Vespa Mania

I bought a 1988 Vespa Bajaj from India. Many Vespa enthusiasts don't recognize it as a "real" Vespa. I've even had a hard time getting a mechanic to work on it! I know, I know, Bajaj and Piaggio split in 1970, but frankly, I couldn't care less if my "Wespa" is real or not, I just care that it's from India. I remember these durable scooters as a kid and owning one for myself is a joy.

Bajaj Auto does make a few scooters that have a remote resemblance to the early Vespa®. Forty years ago, Bajaj Auto was building Vespa® scooter under license from Piaggio.  Splitting with Piaggio around 1970, Bajaj Auto set off on their own engineering and design path. -Quoted from Bajaj USA

These are some of the earliest t-shirt prints I made. I sketched the image and overlay a transparency (similar to that used for an overhead projector) and using an exacto knife, I would cut out the stencil by hand. It was moderately time-consuming and my hand would get soar after a while, but this was before I knew how to use photo emulsion.

As with most of my designs, I had big hopes for the Vespas. I envisioned the t-shirts hanging in mechanic shops and retail stores with other equally cool items. Did I mention my binder labeled "To Do"? Yeah, the Vespa t-shirts have been very popular amongst friends and co-workers but I've never actually gotten to hanging them in public to sell. Tsk, tsk, tsk...