Kris Bjork’s full-time business is an embroidery company, Logos NW, which she runs out of her home. But in her spare time, the West Seattleite makes and sells clothes that sport a slogan spotted on pickup trucks around the city: “Man Up Bitch!”

“This all started as a joke,” says Bjork. “My boys work construction, so they’re all big, ugly, foul-mouthed tattooed things. One night we were all drinking, and it just happened.”

MUB has mostly been a guerrilla operation, with items sold out of duffel bags at pub crawls or tents at motorcycle rallies. They hit construction sites and skate parks, hence the highly visible orange shirts. MUB even sponsored the winning team in the Gay Softball World Series, the Seattle Vibe.

Bjork claims that she’s gotten an overwhelmingly positive response, even in a city with a social climate like Seattle’s—except from “women’s-libbers,” she says.

“See, ‘bitch’ is an all-inclusive term,” she explains. “Anyone can be a bitch. That’s why for a long time if you couldn’t understand, you didn’t get an explanation. But we all work too hard not to have a good time.”

In addition to shirts and hats, tattoo artist Charlie White designed the MUB Web site (manupbitch.com), and is responsible for the “twisted” designs that incorporate an edgier approach.

After two years of existence, MUB is looking for a physical retail home. But beyond making a buck, Bjork has a higher vision for the seemingly crass slogan.

“This shows the kids how to take an idea and develop and sell it,” she says. “And it’s just fun. We didn’t do it to make a bunch of money; it’s just good to get your friends and family involved.”