T-SHIRT CARRIES THE MESSAGE: `LEAVE CHELSEA ALONE'

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993                   TAG: 9302120371
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARY GOTTSCHALK KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
DATELINE: THERE'S NO MISTAKING THE MESSAGE                                LENGTH: Short
T-SHIRT CARRIES THE MESSAGE: `LEAVE CHELSEA ALONE'
"Leave Chelsea Alone."
It's right there in black and red lettering on a white T-shirt, the medium for most messages these days.
The Chelsea T-shirt is the latest creation of Skyler Thomas' hugely successful Don't Panic! Designs business. He introduced the $15 shirt at his West Hollywood store at the end of January and "it immediately became the top seller," he says. "The support for Chelsea is out there."
Yes, he's sent one to Chelsea and several more to the White House staff, but so far he's received no response. Meanwhile, retailers are ordering it and Thomas is taking telephone mail orders at his toll-free number, (800) 457-2642.
Thomas started Don't Panic! Designs 2 1/2 years ago, silk-screening his first T-shirt message in his bedroom. In three months, he sold $30,000 worth of "Nobody Knows I'm Gay."
Today Thomas has 20 employees and two stores in the Los Angeles area in addition to his mail-order operation.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB