Brouhaha: A Tee Can Say a Thousand Words

Whether it be by the ink that finds a home across the front of your chest or by the moments experienced while wearing one, tees can tell stories. Yes… they are a staple item of clothing found in most wardrobes around the world, but they have had a place in narratives ever since Marlon Brando screamed love in his tighty whitie. Local label Brouhaha screams love of a different kind…the love of giving back. We caught up with Brouhaha’s James Koerbin to find out more about the label.

Firstly, tell me a little about yourself and Brouhaha?

BROUHAHA is a small label I’ve recently launched as a way to stay sane amidst a very uncreative desk job. As I get older the creative side of me seems to scream louder and louder for attention, so this was a chance for me to explore that side and learn some new things along the way. I think we’re here to connect, create and try to make the world a better place, so BROUHAHA – through the designs and the charitable aspect – is me trying to do all three at once.

What was the inspiration behind Brouhaha and how long has it been operating?

A couple of years ago at a local market I bought a baby’s bib as a present for a friend. It had a safari design on it that really captured my attention, and I was torn – should I cut up the bib and turn it into a pocket tee for myself, or should I let a baby burp all over it? I ended up giving it as a present, but the bib served to ignite the creative ideas within me, and pretty soon I couldn’t stop thinking about what could look cool on a t-shirt. Fast-forward from there through a lot of doodling and prototyping to the final months of last year, when I’d arrived on some designs I was happy with and wanted to share.

Is there anything in particular your designs aim to represent?

Most of the designs are focused around communication or culture; although a couple are just things I thought would look cool. What links them all is that they’re really bright, fresh designs on crisp white and black tees or tanks.There’s usually a little nugget hidden for those who take a deeper look at the tops, like the secret message the nautical flags spell out in the TRUTH tee, or the peace sign the pilot is doing in the MARHSALL tee.

Tell me a bit about the charity aspect of the label?

Each top is affiliated with a charity, with $10 from the purchase going directly to the cause.  It’s just a small way to make a difference and give back, and there’s some really neat causes we support. There’s some exciting ones I’ve got in mind for some upcoming designs still floating around in my head, but I’m always keen to hear about what great work different charities are up to – so if anyone is involved with a cause they think we could partner with, definitely drop us a line.

Do you think a t-shirt can portray a story?

Most definitely. Not just the story told through the design of the tee, but the story of your life wearing the tee – where you got it, all the adventuring and laughing and highs and lows and life that you experienced in it. My favourite BROUHAHA top is one that has Come say hi written in large font on the back. When someone sees it and comes over to say hi it leads to new stories and connections, which is always fun. I especially love seeing photos of people wearing the top alongside the person who has come up and said hi to them!

Who inspires your work?

I’m super inspired by people who are fuelling their creative fires – whether it be playing music, painting, performing dance or acrobatics. One artist I particularly dig is Sydney-based Mulga, who does some really incredible murals that are just damn cool.

What’s next for Brouhaha?

At the moment I’m working on some plans for a stall at various markets in Brisbane, Byron Bay and Bondi. There have been a million ideas floating around my head lately, so I’m looking forward to doing some more doodling, bringing the ideas to life and partnering with some great charities to raise funds.

http://www.wearbrouhaha.com/

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