Juliette Lewis Shares the Story Behind Her T-Shirt Featuring Her Teenage Mugshot and the Reason for Selling It
Juliette Lewis Monitors Mugshot for Merchandise Line
Juliette Lewis has ingeniously transformed her infamous mugshot from a 1989 arrest into a unique fashion statement. The 52-year-old actress, known for her role in Yellowjackets, has partnered with apparel company Wildfang to create a limited edition T-shirt featuring the image of her younger self from her underage drinking arrest at 16.
In an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on April 9, Lewis discussed the story behind her arrest and the subsequent merchandise. "Is this a real mugshot, by the way?" Barrymore asked, while holding up the T-shirt. Lewis confirmed its authenticity with a light-hearted, "Because we all have a past."
Reflecting on the incident, Lewis explained, “What’s funny about this is it’s actually a really innocent story. All I did was try to go dancing. But the club did not have its liquor license, so the cops busted the club and they were like, ‘Anyone who’s under 18, raise your hand and we’ll let you go.’ They didn’t let us go. So, we get handcuffed in the backseat of a car.”
Despite her predicament, Lewis maintained her spirited attitude. “I was living on my own at the time, paying rent, paying taxes. I was quite precocious with the cop. I was like, ‘You mean, I can pay taxes but I can’t go dancing?’”
She reminisced humorously, “He gave us a copy of the mugshot, and my dad blew up the picture. I make T-shirts out of it to fund my rock and roll career.” Lewis formed the band Juliette and the Licks in 2003 and continues to release music as a solo artist.
In March, Wildfang’s CEO Emma McIlroy and creative director Taralyn Thuot expressed their excitement about collaborating with Lewis. "Juliette made massive design decisions and directed the design from concept through the entire thing," McIlroy remarked, adding that using Lewis’ mugshot was an instant choice. “This is such a fit for Wildfang, you know?”
Thuot confirmed Lewis’ enthusiasm for the project: "One of the things Juliette was so excited to show us is this giant screen print of her mugshot in her house that her friend made for her after that experience."
The collection not only merges fashion with personal history but also adds a layer of authenticity to Lewis’s narrative, further solidifying her unique brand.
