Elle Fanning wears Dylan’s T-shirts at Cannes Film Festival, bringing major attention to a remarkable young designer from Los Angeles who is just 11 years old. At the heart of this story is Dylan, whose custom pieces are captivating stars across Hollywood, and whose journey has only just begun despite an already impressive five-year career.
An Early Start to Fashion Innovation
Dylan’s interest in designing streetwear began when he was only six, motivated by the lack of monster-themed t-shirts available in stores. Rather than accept defeat, he created his own designs, which soon developed into a growing enterprise now known as Dylan’s T-Shirt Club. Based in LA, Dylan has now crafted over 317 unique t-shirts, each numbered and custom-made for their recipient.
With support from his creative household, Dylan’s earliest shirts were gifts for friends and family.
“I started Dylan’s T-Shirt Club in late 2019, when I was six years old.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
From Family Inspiration to Celebrity Collaborations
Dylan’s journey has been enhanced by his mother, Samantha McMillen, a well-known stylist for stars such as Elle Fanning, Jodie Foster, Ana de Armas, Kirsten Dunst, and Daisy Ridley. With her guidance and industry access, Dylan began collaborating with high-profile names and brands. He created designs for Michelle Pfeiffer and her fragrance line Henry Rose, a range of dog-themed shirts for Jamie Lee Curtis, and one-off pieces for fashion icons like Pharrell and Pierpaolo Piccioli.
Even as Dylan attributes his stylist mother with giving him exposure to fashion, much of the initiative and artistic drive has come from within.
“My mom is a stylist so I’ve been surrounded by designer clothing my whole life and that definitely helped me become aware of brands and fashion people from a very young age. There’s Small Talk Studio, Kate and Laura from Rodarte, Nike, Louis Vuitton, Gucci. I’ve made t-shirts for Pierpaolo Piccioli, Nicolas Ghesquière, and Pharrell. They are all amazing inspiring people.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
The only physical store to sell Dylan’s t-shirts is Woven, a men’s clothing shop in Durham, England, reflecting his dad’s roots and the family’s international influence.
Elle Fanning’s Impact at the Cannes Film Festival
The latest spotlight on Dylan’s designs came when Elle Fanning appeared during the Cannes Film Festival photocall for her upcoming film “Sentimental Value.” Fanning, an established actress and close family friend, wore one of Dylan’s signature white tees paired with blue denim, scribbled with the words “Joachim Trier Summer,” referencing the Danish-Norwegian director of her film. The phrase previously gained public attention when Charli XCX featured it during her Coachella set’s credits.
Hidden beneath Fanning’s long blonde hair was another signature element: “DYLAN’S T-SHIRT CLUB” written in neon-pink marker on the back, highlighting both Dylan’s playful approach and his branding skills. This marked the 316th unique t-shirt Dylan had created, journeying all the way from LA to the French Riviera.
“Elle [Fanning] recently in Cannes. Josh Brolin on Hot Ones. And super star, positive vibes, Pokemon YouTuber ‘Real Breaking Nate’ who did a live unboxing on YouTube wore [it] for the remainder of the show.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
Asked about seeing Fanning in his design on the world stage, Dylan shared his excitement:
“It felt so cool. I have known Elle my whole life and she came to me with this specific design idea for Cannes. I was touched that she trusted me to do it. I woke up one morning two weeks later and saw photos all over the place of her wearing it in Cannes. I was blown away.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
An Artistic Ethos Rooted in Individuality
Dylan’s process is deeply personal, from hand-drawing the shirt names on the back to individually numbering each piece. His first design—an original monster with big teeth and spiky hair—set the tone for his playful, imaginative approach. Dylan’s designs are usually completed in an hour or more depending on complexity, sometimes taking several days for more detailed work.
“Yes! It was a monster character I made up with big teeth and spiky hair. Back then I made them for myself and then by number four I began making them for friends and family as gifts too. It went from there and the overall model is roughly the same as today. In recent years I’ve been lucky to add some cool collaborations to the mix too.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
His creative streak goes beyond fashion. Inspired early on by his grandmother, an artist from England who encouraged his drawing by gifting him fabric pens, Dylan started experimenting and quickly became committed to his craft.
“I was always drawing from the earliest I can remember. Back in 2019 my grandma – who is an awesome artist – came to visit from England and she gave me a set of fabric pens. I made that first t-shirt as a fun test and loved the result, so I decided to keep going! The name Dylan’s T-shirt Club is hand-written on the back and still is to this day. My family and I thought it would be cool to number each t-shirt in one corner and the name of the recipient in the other corner. In the early years I made a bunch for myself because unique, cool monster and villain designs were hard to find on shop bought t-shirts.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
A Growing Streetwear Brand and Big Ambitions
Despite his youth, Dylan sees his work as more than just a childhood hobby. With growing recognition from A-list celebrities, he’s determined to broaden his creative ventures, eyeing future collaborations with brands like Supreme, Lego, Nike (Jordan), and Gucci, and expressing a desire to have stars like Billie Eilish and Ice Cube wear his designs.
“I have been building Lego for years – it would be cool to collab with them on a set. A Dylan’s T-shirt Club Fortnite character skin. I’d love to design album artwork for a cool band”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
His creative energy spans across various media and activities. In addition to t-shirt making, Dylan enjoys chess, martial arts like Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and collecting Pokémon cards. He has also delved into canvas artwork, exploring his artistic style even further.
When asked about managing time between school and the T-shirt Club, Dylan says he dedicates weekends and occasional time during the week to maintain balance. He has a passion for art, but also counts science and robotics as favorite subjects in school.
Influence of a Creative Family
Dylan’s parents, Ben and Samantha, have played influential roles in shaping his vision. Samantha’s experience as a stylist has given Dylan early and ongoing exposure to luxury brands, celebrity clients, and the industry’s artistic process.
“Mom is a stylist and is hugely influential in what I’m doing. I’ve seen mom work with clients and designers from idea, to sketch, to the end result. This helped me understand that ideas can become reality.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
Ben, who has a background in film and TV development and now runs a program teaching card magic to the homeless in LA, is also key to Dylan’s journey. He manages strategy, logistics, and photographs each creation, helping facilitate collaborations that propel the brand forward.
The creative spirit is very much a family affair, further motivated by Dylan’s grandparents.
“I grew up in an extremely creative household. My parents are both very creative people as are my grandparents. I absorbed all of this growing up and it’s a major part of my life. My parents always made sure to support me in the different creative avenues. Also they work really hard and this motivates me to do my best too.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
Asked for their own reflections, Ben and Samantha expressed their pride:
“We couldn’t be more proud of Dylan. Not just seeing him keep going after this many years, but also for the joy they bring when people receive them.”
—Ben and Samantha, Parents
Vision for the Future: Expanding Dylan’s T-Shirt Club
Looking ahead, Dylan plans to keep evolving his brand. He dreams of opening a physical store with racks of unique, hand-made shirts, screen-printed pieces, supplies, books, and vinyl records. In-store workshops for aspiring artists and custom art sessions would be part of his vision, cultivating creativity in the community.
Dylan’s ambitions also include collaborating with influential brands and celebrities, furthering his reach from Hollywood to international stages.
“Gucci. LV. Supreme. Chateau Marmont. Nike (Jordan x DTC). I have been building Lego for years – it would be cool to collab with them on a set. A Dylan’s T-shirt Club Fortnite character skin. I’d love to design album artwork for a cool band.”
—Dylan, Designer and Entrepreneur
A Star-Studded, Playful Brand Ready for the World
Dylan’s T-Shirt Club has not only won over the A-list—like Elle Fanning, Pharrell, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Pierpaolo Piccioli—but has also started to resonate with broader audiences. Support from friends and family has carried him to stages as prestigious as Cannes Film Festival, while his youthful energy and creative outlook continue to inspire those around him. At just 11, Dylan is reshaping how young talent is recognized in the fashion world, promising even more innovation and collaborations in the years ahead.
With each design hand-numbered and tailored for its wearer, Dylan keeps his work distinctive and personal. As his profile grows and the A-list lines up to join Dylan’s T-shirt Club, his journey stands as a testament to creativity, ambition, and the unique spark of youth. The world will be watching for his next move, as his designs and vision capture imaginations across continents.
