Art That Won’t Stay Quiet
About Time Capsule Design
For the ones who speak through creativity, question the status quo, and believe self-expression is activism.
Beginning as a small business with a big voice, Time Capsule Design created custom apparel and accessories for a customer base that mostly included friends and family. An unlikely boost in sales and visibility came in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when owner Eva (she/they) began creating and marketing face masks and related items. A simple yet powerful T-shirt design of the iconic Rosie the Riveter donning a mask became a top-seller; just like she had been in World War II, Rosie was still carrying the banner of strength and resiliency in uncertain times. Another turning point came with the untimely death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, after which countless requests were received for designs featuring her trademark dissent collar shirts. Those who were drawn to the “polarizing,” “outspoken,” and “controversial” (not insults, by the way) found a welcome home in Time Capsule Design.
Thus, the idea of “just” an Etsy shop began to grow into a brand that speaks up and out.
As you explore the shop, you may be tempted to think that some (or all) products are created just for shock factor – a tongue-in-cheek “gotcha” moment writ large multiple times each scroll. At face value, this could be an understandable critique, but these messages aren’t just witty one-liners and ironic imagery. Ever feel like you can’t share your “different” worldview in your small town? Have trouble connecting with your family despite the claims that you’re all welcome to your “opinion”?
If you answered “yes,” then you understand the heavy – yet hopeful – implications behind our products’ messaging. If you felt inclined to say “no,” consider this a soft push to honestly reflect on your relationships with loved ones and make sure you’re not being dismissive (disclaimer: harmful and bigoted rhetoric SHOULD be dismissed). We grow up being taught that peace, prosperity, and happiness are for everyone and should be fought for; who’s to say we can’t raise a few eyebrows in the process?
Delivery options have been upgraded with highly trusted drop shipping providers, so you can now expect your wholly original, wholly provocative, and wholly revolutionary items faster than ever before. Welcome…you’re safe to be you!
About Me
Hello, badass! I’m Eva and the proud owner of Time Capsule Design. Originally from Vermont, I relocated to South Carolina in 2003 and quickly found myself surrounded by “good ol’ boys,” proud right-wingers, and cotillion balls (whatever that means). My parents are German immigrants, and that experience of “being different” has always colored my life. Imagine my surprise upon moving that this quality was suddenly deemed undesirable and out-of-place. From that rejected feeling, Time Capsule Design was born. I began to find inspiration in developing items that united communities like mine and smashing ceilings that were arbitrarily installed in the first place. One of my most personally inspiring products is a tea towel emblazoned with RBG’s famous words: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” Women are constantly taught to be subservient, compliant, and agreeable; the subtle irony of a tea towel – quietly symbolic of a woman’s traditional “place” – displaying encouraging words from a strong woman that are entirely antithetical to “tradition” really opened my eyes to what could be achieved through this business.
In addition to subverting the patriarchy one tea towel at a time, I enjoy being outdoors, working in my garden, reading a good book, spending time with loved ones, and getting into some good trouble in the Upstate of South Carolina and wherever else I may land.