ABOUT

I always say the journey began with the “How to Poison Your Kid” sticker. But in reality, there was a small start even before that: In 2017, I made a single shirt and was looking for a fitting name for it. That’s how Glory Fades was born. I tried selling that shirt on Etsy – without success. Shortly after, I was sitting in my room one evening, smoking a joint, and the idea for the “How to Poison Your Kid” sticker came to me. I already had the name for the project. I still remember when the first stickers arrived – I had never been so happy about a package. I collected a few ideas here and there but didn’t actively pursue the project at the time.

In 2019, the “School” sticker followed. After finishing high school, I went to Australia and spent a lot of time reflecting on my school years while working on farms. I was angry because I felt like I hadn’t learned anything useful. Instead, it felt like I was trapped for 13 years in a system where individual growth didn’t matter, and everyone was processed the same way. That frustration pushed me to create the design.

After Australia, I moved to Berlin for half a year. Had no money, no time and was jumping from one short-term sublet to another. I decided to move back home, work, and save up some money.

In 2020, three years after the How to Poison Your Kid sticker, I wanted to turn the design into a T-shirt. The idea of wearing that design on a shirt felt like waring a poster so noticeable, that it couldn’t be ignored. To bring the intricate screen print to life – an 8-color print – I had to save up. A total of 50 T-shirts were produced, and the production costs were €25 per shirt. The people around me loved it, and when I posted the shirt on Instagram, my first order came in almost immediately. I was so happy.

But I quickly realized that I wouldn't wear the shirt myself – the aesthetic just didn’t match my personal style. At that time, I was drawn to a darker aesthetic, inspired by tattoos, subcultures, zines, and posters.

This led me to question where I really wanted to go with Glory Fades. From that, my next shirt, “Mind Pollution”, was born. I bought this design from a tattoo artist. My interest in graphic design and this particular aesthetic grew, so I started working with Photoshop to create my own designs and design assets for the brand.

After this step, it took a while before I released another shirt. Over a year passed until I moved back to Berlin in 2021. I decided to study graphic design, as the dream of one day living off this project became more and more present. A turning point came when I set up a stand at a flea market with my best friend. Alongside second-hand clothes, I also showcased my shirts. That moment was a game changer for me. Unfortunately, it was already fall, so I couldn’t do many more markets, but the foundation was laid. My studies took up a lot of time, and Glory Fades progressed slowly. I participated in flea markets but had little room to actively develop the project.

That changed in 2024. In June, I took my final exam and was finally free to fully focus on Glory Fades. At first, the transition wasn’t easy – suddenly having so much time and using it meaningfully was a challenge. But I knew this was the start of a new phase. The more I worked on the brand, the more there was to do. The highlight of this year was definitely the pop-up event in October. I began thinking deeply about what I wanted the brand to express. What are my values, my mission, and my vision?

2025 could now become the most important year in the brands history. I plan to expand the product line with new designs and collaborations. While I still want to grow the Glory Fades community through offline spaces, my main focus this year is to move away from relying on flea markets and channel my energy into building a strong digital presence.