The Cosmic Tiger Tee: The Design That Sparked Thread Hippie

Some pieces don’t just sell - they spark something totally new!

Our Cosmic Tiger Tee wasn’t part of a big campaign. It didn’t launch with fanfare. But it’s the design that made women stop, smile, and say, “This. I want this.”

It became the first true Thread Hippie icon. The one that showed us we weren’t the only ones craving a women's tee with real energy again. Something bold, a little nostalgic, and a little rebellious. It wasn’t about chasing trends. It was about remembering how fun getting dressed could feel.

The Design That Roared to Life

When we first started Thread Hippie, we didn’t want to play it safe. We wanted to lead with a graphic that said something - a little wild, a little unexpected, but completely magnetic.

The cosmic tiger design felt right immediately. Not just because it looked cool (it does), but because it carried that energy we kept coming back to: bold, untamed, and alive. She had a third eye beaming toward the cosmos, and something in her gaze made you want to stand a little taller.

Back then, we screen printed our own labels and hand-sewed them into every tee. The message we wrote said it all:

"Our 'Cosmic Tiger' tee is your wild companion on the cosmic adventure of life. With her third eye turned up to the great cosmos, she's your timeless symbol of strength, confidence, and potential. When you wear her out into the universe, know that you are sending a message that you are a star-studded force."

Thread Hippie has evolved since those early days, but that idea still pulses at the center of everything we do. The Cosmic Tiger was never just a graphic - it was a declaration. A reminder of who you are when you’re fully yourself. She’s become our icon, and for a lot of women, she’s become theirs too.

What Happened Next

We first printed the Cosmic Tiger on our white tee - a clean and perfect canvas for her cosmic energy. We weren’t sure what would happen, but it didn’t take long. Women found her. Picked her up. Tried her on. And kept coming back.

That’s when the requests started rolling in.

So we introduced her on vintage black - a wash that looked like it came straight from a LA woman's 1980s closet, perfectly faded in all the right ways. That version flew too. Then came the the tiger on our sun-faded green, a shade that felt like a long-lost army surplus find kissed by the California sun.

Each color felt like a new take on the same spirit. Different moods, same message: boldness, strength, potential, and style.

Why She Still Matters

Looking back, the Cosmic Tiger helped us define something we didn’t have words for yet. She brought a kind of boldness that felt familiar but forgotten - the kind that reminded women that getting dressed could still be fun, expressive, and a little bit rebellious.

She helped shape our brand, yes. But more importantly, she reminded us (and our customers) of what was missing - and what could come back.

If you’ve worn her, you know.
If you haven’t met her yet… she’s worth knowing.

Want to check out our Cosmic Tigers? Check them out here. All of our tees and sweatshirts, including the cosmic tiger, are proudly made in LA!