Algerian Immigrant Portait Supima Cotton Tee

$48.00 USD

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Made from 100% American-grown Supima cotton. Crafted from Extra Long Staple cotton grown in California, this tee features a smooth finish, pre-shrunk fit, and toxin-free production. Handmade in Peru with attention to detail for a luxurious feel and quality.

Our in-house designers adapted original photographs from the public-domain archives of Ellis Island, which documented the identities of new arrivals entering the United States through New York. This piece draws inspiration from the portrait taken by Augustus Francis Sherman of a North African Algerian immigrant photographed between 1906–1914.

Sustainability & Fulfillment: To protect our planet and honor mindful production, this piece is made only when you order. Your piece is crafted within approximately one week, and tracking will be sent as soon as it ships.

Size Chart

Size	Chest (inches)
XS	32–34
S	35–37
M	38–40
L	41–43
XL	44–46
XXL	47–49

Product Story

Our in-house designers adapted original photographs from the public-domain archives of Ellis Island, which documented the identities of new arrivals entering the United States through New York.

This piece draws inspiration from the portrait taken by Augustus Francis Sherman of a North African Algerian immigrant photographed between 1906–1914.

Contemporary accounts associated with this image indicate that he was unable to remain in the United States due to his adherence to the traditional practice of polygamy in his country of origin—a practice U.S. immigration authorities at the time classified as incompatible with American “moral character” standards.

Rather than simply reproducing the image, we reinterpret it to highlight how U.S. immigration authorities used “moral character” criteria—such as claims around polygamy—to exclude and deport many Muslim, Arab, and African migrants during that era. These early practices foreshadowed later forms of systemic exclusion, including the modern “Muslim Ban.” Image inspired by the public-domain Ellis Island collection.

Original Image Source: U.S. Library of Congress Public domain photograph. Algerian Immigrant Man at Ellis Island, ca. 1906–1914

This product is part of our Alien Nation collection. A collection inspired by a visual archive of migration, memory, and identity. The collection reclaims the word alien—once used to other and exclude—and transforms it into a symbol of resilience, lineage, and survival. Each piece centers real immigrant stories that shaped the world we live in today, especially those erased from mainstream narratives.

Artwork & Craftsmanship

The portraits in the Alien Nation collection are artistically reinterpreted archival works, created through a process of hand-drawn intervention and contemporary illustration.

Rather than digitally re-rendering the original photographs, each image is carefully drawn into—layer by layer—using artistic techniques that respond to the original frame while extending it beyond its bureaucratic origins. These early photographs, often taken in black and white for identification or administrative purposes, were never intended to honor the people within them. They recorded presence, not personhood.

Our approach reclaims those images through art. By drawing directly onto the archival photographs, we restore depth, dignity, and cultural context—highlighting heritage dress, posture, and expression while preserving the integrity of the original subject. The result is not a replacement of history, but a dialogue with it: memory held intact, yet made resilient, contemporary, and alive in the present moment.

These works are then transferred onto fabric with precision using a high-quality matte print process that preserves line, tone, and texture. Each piece is finished to endure—designed to age alongside the garment and the story it carries.

Fabric & Construction

This tee is crafted from 6oz 100% SUPIMA® Extra Long Staple cotton, grown in California and prized for its exceptional softness, strength, and color retention.
It is the top tier of cotton production—longer fibers create a smoother finish, reduce pilling, and allow the fabric to age beautifully over time. It features a double-needle ribbed neckline.

Each garment weighs approx. 8 oz, is pre-shrunk, and handmade in Peru, where skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail ensure consistent fit, clean construction, and long-term durability and color retention. The result is a tee that feels refined, wears well, and lasts.

Produced using toxin-free dyes and eco-conscious processes, this piece reflects our commitment to quality, ethics, and care—from fiber to finish.

Designed to be worn often, kept long, and passed forward.

Fit & Sizing

• Relaxed but structured through shoulders
• Prefer fitted and a closer fit→ size down
• Prefer classic → true to size
• Prefer oversized → size up

Unisex sizing. Designed to move beyond gendered dressing so choose based on how you want the tee to sit on your body—not gendered sizing norms.

Styling

Neutral Styling: Designed to move beyond gendered dressing. Wear it loose, tucked, cropped, or layered. Style with denim, tailored trousers, skirts, or under structured outerwear. The clean lines and balanced weight make it easy to dress up or down while maintaining presence.

Straight / Athletic Builds: Wear true to size for a clean silhouette or size up for a relaxed, modern look. Works well layered or worn solo.

Curvier / Fuller Builds: Size up for ease through the body without clinging. The midweight fabric drapes cleanly and maintains structure.

Petite Frames: Size down for a closer fit or wear true to size for an intentionally oversized look. Length works well tucked or half-tucked.

Tall Frames: True to size offers balanced length and proportion. Size up for a longer, relaxed drape.

Women: Size down for a tailored look or size up for an oversized, editorial fit. Pairs well with high-waisted bottoms and layered looks.

Men: Wear true to size for a classic fit or size up for a relaxed silhouette. Structured shoulders keep the shape sharp.

Size Guide

This item is made to order and produced specifically for you. Because of this, all sales are final. We do not accept returns or exchanges unless the item arrives damaged or defective. If there’s an issue with your order, please contact us within 7 days of delivery with photos, and we’ll make it right.

Thank you for supporting intentional, small-batch production.

Care Instructions

• Fewer washes help preserve the fabric and print— and better for the environment.
• Machine wash cold (30°C / 86°F max), inside out.
• Inside-out washing protects the printed design.
• Cold/gentle wash protects organic cotton fibers and reduces shrinkage.
• Gentle cycle to minimize shrinkage and protect fabric quality.
• Use a mild, eco-friendly detergent (no harsh chemicals).
• Wash with similar colors to prevent dye transfer.
• Tumble dry low heat only to reduce shrinkage or hang dry
• When drying, avoid prolonged direct sunlight while drying to help preserve color.
• Do not bleach. Bleach weakens fibers and affects color.
• Avoid fabric softeners; they can affect absorbency and feel.
• Do not iron directly on artwork. If needed, iron on low to medium heat, and preferably inside out or with a cloth between iron and print.

Proper care preserves structure, color, and print quality.