustainability. But who is actually behind Carrotees?
I’m Philip and, together with Lisa , I’m responsible for all the stuff that happens here. We’re in our mid-30s, have been vegan ourselves since 2019, and are so happy to see more and more people around us going vegan too. Carrotees was originally my idea, and as a web and software developer, I handle the website, customer support, and bringing the designs to life, while we both collaborate on many of our design ideas.
Why vegan T-shirts?
My sense of style probably wouldn’t be described as “classic.” I don’t own fancy shirts or expensive designer labels. I’ve never seen fashion as a status symbol, and I’m still not the suit-and-tie type. In fact, my wardrobe consists almost entirely of graphic tees and metal band shirts. You’d have to look quite a while to find any bright colors.
So my wardrobe has always been part of my identity: motifs that show what music I listen to and which bands I support. Nerdy sayings and funny slogans. And cat shirts… lots of cat shirts… It was obvious that “vegan shirts” would eventually be added to the mix, as preventing animal suffering and exploitation has become a big part of my life.
However, while searching for cool vegan shirts to complete my wardrobe, I could hardly find anything. Cutesy motifs with cows and pigs or slogans preaching how great a vegan you are aren’t exactly what goes well with the rest of my shirts, which consist of edgy metal designs or sarcastic quotes. And nobody really wants a clash in their wardrobe.
How did the idea for Carrotees come about?
As someone with a strong DIY mentality and a “I’ll just do it” spirit, Carrotees was the next logical step. And so, in 2023, Carrotees was born from an artistic and creative mind with the solution-oriented approach of a software developer.
I quickly realized that I wasn’t the only person looking for vegan T-shirts with designs that were a little more daring. So, after adding the first T-shirts to my own wardrobe, I decided to pursue the idea of a T-shirt shop and continue developing the website. The result is the shop you see today, with all the collections, designs, and, of course, the Shirt of the Week.
I have also wished for the option to suggest a design or idea at many T-shirt shops. How often have I thought, “I have an idea that would fit perfectly here,” when browsing other T-shirt shops online for new shirts for myself? Apparently, I wasn’t alone in this—at least that’s what your numerous suggestions and ideas show me. At this point, I’d like to give a big shout-out to all the lovely people who contribute creatively to the community with their great ideas 🙂 .
Do you really believe you are making the world a better place with Carrotees?
First of all, I believe that veganism per se makes the world a better place. The more people decide to take action against the exploitation of humans and animals, the better. Apart from the obvious, which is preventing animal suffering, veganism counteracts man-made climate change, which will be a crucial issue for future generations at the latest. And I won’t even get started on the numerous positive effects on one’s own health. The decision to become vegan is usually not one that people make for their own benefit, but rather an altruistic one.
The more people join in and choose to forgo animal products and the exploitation associated with them, the better. Naturally. But how are vegans made? In my childhood, there was the computer game “Age of Empires”, a strategy game where monks could simply use a spell to convert enemy units to their own faith, as long as they could chant “Hoyohoyo Wollolo” long enough. However, “just talking people into it long enough” is actually counterproductive in reality and only further fuels the cliché of the “hysterical vegan,” as can be seen quite vividly with the “militant vegan.”
I believe there are exactly three types of non-vegans.
Firstly: those who know full well that animal exploitation is wrong but cling to spurious arguments and contrived contradictions so that they don’t have to question their lifestyle too deeply.
Secondly: those who really don’t know what’s going on. People who think their steak grows on trees and cows are happy to give up their milk after spending the whole day happily frolicking in their fields and meadows with their calves. Educational films such as Dominion and Earthlings were made for people like this. Once these people have been informed, they will probably become type 1 non-vegans, vegans, or type 3 non-vegans: psychopaths. These people know all the background information and understand exactly what is at stake. And they simply don’t care. Anyone who sees so much suffering, murder, and environmental disasters and is not emotionally affected in the slightest cannot be helped at this point.
Carrotees T-shirts are, on one hand, meant to spark conversations with Type 1 or Type 2 people—to hold up their own fallacious arguments and the absurdity of justifying their consumption habits back to them. Anyone ranting against vegans shouldn’t try to act cool and cynical, but instead let a piece of fabric tell them that even their most “intelligent” arguments, like “But lions eat meat too” or “I only eat organic meat from humane farming,” are long since known, debunked, and more boring than innovative.
On the other hand, it’s a welcome change to express solidarity with your own vegan community and stand by your values. Vegans are no longer the eccentric loners who consider their shoe-sole seitan steak from the health food store to be the pinnacle of culinary achievement and hug trees while wearing Birkenstock sandals and oversized linen shirts made from fifth-generation trees. Veganism can now be wonderfully combined with all areas of life; there is room for veganism everywhere. By combining veganism with pop culture, modern elements, and a (hopefully successful) coolness factor, I want to spread this idea throughout the world. Or rather, have it spread 😉 .
Conviction rather than persuasion is the motto. If you can convince people that veganism is the only ethical way of life, that’s already a good thing. If you can also dispel the doubts that prevent these people from choosing a vegan lifestyle, so much the better. We want to show them that we are there for them if they need help with the transition. No one is excluded, and veganism doesn’t have to consist of dogmas and prohibitions—it can be pretty cool.
I believe that Carrotees can encourage people to let go of prejudices and unfounded fears and make veganism more accessible. So yes, I think Carrotees is helping to make the world a better place 😉
