In an interesting attempt to diversify its way out of a slowing global tech market, software giant Microsoft has chosen a new direction – clothing retail.

As reported over on Maximum PC, the company has officially launched its first clothing line – dubbed Softwear by Microsoft. Sadly, they're not making this up – the company really is launching this product line, in collaboration with Think Common.

The clothing range – currently limited to T-shirts – feaures “retro logos, classic photos and geek-chic iconography” designed to “showcase the DOS days of the software company that now connects over a billion people.”

With items ranging from The Albuquerque – celebrating the birth of what was then Micro Soft in the home of the Altair – to a tongue-in-cheek design known as The Misdemeanor – which features founder Bill Gates as pictured when arrested for speeding violations – there's a little something for everyone. Providing, that is, that 'everyone' is a shameless geek like I am.

Further designs include the DOS Tangle, which has the iconic MS-DOS logo plastered on a traditionally green shirt, and the Reminisce which appears from a distance to be a sports shirt until the icons and logos that form the number are made clear. Clearly, this is clothing for nerds on a massive scale.

So far, the scheme hasn't exactly had a massive take up amongst fashion buyers for major chains – Microsoft is only listing a handful of stockists in the US and none whatsoever internationally.

Tempted by one of the designs, or should Microsoft be giving them away as marketing items rather than convincing people to pay for the honour of parading the company's brand? Share your thoughts over in the forums.