The Glitch
Branding, Social Media, and Clothing Design for an Alternative Fashion Brand | 2021
Overview
The Glitch was a side project I started as a teenager, where I got the chance to dive into alternative fashion. I launched an online store for alternative clothing and designed everything from scratch—branding, logos, product mock-ups, and social media content. While I later shifted my focus to other interests, the project was a successful experiment where I picked up a lot of new skills. I learned about illustration, packaging design, branding, social media marketing, and even partnerships, all while having a lot of fun with the creative process. It was a unique experience that helped me understand the impact of design on a brand’s identity and how to communicate that effectively to an audience.
The challenge
When I started The Glitch, I had a strong vision of what I wanted the brand to be—edgy, unique, and true to the alternative fashion community. The challenge was turning that vision into a fully cohesive brand identity, especially through social media. With no website at the time, I had to make sure the social media platforms conveyed everything about the brand: its vibe, its products, and its mission. It was hard figuring out how to stand out online in a space that’s already crowded, and I had to figure out how to keep the brand feeling fresh and engaging
Goals
The main goal with The Glitch was to experiment with building a brand from scratch and get hands-on experience with branding, design, and marketing. I wanted to create a unique alternative clothing line that felt fresh and stood out in a crowded market. Along the way, I aimed to build a strong visual identity for the brand, create engaging social media content that resonated with my audience, and experiment with marketing techniques like collaborations and partnerships. My goal was to learn by doing—figuring out how to make a brand grow organically and what it takes to run a brand, even if it was just for fun.
Building the Brand
As I put together The Glitch, I quickly realized that brand building is all about consistency. It wasn’t just about cool designs; everything—from the illustrations to the social media posts—needed to feel like it came from the same place. I started experimenting with different styles of content on Instagram, using the platform as a way to showcase both the clothing and the vibe of the brand. I also worked on building partnerships and collaborating with others in the alternative fashion scene. These interactions helped grow the brand’s presence and helped me learn how to effectively market a brand on social media. It was a learning curve, but I gained a lot of hands-on experience in digital marketing and building relationships.
Key features
I focused on building a visual identity that would make the brand feel distinct and recognizable. This started with the logo design, which set the tone for the rest of the brand’s look. I also created mock-ups for the clothing to see how they would look in real life and how they fit within the brand’s aesthetic. Social media was where I spent the most time, carefully curating posts that represented the vibe of the brand—using bold, artistic visuals and consistent messaging. I also dabbled in packaging design to add that extra touch of personality to the products. The goal was to make sure everything tied together to form a strong, unified brand that stood out in the social media space.
The impact
While The Glitch wasn’t something I continued long-term, it was a valuable experience that taught me a lot about branding, design, and social media marketing. I left the project with a deeper understanding of how to craft a brand’s identity and connect with an audience. Even though the brand wasn’t fully realized in terms of a product launch, the skills I gained were huge. It was an awesome experiment, and it showed me the power of combining creativity with strategy—something I still apply to my design projects today.
