The four-year old London cult t-shirt label, Passarella Death Squad, has been hanging in the underground scene like that mysterious, coolest guy in school, dark and brooding in the corner. The label’s design duo, Danny Broddle and Emilie Albisser, imports only high-quality Japanese materials to create hand-printed t-shirts with phrases like La reine des Mauvaise Filles. Graphics often have an artistic noir edge, featuring girl-on-girl action in twisted takes on Donald Duck silhouettes and plays on city names like a ménage à trois with “Paris” and the Eiffel Tower emblazoned across. With a loyal London following and recent record label launch under the house name,  Passarella Death Squad is ready for the spotlight stateside. FABRIC had a chance catch up with them for the busy Fall season.

FABRIC magazine: What was the inspiration for starting your own line?
Danny Broddle: It was just a case of us having similar ideas and tastes and seeing what we could do with it.

FABRIC: Your graphics are often sexually suggestive and the riff on Disney characters is edgy and hilarious. I’ve heard them called slightly bondage. How would your describe the graphics?
DB: Dark sexploitation without being overbearing.
Emilie Albisser: Something appealing from afar and inspiring up close.

FABRIC: Isn’t hand-printing all your graphics a bitch?
DB: Yes!!! Take our advice, don’t do it, pay someone else to do it, you’ll go insane otherwise.

FABRIC: Passarella Death Squad’s shirts are cut with a slightly shorter sleeve. What sort of guy/girl do you see in your designs?
EA: Someone who is androgynous and has a sense of style that doesn’t necessarily follow the diktat of fashion.

FABRIC: Who would you want to see in Passarella Death Squad’s shirts?
EA: Anyone who loves the shirts and our ideas.

FABRIC: The dark look of the collection has a rocker feel. Are you influenced by music? (Check out their newly launched record label with a mix of contemporary electronica on their debut LP, Painted Yellow, on their MySpace page.)
D: Yes, music is on constantly while we’re working, from The Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, Nick Cave through to DJ’s sets from the likes of Cholé, Jennifer Cardini , George Issakidis, Joakim, Trevor Jackson, Larry Levan the list goes on…………..

FABRIC: What’s one song on your i-Pod you’re currently into?
EA: “Today’s Lesson” by Nick Cave
DB: Our Fable (Mickey Moolight remix) by Photonz, Republic Of Desire recordings

FABRIC: What’s one song on your i-Pod your friends wouldn’t expect you to have, but you love?
EA: “Top Of The World” by the Carpenters.
DB: “Happy Station” by Fun Fun.

FABRIC: The line is recently hit stateside and we’re all excited. Any thoughts on fashion in the States?
EA: Label wise Zac Posen, Tom Ford, Three As Four. Seven in New York is one of our favorite shops.

FABRIC: Do you think you will take your line beyond t-shirts for men?
EA: Well the brand is actually Unisex. We have created a couple of items specifically for women like the Tank Top and the T-Shirt Dress, which is available plain or printed.

FABRIC: You guys must be living busy and hectic lives with the line taking off. Where would you go first for your much deserved vacation?
DB: If I’m lucky I’ll get to Paris at some point, failing that a day out around London’s Kew Gardens will have to do.

Available in black or white, the coveted t-shirts are available at Seven New York, Aloha Rag and Colette. Passarella Death Squad has also created limited edition t-shirts in collaboration with edgy online men’s retailer, Oki-ni, get a jump on the collection before the rush. By Bee Shyaun Chang