Chris
Owner of Gripping Life, Social worker by profession, dreamer by nature.
I am Chris, a social worker based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. My profession has led me to support individuals living on society’s fringes. Witnessing their struggles and resilience has shaped my perspective on the complexities of our social state. Especially these experiences have moved me to start Gripping Life.
When I’m not making a difference, you’ll find me immersed in the beats of Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop and 80s/90s electronic music, exploring new destinations, appreciating captivating design, and embracing the transformative power of art. Let’s connect and inspire positive change together. 🌟🤝 🌟🤝
#slogantee #vinylcommunity #electronica #80sart #80saesthetic #SocialJustice #TravelBug
My Vision
At Gripping Life, my vision is to create positive emotions through design.
I believe that every individual deserves to express their unique identity and experience moments of joy in their everyday lives.
This collection of apparel features carefully curated slogans and designs that aim to empower individuals by encouraging courage, open-mindedness, forward-thinking, and the expression of individuality.
At our core, I focus on clothing that evokes joy and brings a smile to your face.
Together, we can make the world a happier place, one slogan at a time.
Being Creative Is a Liberating Process
My perspective on society is influenced by my travels, street art and music. This work allows me to break away from current norms and be creative. Without this outlet I would feel trapped. Being creative is a liberating process for me.
I want to do something where I can express emotions.
Provoking Since 1970
Born in 1970, I am a genuine member of Generation X. The 1980s were an influential and contentious era for me and many of today’s generations. I grew up with the technology that would later shape all of our lives, but this era also had its downsides. We experienced a huge AIDS epidemic, the Chernobyl disaster, and a recession similar to what we are experiencing now. In 1989, as the Berlin Wall fell, our generation had hope! It marked the end of one ideology and the dawn of another. We hoped that a united world would become a more peaceful place.
Street Art is the most lively art form in our culture.
The 1980s and 1990s were characterized by a heavy reliance on TV and other popular media to disseminate information about current events. During this era, MTV was a music-only channel, and Google was just a simple search engine. Despite this, the period was marked by a surge of creativity and innovation in music, film, television, video games, and other areas. I recall how significant the skateboarding and snowboarding culture was to me during that time.
Street art, 80s/90s music & fashion are all part of the current retro wave. Many people are turning to nostalgia as a way to cope with the uncertainty of our times. As someone who has experienced these cultural phenomena firsthand, I have gained valuable insights.
The Rat As A Symbol Of The Street And Non-conformity
The current logo is influenced by punk culture, which is still a movement that opposed conformity and stood up for individual beliefs. It encompassed not only music but also politics and social change. The main aim was to address issues such as corruption, greed and inequality in any way possible. I would like to achieve this a little with the designs as well.
The rat symbolizes the city. Punk and Hip Hop originated there.
Christian Häne, Bienne, Switzerland