New Order and Peter Saville have released a special limited-edition “Blue Monday” t-shirt to raise money for the mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
It is the second year running that the Mancunian legends and the Factory Records designer have teamed up to produce a themed t-shirt in aid of the charity: last year’s release reportedly sold out all 1,000 copies made, raising thousands for CALM.
This year’s shirt features the famous color code motif from Saville’s original design for the 1983 12” release of “Blue Monday,” as well as the song’s opening lyric: “How does it feel?” The announcement was made on January 15, timed to coincide with the day itself dubbed “Blue Monday” by the British press, due to the combination of winter blues and lack of money after Christmas.
The limited-edition t-shirts cost £25 each, and £10 from each sale will go directly to the charity. You can order one here.
CALM was launched in 1997, originally as an NHS Helpline, and became a national charity in 2006. The charity provides help and support to those feeling suicidal – something that affects one in five people at some point in their lives. Prior to forming New Order, the band had existed as Joy Division. In 1980, their singer Ian Curtis died by suicide.
Commenting on the new t-shirt release, New Order said: “Starting a conversation with somebody could be the most important conversation that person ever has. It could be life-changing. So with ‘how does it feel’ we felt, as CALM ambassadors, we had the perfect lyric and message to get out there on the 2024 edition of the CALM Blue Monday t-shirts that Peter Saville has so beautifully designed. And knowing that all the money raised will help make sure CALM are there for even more people who are struggling makes it even more powerful.”
Campaign Against Living Miserably CEO Simon Gunning added: “Blue Monday is a track that transcends generations and one I’ve always loved – with the opening line ‘How does it feel’ resonating with me and so many people. The track and the meaning behind perfectly aligns with the work we do at CALM to help shred the stigma of suicide and offering support to those struggling. Mental health affects us all and we know that one in five will have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime.
“We’re so proud to work with Peter Saville and New Order – the t-shirts are a brilliantly creative idea that will reach people with the clear message that no matter the day or how you’re feeling – help is there.”
Bernard Sumner of New Order: 'Starting a conversation with somebody could be the most important conversation that person ever has.'
“Blue Monday” was originally released in 1983 as a 12” record with a now-iconic sleeve designed by Saville in the style of a floppy disc. According to popular myth, Saville’s packaging cost so much to produce that Factory Records lost money on every copy sold, with Saville reported as saying: “Nobody expected ‘Blue Monday’ to be a commercially successful record at all, so nobody expected the cost to be an issue.” The record subsequently reached No. 9 in the U.K. singles charts, spent another 38 weeks in the top 75 and went on to be the best-selling 12” of all time.
