In my time here at Teehunter, I’ve come across many t-shirt brands that claim to be about a cause that is greater than just selling t-shirts, only to find out that said cause was nothing more than a clever marketing ploy.

dfrntpigeon isn’t one of those brands.

Since the day I first came in contact with dfrntpigeon, I’ve noticed that everything about them is…well…different. They’re a brand run exclusively by marginalized youth from Portland, Oregon. Their mission is to get these young people get off of the streets and into a life more worthy of themselves as unique, beautiful individuals. They celebrate their differences and use them as inspiration for their t-shirt designs. In doing so, they’ve created a line-up of t-shirts and other gear that are unlike anything else you’ll find.

I had the chance to find out a bit more about dfrntpigeon in a recent interview. Here is what they had to say about themselves and what they represent…

Where is dfrntpigeon based?

dfrntpigeon is based in Portland, OR.

Where can we find dfrntpigeon online?

You can find us at dfrntpigeon.com, on Instagram or Twitter at @dfrntpigeon, or on Facebook under the name dfrntpigeon.

If you could sum up your brand in just one or a few words, what would it be?

We are here for the different ones.

What inspired you to start your brand?

We are here to show that struggle makes us better, not broken.

What do you want your brand to be known for?

Creating positive change in our communities and opening up opportunities to those who need them most. And of course, our incredible designs.

What inspires the artwork on your t-shirts?

This is more than art. It is deeper than blind consumption of apparel. This is a representation of our lives and loves — our fights and our beliefs. We remain ready. Are you?

What is your process of working with artists?

We are a collective of young creatives with varying abilities in illustration, graphic design, and copywriting. We design each collection as a group, united by an overarching theme (“Identity”, “Community”, “Transition”). We involve an intimate team of volunteer mentors from our local professional design community at different stages in our process, who support us in evolving our graphics and creating a cohesive collection for our customer.

Has the power of networking been beneficial to your success? Tell us how.

We love our support team of professional mentors who volunteer their time to help our brand exist.

What motivates you and those behind your brand?

We are motivated by the desire to create positive change in our communities and the lives of those around us. We want to inspire people to create, grow, and see their value regardless of the challenges they have faced.

Here are a few of dfrntpigeon’s awesome designs