How our first hero design came to life
The idea for our Mud Monkey design came around the same time as Tradecals itself. While we were busy pouring a slab one day, someone said the words "Mud Monkey", and the conversation followed.
We talked about concreter merch that could capture the physical side of the trade, the hard work, and the mindset it takes to get the job done.
That idea sparked everything that came after.
You could probably call Mud Monkey our hero design. We might be a bit biased, but it's still one of our favourites. We like it so much that we made another one - and we'll probably make more still.
Where the Mud Monkey name came from
The term 'Mud Monkey' has been around for the better part of 100 years, and was originally used to describe someone whose job involved manual labour and construction. Nowadays, it's most often used to describe a concreter. Wet concrete is commonly referred to as 'mud' - so it just fits.
We liked the idea of taking that term and turning it into something concreters could actually wear with pride.
Made for concreters who get it
When we started working with our illustrator, we knew we wanted something big, strong, and impossible to ignore. That's where the gorilla came in. Technically, yes, a gorilla is not a monkey, it's an ape. But we figured most concreters weren't going to stop mid-pour and start a debate about animal classification.
We wanted to show the strength, physicality, and mental toughness that comes with being a concreter:
The long days.
The pressure when the concrete starts to turn.
And the will to keep going when the job gets so hard most normal people would just give up.
Concreting is about more than just pouring concrete and hoping for the best. When everything is against you and the clock is ticking, you need to switch into beast mode and get it done.
That's what Mud Monkey represents. A gorilla seemed like the right visual for the design. Mud Monkey isn't some friendly little cartoon character. He's angry, he's imposing, and he looks like he's ready to get stuck in.
Like all Tradecals designs, Mud Monkey is about more than just a graphic.
It's a visual representation of tradie life and the things people in the industry instantly recognise. It's about creating that moment when another tradie sees it and immediately gets it.
A laugh. A nod. A "bloody oath, that's spot on."
That's the whole point.
We wanted to create a print that a concreter could instantly relate to, and everyone else would genuinely think was cool. Something you could put on and think, "Yep, that's me."
Concreter merch made for life outside the job site
Mud Monkey started as a design idea, but it became something bigger.
Whether it's a tee, mug, singlet, or stubby cooler, Mud Monkey is part of our range of tradie gear designed around the everyday life of people on the tools.
It's for after-work drinks, BBQs, weekends at home, morning coffees, and keeping the drinks cold in style. A piece of tradie identity that represents the trade wherever it goes.
Because being a concreter isn't just what you do. It's part of who you are.
Rep your trade with Mud Monkey
Mud Monkey was the design that started it all, and represents what Tradecals is all about: trade pride, humour, and identity. It's made for concreters who know the job, know the banter, and are not afraid to flex the hard work they put in every day on the tools.
Mud Monkey also makes a unique concreter gift for anyone looking for something different from the usual options.
Whether you're buying it as a tradie gift or grabbing one for yourself, Mud Monkey is a design that does the talking.
š Check out the Mud Monkey collection.