On the low, I promised myself I would inject more honesty and relatable experiences into my blog posts. Even if this is ‘just a fashion blog’, the truth is that Creation Despite is a passion project born of the need to have something wholly my own. Another truth? I am predisposed to bouts of depression, along with an estimated 350 million others. Fortunately, I laugh easily and am quick to be inspired. Blogging has been the perfect mechanism by which I’m able to raise myself from the doldrums time and time again… after all, my traffic will die if I don’t post anything every week or so! That is enough to motivate me to stop sulking and get the creative juices flowing on a regular basis.
While you’ve seen me wear Terribly Odd before, and you’re likely to see me wear ’em again, I wanted to take the opportunity to also give you some background on this self-loathing start-up out of Wynwood (Miami’s very own hipster oasis.) Continue reading below for more details on Terribly Odd, a Misery Loathes Company.
In an industry flooded with inspirational bullshit and 2% proceeds going to this charity or that movement, it’s refreshing to see a brooding clothing brand like Terribly Odd standing for it’s own message: Life sucks sometimes, and it’s OK to admit it. Stood-up, alone on a Friday night, chuckling at TV show re-runs in the dark, dribbling pizza onto your only white t-shirt while even your cat avoids you… this is the picture of a Terribly Odd lifestyle.
You see, negativity breeds negativity, but that’s not what Terribly Odd is about (and neither am I.) Rather, the brand focuses on the humor to be found in self-loathing and existential angst, much like the world’s most beloved stand-up comics who are notorious for being suicidally depressed, in case you didn’t know. We live in a world that stigmatizes depression and other mental health issues and, while Terribly Odd doesn’t explicitly take a stance on these subjects, the implicit message is one of acceptance and community.
In writing this blog post, I asked the founders to tell me more about their background. In their own words:
“We don’t take ourselves too seriously and neither should you. Terribly Odd isn’t a brand; it’s an attitude, a mood, a lifestyle. It’s the antithesis to the fake, social media facade that drives us crazy. We don’t glorify the good life, but accentuate the Crap Life. Embracing the dark while making light of misery, all wrapped up with an odd twist… Terribly Odd is what you make of it.
To call ourselves a small company would be giving us too much credit. We’re two guys trying to create a dream while juggling the jobs that pay, with the passion that drains our savings. Although a day doesn’t go by that we don’t feel like quitting and saving our money for things like food and rent, we keep going because every once in a while we come across someone that gets it. And for those of you that get it, it’s why we do it.”
From a business perspective, it’s a lot easier to sell synthetic happiness than genuine misery. But as an introvert and a lifelong oddball, I have a lot of respect for the stance they’ve chosen to take. Hmm… I suppose you could say they’re kind of inspirational— in their own weird way!
– Photos by Cynthia Ottuso –
Wearing:
- Misery Loathes Company Block Tee c/o Terribly Odd
- Gold Mirrored Sunglasses via Bikini Luxe
- Uniqlo Navy Corduroys (similar)
- Volatile Combat Boots
DISCLOSURE: I sometimes get free stuff so I can provide an honest review for you all. This post includes free product from Terribly Odd. All opinions are my own. Please click here to learn more about sponsored posts.
