u/AlligatorWrestlers

We’re a new Florida heritage streetwear brand launching with festival pop-ups in Spring 2026. The thesis: Floridians don’t just survive their wildlife — they become heroes alongside it.
Every design in the brand is an alligator wrestler — different characters, different gators, same shared world. Think of it as a pantheon of wrestlers, each with their own personality, build, and story, all locked in their own moment with their own beast. Over time some Heroes will come from collabs (influencer becomes a named wrestler), but it’s all gator wrestling, all the time.
Looking for an illustrator who wants to help build a world with us — not a one-off freelancer.
The visual world
• Vintage screen print aesthetic — bold line work, halftone shading, retro comic feel
• Sunset gators, cypress swamps, airboats, palms, Tamiami Trail iconography
• Style touchstones: Sailor Jerry tattoo flash, vintage motorcycle and surf graphics, old Florida postcards, classic concert poster art, the Sp5der / Hard Luck cover-art aesthetic
• Halftone dot texture, ribbon banners, bold custom typography
• Established palettes so far: cream / swamp green / burnt orange / black, plus a pink-red Florida sunset variant
What you’d be doing
• Designing recurring alligator wrestler characters in a shared universe — each Hero distinct in look, posture, and energy, but unmistakably part of the same world
• Mix of feature illustrations (front/back) and smaller supporting marks
• Maintaining style consistency across drops over months and years
• Working closely on direction; brand voice and references are already in place
Deliverables per design
• Vector illustration prepared for spot-color screen printing
• Layered source file (.ai preferred)
• Color-separated files, print-ready
• High-res transparent PNG for mockups
• Color count is flexible — most designs target around 4–6 spot colors with halftones, but we’re not capped if the design warrants more. Cost-aware but quality first. No gradients.
Scope
• 2–3 Hero designs in the next 60–90 days
• 6–10 designs per year ongoing as the pantheon expands
• Open to per-design fees, per-drop retainer, or monthly retainer — whatever works for the right person
Rights
Full IP assignment, exclusive, in perpetuity. Contracted in writing. Non-negotiable — pricing reflects full buyout.
Budget
Starting at $700 per design, flexible upward for the right portfolio and complexity. Tees retail $40+ so there’s real budget for properly produced work, and there’s ongoing retainer potential for the right fit. Bundle and retainer terms welcome — quote what works for you.
About the references
We have two placeholder designs in the brand voice (AI-generated, a male and female Alligator Wrestler) that we’d share only as a mood board to communicate direction. We’re hiring you to create original artwork in your own hand — not to redraw, trace, or clean up AI output. If working alongside AI mood references is a dealbreaker, totally fair, please skip this one.
Timeline
First design ideally within 3–4 weeks of kickoff. Not a rush job — we want it right.
To apply, please include:
1. Portfolio link (screen print, apparel, or character work especially relevant)
2. Your quote (breakdown helpful if you have it: illustration / color seps / revisions / source files)
3. Estimated turnaround per design
4. Number of revision rounds included
5. Bundle or retainer pricing if you’d structure it that way
DMs open. I’ll respond to everyone who applies seriously. This is a long-term build and we’re looking for a creative partner — if the world resonates with you, please reach out.