30 Awesome Iconic Retro 70’s Science fiction and Fantasy T-shirts
Bob Haberfield’s Retro Science Fiction and Fantasy Art T‑Shirts
If you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy art from the 60s, 70s and 80s, then Bob Haberfield’s retro art T‑shirt collection is a real treat. Now available at his website art shop, these designs are not just items of clothing, they showcase some of the most creative and provocative artwork from the 1960s through to the 1980s, a golden era of book cover art. Gods and demons, swords and sorcery, images from the iconic tales of Michael Moorcock and others, draw you into a universe of colour, rich symbolism and cosmic mythology.
Who is Bob Haberfield?
Bob Haberfield was a painter, illustrator, designer and poet best known for his book covers in the 1970s for Michael Moorcock, H. P. Lovecraft, Jack Vance, Clark Ashton Smith and others. Heavily influenced by Buddhist and Hindu art, his surreal landscapes, strong symbolism, psychedelic pallets and glowing hues made him one of the most imaginative and creative illustrators of his generation.
Bob’s covers for Moorcock’s The Eternal Champion, The Final Programme, and the first trilogy of Corum (Knight of Swords, Queen of Swords and King of Swords), are among many of the unforgettable images that he created. In total he painted 27 covers for the Mayflower editions of Moorcock’s books. Other stand-out covers include three Panther anthologies of Clark Ashton Smith’s weird tales (Tales of Science and Sorcery and Out of Space and Time Volumes I and II ), The Mind Parasites and The Philosopher’s Stone by Colin Wilson and Roger Zelazny’s Doorways in the Sand. Many of the ideas for his paintings came directly from his own dreams.
After Bob passed away in 2021, his son Ben, the editor and publisher John Davey, and others set out to preserve his legacy. This new collection of retro T‑shirts bearing his classic cover art is part of that ongoing project.
The T‑Shirts: Iconic Cover Art Reimagined
The new range of T-shirts have been designed and reworked from the original paintings to integrate the imagery into the style and colour of the garment. In the case of images with a strong central figure the backgrounds have been removed so that the protagonist jumps out.
Bobs son Ben explains the process of creating the shirts.
Designing the T-shirts of my father’s Science Fiction book cover art from the 1970’s has been quite a cathartic journey. It’s one that has put me in the shoes of my old man, and brought me closer to his art as well as giving me a deeper, more intimate understanding of it. Working for the last four years on the monographs about Bob has already given me a broader knowledge of the man and his art, but for the T-shirts I had to study each painting a lot more closely, deciding how it could be adapted to the format.
Often this meant removing the background so that the image was no longer rectangular, and the central figure popped out at the viewer. For this I literally had to redraw the same outlines my father painted some 50 years ago when I was a small boy. It felt like I was looking through his eyes and feeling his emotions. I felt connected to him in a way I never had before.
It’s easy to idealise people and situations when they are gone. My father was by no means perfect. Alcoholism gripped him for many years, and his Buddhist beliefs often made him aloof and intimidating. His paintings scared me as a boy, especially the horror covers. I used to wonder what was in his mind to create such disturbing images. But in his later years when he managed to defeat the demons within him, he truly blossomed into a beautiful man. Full of compassion and empathy, a gentle acceptance of life washed over him.
These two different periods of my father are easily seen in his art. His later work that he made when he retired is much softer, with nature and beauty often taking centre stage. His earlier work as a young man is much edgier, where conflict and emotions draw you in.
I’m really happy and proud with the way the T-shirts have turned out. The printing process is DTG (direct to garment). So rather than it being a transfer that always has that plastic feel, and tends to crack if put in a hot wash, with this technique the artwork is printed directly onto the T-shirt, giving a more natural feel.
I printed my first samples over a year ago now and they still look as good as the day I received them.
Quality & Sustainability
The Bob Haberfield T‑shirts are made on demand, which cuts down on over‑production. Unless specifically stated, the material is 100% cotton to give comfort and durability (the Ash Grey option is 99% cotton and 1% polyester). The DTG printing quality is excellent and captures the details perfectly and the colours remain vibrant. The T-shirts are created to the highest quality in order to preserve the artist’s legacy.
Because they are made specifically for each order, there is a slightly longer delivery time.Because they are made specifically for each order, there is a slightly longer delivery time.
Pricing & Availability
Each T‑shirt is priced at £24.75.
The shop is part of his official site, so you’re buying directly from the estate of Bob Haberfield. The main aim is to get Bob’s artwork out of the portfolios and draws its been sitting in for decades and in front of as many people as possible. So prices are kept low.
Care
- Wash inside‑out and preferably in cold water to protect the print.
- Avoid harsh detergents or bleach.
- Unless otherwise specified, hang dry or tumble low heat. High heat degrades print and can cause cotton to shrink.
These T-shirts are perfect for…
- Fans of Michael Moorcock or readers of fantasy and science fiction who want to wear something from the golden age of fantastic book illustration.
- Design and art lovers, especially those interested in illustration, cover art, or graphic design history.
- Vintage fashion enthusiasts who like bold prints, striking artwork, and statements.
- Collectors who appreciate small independent labels and well made T‑shirts that tie into a literary and visual art heritage.
- Fans of Michael Moorcock, New Wave writing, fantastic art, Prog and Space Rock.
- Eco‑conscious consumers who appreciate the on‑demand printing model and higher quality material choices.
How These T‑Shirts Fit into Haberfield’s Larger Legacy
Bob Haberfield was incredibly prolific. As well as book covers, record covers and product illustrations he painted thousands of works in many styles, from abstract to representational, the poetic to the wildly surreal. His visual imagination was expansive and his talent was boundless
The art shop makes part of that legacy visible, not only in posters but now in a wearable form. Posters or art prints live on walls, but a T‑shirt lets you carry the art so that every person becomes a walking gallery.
Bob Haberfield: The Man and His Art
If you want to learn more about the work of this remarkable artist, a two-volume slipcase book about his life and art, containing hundreds of his paintings and drawings, is also now available. Click here to watch a great walk through review of the Bobs books
Last word.
Bobs art shop also sells high quality Giclee prints of many of Bob’s cover paintings as well as coffee mugs click here to visit his shop
