About

cult of absurd is a small studio in Denver making clothing, stickers, and other things for people who still wear black graphic shirts and have no plans to stop.

I’ve always been a nerd about design and shirts. I started screen printing in my basement when I was 16, mostly making merch for friends’ bands. I’m 39 now and still spending more time than necessary thinking about type, ink, and whether anyone would actually want to wear the result.

I started this project because I wanted clothes that felt connected to the music, art, books, dumb jokes, and late-night conversations that shaped me. Things with a point of view that didn’t feel like a motivational slogan, a lifestyle brand, or a costume.

Somewhere along the way, life fills up with jobs, bills, responsibilities, and calendars we don’t remember agreeing to. But the parts of us that grew up around punk, metal, skate culture, strange art, and questionable venues don’t disappear. We just get a little more selective about the shirts.

cult of absurd isn’t about believing that nothing matters. It’s about admitting that much of life makes very little sense, finding the humor in that, and paying attention when something good appears.

Everything is designed in-house and produced in small batches. I care about solid materials, good printing and embroidery, comfortable fits, and making things people actually want to live in. Life is uncomfortable enough without a disappointing T-shirt.

If you still go to shows, wear too much black, think about things more than is probably helpful, or find references to death funnier than you probably should, you’re in the right place.

Thanks for being here.

Jake Lee
cult of absurd