The Smiley was first drawn by freelance artist Harvey Ball in 1963 while working for State Mutual Life Assurance Company. It took a few years to be popularised and and it wasn’t until the 1970’s when Bernard and Murray Spain used the graphic on car bumper stickers, coffee mugs and T-Shirts along with the slogan “Have A Happy Day!”.
In the late 1980’s the second Summer of Love took place in the UK - fueled by Acid House and Ecstasy, illegal parties started taking place up and down the country and the Smiley was right in the middle of things. Initially engraved on the Ecstasy tablets themselves, they soon spread to clothing, flyers and record sleeves (Beat Dis by Bomb The Bass).
Why are we telling you this? Well, you’ve probably noticed - we have our very own Smiley T-Shirt.
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