Some people have a special attachment to their ephemeral souvenir T-shirts
Bode is known for creating clothing with a strong narrative, incorporating handcrafted elements, such as vintage items like old fabrics, hand-drawn drawings, and custom embroidery. While T-shirts aren't particularly well-known, the brand has recently announced that it has been steadily increasing the number of T-shirt styles it releases.
"I'm drawn to things that were created with a limited purpose and were destined to last only a short time, like restaurant menus or mountain trail guides. In terms of T-shirts, I think the souvenir T-shirts sold in souvenir shops would be an example of this. These are certainly not items that were made to last a lifetime, but whenever I go to a vintage flea market, I always see people collecting them.
Seeing this makes me realize that even a T-shirt that seems like it would be thrown away quickly can become something that someone feels attached to. I think that kind of personal attachment is wonderful. That's why at Bode we often make original souvenir T-shirts."
At first glance, they all look like stereotypically kitschy souvenir T-shirts, but upon closer inspection, some of them are decorated with beads and charms, giving them a unique Emily twist.
Following the etiquette of the souvenir T-shirt series, we decided to have a special original T-shirt made for Brutus. The theme was a little broader, set to Japan. Emily had just visited Japan a few months ago, so the T-shirt reflected those fresh memories, making it a very special "homemade" souvenir T-shirt for her as well.
Emily puts the finishing touches on a Brutus souvenir T-shirt in the new Wall Street studio, where all production parts are housed on one floor. 
The pieces are decorated with hand-drawn drawings, a standard Bode technique.
“The picture of Mt. Fuji was drawn based on old Japanese books that my husband has been collecting. I often paint pictures directly onto fabric at Bode, and this was inspired by a custom at Purdue University in Indiana where fourth-year students would hand-write letters and pictures on corduroy pants and wear them.
I started putting personal memories into my T-shirts because I had a friend who was a quilt dealer and he wore a T-shirt that said "Maine" on it until it was as thin as tissue. He was also a jeweler, so it had stains and holes in it. He would travel in it and sometimes even wipe the floor in it like a rug (laughs).
I think he wore it for about 20 years. When he passed away, I inherited the T-shirt. I like things that give the feeling that they were worn and loved by someone, so I want the T-shirts we make to be used in the same way.
A women's store will open in Tribeca in 2023. Additionally, one of the men's stores in Chinatown will be converted into a shoe store, and Emily's former home will be renovated into a custom-made shop. 
A women's store will open in Tribeca in 2023. Additionally, one of the men's stores in Chinatown will be converted into a shoe store, and Emily's former home will be renovated into a custom-made shop.
American-style event T-shirts now available in designs that adults can wear.
Bode's T-shirts also include items that reflect personal memories, a series that incorporates American customs into its designs.
Original T-shirts for the Christmas holidays and Halloween. "You might dress up for a Christmas party, but you'll want to wear items like these to get you in the mood the day before or the morning of Christmas." The Christmas T-shirts are especially popular, and she has started making them almost every year, changing the types of decorative charms slightly. 
Bode's recreational line, Bode Rec., officially launched in the fall of 2024, includes a piece that lists the names of all the trails in Massachusetts. If you look closely, you'll see that the lettering is actually made of velvet.
"When I was a child, I often wore pumpkin T-shirts around Halloween, but it's hard to find them in adult sizes. So I made them for women and even for babies so that the whole family could wear them. Some people keep T-shirts as memories, but most people end up throwing them away. That's why I want to preserve memories in a sophisticated way.
I also make Christmas T-shirts, each with a slightly different charm attached, and I hope that people will wear them every year during the same season until they are completely worn out. It would be great if they could become a family tradition and become a memorable item that people can talk about, like, "Dad used to wear this."
Emily looks back at the archives of T-shirts she's made at Bode. One souvenir T-shirt she's particularly fond of is a recreation of a Massachusetts souvenir T-shirt, featuring a three-dimensional fur design in the shape of the state. She also has many other nostalgic items, including adult-sized versions of patterns inspired by her personal collection of 1960s and 1970s children's clothing. 
This vintage-inspired Alaska T-shirt features sparkling beads on the word "ALASKA." This little touch transforms an ordinary souvenir into something special. 
One of Bode's signature items is the souvenir T-shirt. This time, they came up with an original design and created it especially for Brutus. The "-" is sideways, which is a nice touch.
