As Melbourne Hits 235 Days in Lockdown, Local Creatives Release “Greetings From Locktown” Tees – With a Greater Purpose

Today is Melbourne’s 235th day in lockdown. It’s a grim milestone, and reports suggest that’s the most days in hard lockdown for any city in the world.

But a just-announced collab between Melbourne-based creative agency By All Means and locally loved artist Oslo Davis (who’s illustrated for The New York Times , The Age , The Monthly and more) is offering a glimmer of positivity.

They’ve released a range of limited-edition T-shirts – designed by Davis – to commemorate the city’s resilience in the face of almost two years of trying times.

The front features a sketched-up Flinders Street Station with grass growing up the side, emblazoned with the words “Greetings From Locktown”. The back shows the dates of each of our six lockdowns (with a question mark for the end date of lockdown 6.0) and poses the question: “Melbourne, Australia. World’s Most Resilient City?” The same design has also been printed on onesies, tote bags and tea towels.

“Once crowned the world’s most liveable city , it’s devastating to see Melbourne take on the new title of having endured the most number of days in hard lockdown,” Ed Howley, co-creative director of By All Means said in statement. But there’s a greater purpose here. “Rather than wallowing, this project aims to not only celebrate our amazing city, but raise all-important funds to help alleviate the ongoing mental-health crisis.”

Beyond Blue, a mental-health and wellbeing-support operation, says demand for its services – by those experiencing anxiety, depression, and family and relationship issues – “remains between 20 to 30 per cent above pre-pandemic levels”. So, that is exactly where all the profits from these limited-edition products will be going.

Shop the T-shirts ($50 for adults and $40 for kids), baby onesies ($35), tote bags ($40) and tea towels ($22) online.

locktown.com.au