Melting in L.A. The Shirt That Started It All

When people think of Los Angeles, they picture palm trees, sunshine, and Hollywood. But for a lot of people, the city also brought something darker to mind: the heavy presence of ICE and the way immigration enforcement has been carried out in our communities. I remember seeing it first in LA; families living in fear, people being targeted for little more than how they looked.

The protests at the time were loud, angry, and raw. And while I understood that energy, I also knew not everyone felt comfortable carrying a sign that said “F*** ICE” down the street. I wanted to create something different something that let people express themselves in a quieter but equally powerful way.

That’s where the Melting in L.A. shirt came from.

The design is simple: ice cubes melting under the California sun, set against the skyline of Hollywood. On the surface, it’s bold, colorful artwork. But the message runs deeper. It’s about melting away harmful systems, reminding people that even something that seems solid and untouchable doesn’t last forever when the heat is on.

This shirt was the first spark for what would become Warm Water Tees. From one design, the whole idea of subtle activist apparel grew shirts, hats, and stickers that let people stand for justice, compassion, and dignity without shouting. Clothing that can start a conversation, even if it just begins with “Hey, cool shirt.”

Every piece we make is designed and produced locally in Santa Cruz, small-batch and made to last. But this shirt will always be special because it’s the one that started everything.

So if you’ve ever wanted to stand for something without screaming it from a protest sign, “Melting in L.A.” is for you.