THE STORY BEHIND THICK AS THIEVES
We’re REAL1 and Helen (K9), the artists behind Thick As Thieves. We come from different backgrounds, brought together by art, a connection to street culture and the ambition to build something of our own.
REAL1 grew up around White Hart Lane in Tottenham, North London, where graffiti and hip-hop were a big part of his life. From tags to walls and trains, painting became a way to develop a voice, build friendships and find a place within the culture.
His art took him beyond London to Namibia, where he used his skills to build a business, then Norway and other places before settling in Northern Ireland. Those experiences still influence what we create today.
Helen was born and raised in Northern Ireland, developing her own creative voice through graphic design and illustration. Her upbringing brought a different perspective, rooted in a place with its own history, creativity and underground culture.
Those differences give our work its character. We each bring something of our own, and what we make together carries both.
WHERE IT BEGAN
We met at art college in Northern Ireland. REAL1 had returned to education after years working as an artist, while Helen was studying graphic design and illustration. We connected through our work and shared interests, and over time began exploring what we could create together.
The first version of Thick As Thieves was REAL1’s final major project: a graffiti streetwear brand. It grew from an idea he’d discussed years earlier with his friend Sha, and a long-held ambition to open a graffiti shop. Studying screen printing at Central Saint Martins had helped lay the groundwork; returning to college gave him the direction to put it into practice.
When the project finished, we could see a future in it. Together, we developed the designs, combining graffiti with illustration and graphic design. Bringing graffiti supplies into the business connected the clothing we made with the tools and culture behind it.
FROM THE KITCHEN TABLE
We started small, screen printing on a kitchen table with homemade presses and basic equipment. Later, a spare bedroom became our workspace.
We learned as we went, putting money from sales back into materials and equipment. Each order helped us take another step. Our ideas grew alongside our skills, and gradually we built the space to do more.
Nearly ten years later, we have a shop and studio in Lurgan, bringing together independent streetwear, graffiti supplies, custom printing and embroidery, murals and workshops.
We’re still hands-on: designing, printing, stitching and painting. The work has grown, but that involvement remains at the heart of Thick As Thieves.
WHY THICK AS THIEVES
The name is about a bond. People sticking together, sharing ideas and backing each other. It reflects the friendships and connections that run through graffiti, hip-hop and street culture and the way we’ve built this together.
That bond now reaches far beyond the two of us. Everyone who has worn our clothing, visited the shop, bought supplies, joined a workshop or shared our work has helped us get here.
When you wear Thick As Thieves, you carry a piece of that story. When you walk through our door, you become part of what happens next.
Whether you’re an experienced writer, finding your feet as an artist or simply connect with our clothing and ideas, you’re welcome here.
That’s what Thick As Thieves means to us.