Every Alpacco tee starts as an idea before it becomes a graphic. The person steering those ideas is Nick Loo, Alpacco’s Chief Designer.
This post introduces Nick’s role and the design thinking you can see across our range. (We’ll add Nick’s own words in a future update once we’ve sat down for a proper interview.)
Who is Nick Loo?
Nick Loo is the Chief Designer at Alpacco, the Malaysian streetwear brand behind the MT Mood Tee, the Blackwash Tee and the new OT Little Monster Series. As Chief Designer, Nick heads design at Alpacco.
Alpacco’s brand line captures the brief Nick designs to: “We craft unique and comfortable products designed to spread joy.”
What “mood-led” design means
A mood-led graphic starts from a feeling rather than a logo. Instead of asking “where do we put the brand name?”, the question is “what mood should someone feel when they wear this?”
That approach shows up in a few ways:
- Characters and scenes that express a feeling, not just decoration.
- Names that set the tone, like the Blackwash prints Warp Zone, Night Blaze and No Fear Left.
- Colour chosen to match the mood, so the graphic and the base tee work together.
- Room for interpretation. The wearer decides what the mood means to them.
It’s no coincidence our core oversized tee is called the MT (Mood Tee).
Where you can see it in the range
| Product | How the design shows up |
|---|---|
| MT Mood Tee | Illustrated “Mood” front graphic and a small chest mascot across 8 colours |
| Blackwash Tee | Six back prints, each paired with one washed colour: Warp Zone (Black), Race Circuit (Paris Blue), Night Blaze (Grey), Gravestar (Army Green), Voidzone (Apricot), No Fear Left (Coffee) |
| Signature Cotton Long Sleeve | Prints seen by buyers include Flower Child and “Sometimes You Just Need to…” |
| AP Signature Polo | A small alpaca logo on the chest, kept minimal |
| OT Little Monster Series | Our newest 260gsm launch |
Designing for Malaysian life
Designing streetwear in Malaysia means designing for:
- Heat. Tees are worn every day, so graphics need to sit on breathable 100% cotton. See Is a Heavyweight Tee Too Hot for Malaysia?
- Oversized cuts. A wide, flat back on a drop-shoulder tee is the perfect canvas for a statement print. See Drop Shoulder T-Shirt Explained.
- Everyone. Unisex cuts in S to 3XL mean a design has to look good on many body types. See Unisex Tees Explained.
- A playful scene. Malaysian streetwear leans warm and humorous. See Malaysian Streetwear Culture.
From graphic to tee
A good graphic only works on a good tee. That’s why Alpacco publishes clear specs for each product and keeps them separate:
- MT Mood Tee: 260gsm, 100% combed cotton, oversized, drop shoulder
- Logo Tee: 230gsm, 100% combed cotton, regular fit
- Blackwash Tee: 230gsm washed fabric
- Signature Cotton Long Sleeve: 250gsm
And every tee is Proudly Made in Malaysia. Read the story behind our flagship tee in Behind the Mood Tee: How a Mood Becomes a Tee, and meet our mascot in Meet the Alpaca.
Keep the designs looking their best
Graphics last longer when you wash cold and gentle, skip bleach, tumble dry low or air dry and never iron over the print. Full guide: How to Wash a Cotton Tee So Prints and Colour Last.
Key takeaways
Nick Loo is Alpacco’s Chief Designer. Alpacco’s graphics start from a mood rather than a logo, which you can see in the Mood Tee’s illustrated graphics, the Blackwash Tee’s named back prints and our playful, joy-first approach. All of it sits on tees designed for Malaysian life and made in Malaysia.
FAQ
Who designs Alpacco tees?
Alpacco’s Chief Designer is Nick Loo.
What does “Mood Tee” mean?
MT stands for Mood Tee, our 260gsm oversized tee with illustrated mood graphics.
What are the Blackwash back prints called?
Warp Zone, Race Circuit, Night Blaze, Gravestar, Voidzone and No Fear Left.
Is Alpacco a Malaysian brand?
Yes. Our tees are Proudly Made in Malaysia.
Will there be an interview with Nick?
We plan to add Nick’s own words in a future update.