Bontan

Role: Brand identity, site design, apparel design

I founded Bontan in late 2024 with a spark to design and create a tangible product. This continued with a passion in creating a brand identity that resonated with importance of reuse and sustainability. Bontan is a clothing brand that only sources reclaimed materials to upcycle into wearable pieces.

Birth of a brand

I was inspired by the distinct, weathered textures of second-hand vintage textiles and had the idea of giving life to a new piece of clothing using the stories within each reclaimed item. I was equally frustrated with the unceasing rise of fast fashion which generates a cycle of cheap clothing with high turnover. Bontan was started as a way to bridge the gap between that craft and sustainability.

Crafting visual identity

The ink bleed and natural imperfections of a stamped image served as a big starting point for the logo. I built on that nugget through exploring vintage Japanese hankos (stamps), which later informed secondary elements in packaging and stickers.