Bostonist recently visited Artists For Humanity's A Street headquarters to check out the cool, Boston-centric, silk-screened t-shirts and hoodies on sale at their new store. We were psyched to find that t-shirts are just the tip of the fashion and design iceburg at the non-profit, which "provid[es] underserved youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts."

At their sprawling main building, local teenagers engage in screen printing, photography, painting, graphic design, urban media, and sculpture. They work on commissioned projects (such as printing the t-shirts sold by Cheers Boston) and sell their original artwork. The AfH store, located on the building's third floor, offers t-shirts ($15), sweatshirts ($30), messenger bags ($30), and greeting cards ($5) designed by teenagers in the program.

Bostonist learned from Graphic Design Director Claudia De Piante Vicin that AfH's young artists were recently commissioned by Keds to create a design for a "green" sneaker, made with environmentally friendly materials. The students created a colorful pattern featuring winged water-bottles, a subtle and fashionable reminder that used plastic doesn't take care of itself, and their design will be sold on the Keds website in the spring of 2009.

(Learn more about Artists for Humanity's unique projects after the jump. Photo from Artist's for Humanity's website.)

Continuing with the theme of environmentally friendly fashion, De Piante Vicin and graphic design students are creating totes and laptop bags out of material from reclaimed yacht sails, screenprinted with original designs and lined with sweatshirt material. Bostonist loves the result: they're unlike anything out there, you can use them everyday and not worry about them getting beat up, and you'll look wicked-cool carrying them. The line, known as I Used to Be a Sail will be sold at uber-hip Bodega (6 Clearway Street, Boston).

Original projects like this are happening constantly at AfH. Tables on sale at the group's website reuse old magazines (which are difficult to recycle because of their glossy print). The tables (pictured) are made of graphic designs created with deconstructed magazines encased in clear epoxy. The result is a modern, professional, 3D-ish design that Bostonist needs in our living room, like, yesterday.

To support Artists for Humanity's spectacular creativity, or to find out how your group or business can take advantage of their services call 617-268-7620 or contact Yhinny Matos at gmatos@afhboston.com. Or if you prefer to support their good works by partying, buy a ticket to their April 12 3rd annual Greatest Party on Earth, featuring "non-stop drummers, dancers, music, sky-high acts, and fabulous food and drinks."