Professional rugby player Angus Scott-Young will launch his new vintage-style t-shirt brand, SAINT GUSTAF, in line with receiving his 50th cap this week.
Inspired by the growing popularity of vintage-style NBA and NFL t-shirts, Angus saw an opportunity to celebrate the 15-man code in streetwear culture through his passion for drawing. Hand-drawn illustraLons by Angus take inspiraLon from his love of pop culture, comic heroes and villains, and his childhood obsession with drawing skulls and demons.
The SAINT GUSTAF founder and designer says his drawings combine rugby greats with superhero and villain personas to create a comic style design – a skill he picked up from reading his father’s ‘Phantom comics’ most nights as a kid. “SAINT GUSTAF’s vintage-style tees a:empt to pay homage to iconic rugby players and moments, with the first collecLon heroing legendary players Quade Cooper, Taniela Tupou, and Jordan Petaia,” he said.
“My comic drawings playfully highlight players’ superpowers, with the hope to inspire nostalgia and connecLon with the rugby community. “For example, the Tongan Thor tee brings to life Taniela’s insane power that he is renowned for on the field,” Angus said.
The brand name SAINT GUSTAF is inspired by Angus’ alter ego, Gustaf Le Batch, to whom he attributes his creative and expressive streak. “I firmly believe all people have an internal struggle between good and evil, right and wrong, analytical and creative, controlled and chaotic, and for me this manifests into my split personality between Angus and Gustaf. The ‘saint’ porLon is somewhat of an oxymoron, considering my drawings have a macabre undertone with references to skulls,” he said.
Scott-Young has plans to expand the limited edition designs to specific players and teams from around Australia, New Zealand and Japan in the coming months.
Readers also enjoyed our story about 40 Days of Flavour
