T-shirt designed by Inari for the Sanctuary campaign from architecture and design studio SODA and online retail platform Everpress

SODA studio and Everpress have launched a t-shirt collection to raise money for London charity, the Childhood Trust. SODA studio brought together a creative group of London-based designers to react to the theme of ‘Sanctuary’. The theme is connected to the work of the Childhood Trust, which helps grassroots charities in London to alleviate the impact of child poverty.

The illustrators, artists and designers involved have rallied together and each dedicated their time for free, so 100 per cent of the profits from the project will reach the Childhood Trust. Spanning mediums and design disciplines, the group includes SODA, artists Corin Kennington and Jonny Gent; designers Hato, Pentagram, Lovers and Here Design; illustrators Inari Sirola, Jamie Edler and Lawrence Slater; photographer Lewis Khan; and architects DK-CM and Zaha Hadid Design.

SODA Studio t-shirt design for the ‘Sanctuary’ campaign

While SODA contributed its network, curatorial skills and enthusiasm, east London based Everpress provided its progressive platform. Everpress is an online marketplace founded to help creative people with building up a revenue stream through limited run apparel campaigns. As well as empowering creatives, the platform also brings the consumer unique designs and helps to fight the oft-bland products and wasteful nature of conventional retail.

Each design up for grabs is unique and thoughtful – from Hato’s simple and calming navy blue circle, to Here Design’s grid of little houses, Corin Kennington’s typographic twisting of the word ‘dream’ and SODA’s Escher-meets-Archigram style graphic.

Jamie Edler’s t-shirt design for the ‘Sanctuary’ campaign

The concept of ‘sanctuary’ was important to SODA studio as it related directly to the Childhood Trust’s work. SODA recently worked with the Childhood Trust to make improvements to its Venture Centre in North Kensington, reaching out for contributions from its architecture and design network and creating bright, light and welcoming spaces across the centre to positively enhance the day to day environment for users.

Katie Stamp, head of graphics at SODA, explained how the experience of the collaboration showed how design really can improve lives: ‘It’s so important for children to feel that they can spend time in safe environments, which is something a lot of us take for granted,’ she says. §

T-shirt designed by Corin Kennington

T-shirt designed by Zaha Hadid Design

T-shirt designed by Pentagram