Nicholas Daley, the award-winning designer and 2022 winner of the British Fashion Council (BFC)/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, has joined forces with O2 to launch a limited-edition slogan t-shirt taking aim at predatory ticket touts as part of Nicholas’s music programming project Woven Rhythms.
The bold design channels the frustration of British music fans, who – according to O2 research – are being ripped off by £145 million every year, with 72% agreeing there should be laws against the resale of tickets for significant profits. The launch comes as the government prepares a formal response to its ticketing consultation which took place earlier this year. O2, alongside the FanFair Alliance, is calling for a price cap on resale tickets to keep gigs affordable and tickets in the hands of real fans, not profit-seeking touts.
“I’ve always been inspired by the energy and community of live music, so it’s incredibly frustrating to see fans denied access or charged premiums by ticket touts. This t-shirt is about giving a voice to everyone who’s fed up. It uses design to send a clear message to the government: act now and protect the future of UK gigs.”
Nicholas Daley, designer
Nicholas Daley continues his support for UK live music under his Woven Rhythms project, collaborating with O2 to rework the classic slogan t-shirt into a bold statement piece for a cause close to music fans’ hearts. Daley and O2 are calling on music fans to wear theirs proudly and become part of a movement to stop greedy ticket touts from ripping off the nation.
Each limited-edition t-shirt is produced from 100% organic cotton and retails at £45 viawww.nicholasdaley.net/products/touts-out-tee-white, with 10% of proceeds going to Nordoff and Robbins, the music therapy charity.
The collaboration builds on O2’s long-standing ‘Fight for Fairer Ticketing’ campaign, which it has championed since joining the FanFair Alliance in 2017. Most recently, O2 launched its Stamp It Tout hub (www.stampittout.co.uk), which is regularly updated with advice on buying tickets safely, alongside the latest campaign news. With over 1.5 million tickets sold through its Priority Tickets platform in 2024, O2 has seen firsthand the impact of exploitative practices on genuine fans.
Woven Rhythms celebrates London’s vibrant music culture and the artists who have shaped it. Drawing on Nicholas Daley’s experience programming for the Southbank Centre and Gala Festival, this platform unites creatives to support the city’s live music scene, promote fair-priced ticketing, and continue its work with charities.
“This partnership with Nicholas Daley is more than just a fashion collaboration; it’s a statement. For years, O2 has been fighting for fairer ticketing on behalf of music fans, but now, as the government considers its next move, we need to be louder than ever. We’re tired of seeing genuine fans ripped off and this campaign gives them a powerful voice to demand change. With these t-shirts, we’re making an urgent – and hopefully final – call for the government to protect our gigs and finally put an end to predatory ticket touting.”
Gareth Griffiths, Director, Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2
