Striped Bunny Garden Shirt

Carry a gentle thought, sealed and sent.

Introducing The Postal Rabbit Shirt from Empty Reference. This piece is for the quiet observer, the keeper of small, meaningful tokens. We began with the fabric—a 95% polyester and 5% polyurethane (spandex) blend in a soft, neutral oatmeal white. But its true character is in its pronounced, highly textured hand-feel, reminiscent of heavy parchment or a finely woven basket. This substantial, tactile quality gives the shirt a sense of weight, dignity, and artisanal presence.

Upon this textured ground, we place a singular, intimate dispatch. Positioned over the heart is a small, thoughtfully illustrated rabbit, captured within the clean, bordered lines of a postage stamp grid. The rabbit—a symbol of gentleness, intuition, and quiet vitality—is rendered with care, its form becoming the precious “portrait” within this wearable philatelic frame. The perforated edges and typographic elements of a classic stamp are suggested, completing the illusion.

This is not a loud graphic tee. It is a subtle emblem, a piece of personal heraldry. It speaks of messages we wish to send but keep private, of memories too tender to share aloud, framed and carried as a secret comfort. The texture of the fabric is the paper; the print is the stamp; wearing it is the act of sending.

✉️ The Anatomy of a Wearable Missive:

✔ Pronounced Textured Oatmeal Fabric: The tactile foundation. The fabric’s strong, dimensional texture is its first statement. It provides visual depth, a rich hand-feel, and a canvas that interacts beautifully with light. The 5% spandex ensures a gentle give for comfort and a flattering, slightly shaped fit.
✔ Stamp-Framed Rabbit Chest Print: The poetic core. The design meticulously replicates the formal composition of a postage stamp—a defined border, simulated perforations—to frame its “subject”: a gentle rabbit. This transforms a simple graphic into a concept, an object of collection and meaning.
✔ Archival Oatmeal White Hue: The perfect neutral ground. This warm, soft white evokes aged paper, natural linen, and timeless simplicity. It allows the texture to shine and provides a muted, elegant backdrop that makes the detailed stamp graphic pop with subtle clarity.
✔ Modern, Tailored Silhouette: The structured envelope. Cut in a contemporary shirt silhouette with a precise collar, button placket, and clean cuffs, it provides a structured frame for the textured fabric and conceptual print, balancing ease with intention.
✔ The Poetry of Restraint: A single, small graphic holds immense narrative power. Its placement over the heart is intentional, making the shirt a personal locket of sorts. It invites closeness to be seen and understood, rewarding attentive observation.
✔ The Empty Reference on "Quiet Dispatch": We believe clothing can be a medium for unspoken stories. The textured fabric is the stationery—the tangible, physical carrier. The stamp-framed rabbit is the sealed message—the specific, sent thought. To wear this shirt is to be both the sender and the recipient of a quiet, gentle narrative held close.

🎨 Design Details: The Craft of the Stamp

The Fabric Texture: Up close, the texture is intricate—a pebbled, linen-like, or bouclé effect that gives the shirt immense visual interest even in the absence of color or pattern. It feels artisanal and considered.

The Print Precision: The stamp’s borders are crisp, the “perforations” subtly suggested. The rabbit illustration within is detailed enough to convey character but simplified to fit the graphic, emblematic style of a stamp.

The Color Story: The monochromatic scheme—warm oatmeal and the slightly deeper ink of the print—is effortlessly sophisticated, allowing the play of texture and concept to take center stage.

👔 Styling Your Textured Narrative

This shirt is a masterclass in understatement, perfect for building nuanced, intelligent outfits.

The Minimalist Intellectual: Tuck it into high-waisted, tailored trousers in black, charcoal, or chocolate brown. Add glasses, a simple watch, and loafers. The outfit speaks of considered taste, where the shirt’s texture and subtle graphic provide all the necessary detail.

The Softly Structured: Wear it untucked over a straight-leg pair of jeans or a simple midi skirt in a complementary neutral (cream, stone). Roll the sleeves casually. The contrast between the shirt’s structured collar and the relaxed bottom half creates an easy, modern balance.

The Layered Depth: Use it as a perfect light layer under a sleeveless knit vest, a pinafore dress, or an unbuttoned oversized blazer. The collar and placket add polish, and the chest stamp becomes a delightful hidden-in-plain-sight detail.

Its Natural Habitat: Writers' rooms, art studios, autumn walks, bookstore visits, or any space where thoughtfulness, texture, and a hint of narrative romance are valued.

Model 1: 186cm / 65kg, wears size XL.
Model 2: 172cm / 45kg, wears size M.
Manual measurement may vary by 1–2cm.