Fashion inspiration can come from the strangest places. Take the Maine Home Shirt for example. Chas Bruns, the brains behind the design, felt inspired from a scene in the movie “W”.  “There’s a scene when George Bush’s character is jogging, and we noticed he was wearing a shirt with the flag of Texas on it. Under the flag it said HOME. We both immediately turned to each other and said, ‘Damn, that’s the type of shirt we need to make!’” explains Bruns. After a little tinkering in photo shop, the t-shirt design was born soon after.

Growing up in Bangor, Bruns would hear a lot of negative comments about Maine, mostly from friends that wanted to move away. “After I moved away myself and lived in other cities around the country all I ever heard was ‘I love California!’ or ‘I’m proud to be from New York.’ It was strange for me to see so much state pride! It made me a little angry, but it also motivated me,” he says. Since creating the shirt in 2008, it’s taken off. Mainers that are living away are wearing it in support of their roots. A few have even gotten the design tattooed on.

“I am proud that Mainers are finally excited to showcase their home state,” says Bruns, “and aren’t afraid to wear it on their chest.”  Pick one up for yourself right here.