Commemorative-Vintage

What is Retro Style?  Retro style is style that is consciously derivative or imitative of trends, modes, fashions, or attitudes of the recent past.  The term retro has been in use since the 1970s to describe on the one hand new artifacts that self-consciously refer to particular modes, motifs, techniques, and materials of the past.  But on the other hand, some people (incorrectly) use the term to categorise styles that have been created in the past. Retro style refers to new things that display characteristics of the past. It is mostly the recent past that retro seeks to recapitulate, focusing on the products, fashions and artistic styles produced since the Industrial Revolution, of Modernity.  The word "retro" derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning "backwards, or in past times"

In France, the word rétro, an abbreviation for rétrospectif gained cultural currency with reevaluations of Charles de Gaulle and France’s role in World War II. The French mode rétro of the 1970s reappraised in film and novels the conduct of French civilians during the Nazi occupation. The term rétro was soon applied to nostalgic French fashions that recalled the same period.  Shortly thereafter it was introduced into English by the fashion and culture press, where it suggests a rather cynical revival of older but relatively recent fashions. 

The concept of nostalgia is linked to retro, but the bittersweet desire for things, persons and situations of the past has an ironic stance in retro style. Retro shows nostalgia with a dose of cynicism and detachment.  It is said that the desire to capture something from the past and evoke nostalgia is fuelled by dissatisfaction with the present.(Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro_style ; see also:   http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

What is Vintage Art?  Vintage items typically exhibit the best of certain qualities of a time period or era. It is a term that is often thrown around and often used incorrectly. Some people like to use vintage as a term for something that is not very old at all, such as records, or video cassettes. It is thought that items less than 20 years old are not classified as vintage. With vintage items you should be able to look at them and recognize the year or era quickly to which it is associated.

What is Commemorative Cycling Art?  Commemorative poster art is created in order to remind people of an important event or person from the past.  In cycling this typical involves the commemoration of an important cycling event or race, frequently including the commercial sponsors of the event, and important heroes of the sport.  Starting in the early 1800's the bicycle was created to help people get around faster. Since then bicycles have come a long way and are used for more than just getting places faster. Whether you are a cycling enthusiast or just enjoy vintage art our collection of jerseys based upon vintage bicycle art is right up your alley.