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Embrace The Challenge<\/h3>\n
Although Conor\u2019s personal experience inspired him to launch \u2018Fighting Silence,\u2019 he was a stranger to the world of fighting when he started out. Sure, he knew the stereotypes about fighters, and he\u2019d noticed that the rise in male suicide had coincided with a steep uptake in combat sports, but that was about as far as his knowledge went. This made for a bit of a learning curve when he started out \u2013 \u201cInitially I was quite scared to work in such a tough, masculine environment,\u201d he said. \u201cAttending fights and working with fighters in their gyms can be quite daunting when you’re not part of the industry.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Fighting is like theatre<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Still, we tend to learn the most when we feel challenged and his work on \u2018Fighting Silence\u2019 has dispelled any preconceptions Conor might have had about the industry. \u201cI’ve learned a lot,\u201d he agrees. \u201cAs such a stereotypically masculine sport, fighting seems to come with an expected ego and hard-man attitude. However, I found from working on this campaign and meeting a lot of fighters that this isn’t the case. All the fighters I’ve worked with so far have been very welcoming and willing to speak up about their experiences with mental health.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n So why make T-shirts? As well as being a great way to raise funds, T-shirts do a brilliant job of bringing visibility and awareness to a cause \u2013 you\u2019re literally wearing a message on your chest after all. \u2018Fighting Silence\u2019 is all about dispelling the stigma around mental health and encouraging men to be open about their difficulties, so for Conor there was a nice synchronicity in using T-shirts. \u201cI wanted to use garments for the project in order to try and get fighters to wear their pride on their sleeve, and show that they support the cause,\u201d said Conor. \u201cThe T-shirts are kind of a symbol to show that although fighters promote their physical wellbeing a lot through social media, they’re also focused on their mental health too.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Conor found that in pairing with graphic designer Josh, he was able to augment the skills he might be lacking as a photographer. \u201cAs a photographer who photographs people, I was kind of limited to what I could put on a T-shirt,\u201d he said. \u201cCreating a brand identity for \u2018Fighting Silence\u2019 was key in order to spread the message correctly.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Creating a brand identity for \u2018Fighting Silence\u2019 was key<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n As soon as he saw Josh\u2019s work he knew he was the right fit. \u201cThe idea was to create something that fighters would feel comfortable wearing but that people like myself could also wear on a day-to-day basis,\u201d he continued. \u201cJosh was perfect for this. There is a slightly raw edge to his designs which I thought would resonate with fighters as well as being wearable by everyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n We love it when talented people come together. What we\u2019ve learnt though, from speaking to everybody from <\/span>Fruits<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>No Bad Days<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>Amnesty International<\/span><\/a>, is that it can sometimes take a little time to develop your collaborative process. When it came to working with Josh, Conor explains that keeping an open mind was invaluable \u2013 \u201cAlthough it’s your idea, it is essential to work together and bounce ideas off each other.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Be patient too. A bit of back and forth will be inevitable in any collaboration, and it\u2019s this very process of workshopping and development that will lead to a strong final result. As Conor put it, \u201cDon’t expect to get it first go. It took me and Josh about 4 or 5 rounds of brainstorming to get the final identity for the campaign perfect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Work together and bounce ideas off each other<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And finally, a word on Conor\u2019s creative process. As a photographer creating T-shirts, he occupies a specific niche. Although the work he makes is visual, photographs aren\u2019t necessarily the most obvious choice to adorn a tee. On this, Conor advocates keeping it pared down. \u201cKeep it simple,\u201d he said. \u201cWork with colours that complement each other and keep your photographs straightforward.\u201d When it comes to inspiration, Conor takes his from anywhere. \u201cNever stop looking for inspiration,\u201d he added. \u201cThe posters on the walls of the toilets in Soup Kitchen, Manchester gave me the idea for the poster effect on the Fighting Silence T-shirts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/everpress.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/conor-clinch3.jpg\")
T-shirts Are A Symbol<\/h3>\n
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Collaboration Can Fill In The Gaps<\/h3>\n
Be Open<\/h3>\n
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\nNever Stop Looking For Inspiration<\/h3>\n