This Is Not a T-Shirt: A Brand, a Culture, a Community--a Life in Streetwear Hardcover – June 25, 2019

I used to be one of those avid readers of The Hundreds’ blog in the early 2000s refreshing the browser and anxiously waiting to read what Bobby has to say each day, or sometimes even twice a day. Reading “This Is Not A T-Shirt” felt more like a drive down memory-lane than anything else because I remember being there and seeing some of these chapters firsthand. I, along with two of my closest friends, wanted to start a t-shirt line because of Bobby. I wanted to write more because of Bobby. I wanted to be everywhere The Hundreds was and swallow up every bit of advice I could. The book felt like just one very long blog post to make up for the years he stepped back from updating us on the site himself. The Hundreds became much more than just a clothing brand. It was a foster home and we were all adopted by Bobby and Ben. And no one was left out. This memoir was so well-written, even those who are unfamiliar will understand. There isn’t a lick of snobbery, “inside-joke”, or lingo that leaves the reader feeling excluded and the footnotes play as a dictionary for those in search of a more extensive answer to certain parts. Bobby is almost Monet-esque in how he paints the words in his storytelling in a way that allows you room to become a part his landscapes. My favorite chapter was that of Abe. I probably shed a couple of tears reading about the man and what drove him to show up even during the most difficult of times. And maybe without him, we might’ve never had this book.My favorite line : “The hard part is you don’t know when the next sentence begins. But the longer you stick around, the sharper you can correct course when it does.”

I've always been a huge Bobby Kim fan. Growing up in the same SoCal area, I knew a lot of his stories related to me directly. I graduated West Covina High School in 1999, and experienced the same pop and youth culture that his brand, The Hundreds, draws inspiration from, so when I saw that he had written a book, I had to show support and purchase a copy. Being into sneakers, and subsequently street wear, it's cool to read about a lot of the origins, and seeing all the dots connect by way of Bobby's map. He name drops people who I've met myself, or know of through others, and it's not a brag at all. It's to pay respect where respect's due, and tell their stories as well. The overarching theme of the book is community. Without it, there's no solid foundation, and there's no lasting power. Now days, your power is in the hard work you put in, not just knowing how to do something. We can all learn how to do something online, and I think perhaps that's why Bobby felt confident in letting us in on the "secret". Most won't bother to put in the work anyways. Always ten steps ahead of us, lol!

...and began to reread right away.It's hard to put into words exactly how much and why this book has been my bible the past week and a half. I've already stained and worn my copy from carrying it everywhere with me. I've already bought two other copies as gifts. And yes, I'm buying another brand new copy for others to borrow (and maybe have Bobby sign).I hate to admit that after having so many negative memories associated with The Hundreds, I forced myself to "move on" from the brand. But after reading this book, I'm reminded of why I fell in love with The Hundreds to begin with: Bobby's sincere and sheer authenticity. Not only is it an amazing read, but an easy one as well because of Bobby's genuine transparency (and ingenuity).If you're looking for some inspiration to grow, or just interested in the history of streetwear, look no further and buy yourself a copy.I think I might even try out the audiobook.EDIT * I've officially bought a 5th copy to gift. Can't thank Bobby Hundreds enough for sharing this book at such a pivotal moment in my life.

This book is a great read. There are like 1-2 street brands that I rock with, The Hundreds and Intellects. This book was a great insight to the highs and lows to turning a hobby into a safe haven. The Hundreds is truly a safe haven, a lifestyle that many rock with. The insight in this book has led to keep thinking within on how the product i put out to the world (doesn’t always have to be a physical product), makes people feel. Do people feel like I am using them, do they feel heard? Etc. Bobby took me through that endeavor; of being a law student with a hobby and taking this and transforming lives through his work. I am proud of the brand, of the book, and the eye opening experiences he shared. I am not interested in starting a clothing company at all but I am interesting in learning from those who stay true to who they say they are and I appreciate this book for doing that.

If you're into streetwear, this is the book to get you motivated to start a brand.If you're not into streetwear, this is the book to get you motivated to make moves in your career or to start pursuing your passions outside of your career.For me, I viewed it from both lenses described above. The in depth stories provided by Bobby give the reader great insight as to what it took for him to get to where he wanted to be, and where he hopes to be in the future. The writing is transparent and honest, which makes it that much more enticing. Each detail that helped shape Bobby and his brand have purpose and meaning. As a reader, you truly feel like you get to know the man and the brand. We know WHAT the brand is, but now we know WHO the brand is, and HOW it came to be, and WHY it matters.A great read for anyone and everyone.