TANGLEWOOD SET TO OFFER GORILLA ARTWORK T-SHIRTS
DALLAS — Koko, the 26-year-old gorilla known for speaking sign language, has gone ape for fashion.
Three colorful paintings by Koko are featured on organic-cotton T-shirts and baseball caps that will be introduced by Tanglewood Collection. The line will be in specialty and gift stores for late spring. It is expected to do about $1 million at retail, according to Bill Broadbent, president and owner of Tanglewood, a Chandler, Ariz., firm.
“We looked at a lot of different artists but when it comes to the environment and nature crowd I don’t think there is a stronger personality than Koko, even though she is an animal,” said Broadbent.
Koko’s abstract paintings all bear her signature and the titles she’s given them: “Bird,” “Love” and “Pink, Pink, Stink, Nice Drink.” They are printed on organic cotton or green or brown organic Fox Fibre cotton and wholesale for $11.50.
About 10 percent of the gross sales from Koko’s line will support the Gorilla Foundation, which plans to move Koko and two gorilla pals from San Francisco to a lush 70-acre compound in Hawaii. Tanglewood, a six-month-old company, specializes in T-shirts printed with wildlife motifs and markets them to gift, nature and zoo stores.