Like many Chicagoans, Tim Gillengerten uses the Chicago Transit Authority for his daily commute downtown. While waiting on the platform for his train one day, Gillengerten noticed that each stop had a sign with different colors and designs to signify locations and train lines. While these signs are often seen as mere elements of urban design, Gillengerten decided to use them as inspiration for a now million-dollar brand.
In 2000, Gillengerten, who didn’t graduate from Columbia but took graphic design classes at the college from 1986 to 1990, started Transit Tees as a “garage print shop.” On the weekends, he would use a hairdryer and a small screen press to make his own transit stop shirts. However, when Gillengerten started working with brands like the Museum of Contemporary Art, he realized his business could be viable.
“We had a couple really good clients, and I realized that could create a company,” said Gillengerten.
In 2001, the company gained the attention of the CTA and later became an official manufacturer of CTA-themed merchandise.
“I’m glad that we partnered with [the CTA], it has been a great passion,” said Gillengerten.
Tom LaPlante, one of Transit Tees’ two art directors, said that the transit system acts as a “shared point of reference” for every Chicagoan. Elements such as the trains and buses along with the signs and stations help define “the unique feeling of living in Chicago.”
The creative vision of Transit Tees is implemented in a wide variety of merchandise. Iconic designs such as the Chicago Flag are printed on socks and shirts. For every neighborhood stop on a train, a corresponding magnet exists for their signs. Even shower curtains are sold displaying a map of the CTA’s rail system.
Chicago’s vast food scene and diverse wildlife are also implemented into designs with the goal of bringing “all these varied inspirations together in a way that makes people feel a sense of pride and belonging in this city.”
Kyle John Hollings, another art director of Transit Tees, describes the creative vision of the company as a “celebration of Chicago’s landscape and culture.”
Gillengerten described Chicago as “a great city of opportunity” for not only design inspirations, but also collaboration and professional work.
For over a year, Transit Tees has been a sponsor of “EL Tracker,” an independently developed app that provides accessible data regarding arrival times for the trains and buses of the CTA, as the Chronicle previously reported.
Gemma DeCetra, one of the creators of the app, has had a “phenomenal” experience working with the company.
“It was really important to us to partner with a local business that also obviously cares so much about Chicago,” said DeCetra.
In addition, the company has worked with over a hundred different groups, ranging from gift shops at museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Architecture Center to local festivals like Wicker Park Fest.
Transit Tees has also partnered with Old Style Beer to create their own collection of items. This even includes a card game named after the “Chicago Handshake” drink, a local tradition from both Old Style Beer and Jeppson’s Malört.
“It’s really been nice to work in Chicago,” said Gillengerten. “Especially with all the original brands that are here.”
Gillengerten said it is important to have passion for the brand in order to navigate the challenges of being a business owner and make connections in the industry.
“Find a subject or idea you really love, and that can make it all happen for you,” said Gillengerten. “Especially in a city like this where people open their doors.”
Copy edited by Manuel Nocera
