Please Don't Leave Me

Designing a clothing brand to fall back in love with

Summary

After years of designing graphics and apparel in the skateboarding world, I wanted to create something of my own – something quieter, more intentional. Please Don’t Leave Me was a clothing brand focused on transparency and responsibility, with all garments produced in Europe from 100% recycled materials.

Beyond the sustainability angle, the brand was an experiment in how honesty and vulnerability could coexist with fashion’s often defensive tone.

Timeframe

2020-2022

Team and roles

Solo venture.

Black T-shirt made from 50% recycled cotton and 50% recycled PET

Process

From the start, I wanted the brand to rest on three main ideas: honesty, vulnerability, and unexpectedness. Honesty, in the sense of being transparent about what the products were and what they weren’t, no inflated sustainability claims or lifestyle preaching. Vulnerability, as a way to reflect the fragility of both people and the planet, and to let that sensitivity show instead of hiding it behind branding polish. And unexpectedness, to deliberately steer clear of the predictable visual language of “green” brands, and build something that felt more human, less templated.

The first step in getting these messages across was the name.

Almost uncomfortably needy, yet very much in line with the key concepts, the name Please Don’t Leave Me stuck out as a clear candidate. The wordmark is set in a slightly thickened version of the almost mundane Arial, all in uppercase to give it the feeling of a late night caps-lock text message. Underlined by the bold yellow color, it seems as much a call to action as a call for help.

Manufacturing with intent

Rather than chasing low costs, I prioritized proximity, transparency, and consistency in production. The goal was to build a supply chain I could actually visit, understand, and stand behind. Working with partners in southern Europe made that possible, allowing short transport routes, strong worker protections, and traceable material flows.

The fabrics themselves were developed from recycled fibers sourced through an established textile recovery network. The challenge wasn’t just finding sustainable materials, but ensuring they met the quality expectations of a premium everyday garment. 

The recovered fibers are then combined with recycled PET plastic to add back lost strength. This new material is then spun into a yarn which is used to make new clothing.

Size table for the first t-shirt design

Communication and imagery

For the visual direction, I wanted to sidestep the usual minimal-eco tropes and emotionless fashion poses.

Drawing inspiration from photographer Arielle Bob Willis, the photos instead focused on character, awkwardness, and intimacy rather than perfection.

These shots served the purpose of setting the mood for the brand, but they did not showcase the details of the products. To remedy this, I made sure to photograph the products by themselves in a more classic fashion in order for customers to get a better feel for the fit and finish.

On the web shop, tone of voice and copy became a big part of the branding.

Outcome

Please Don’t Leave Me became a study in how sincerity can live within fashion without irony or greenwashing.

The project grew from a single product line into a functioning brand, complete with production partners, visual identity, and an online sales platform.

Though the shop remains online, the brand is currently on pause while I pursue other projects. The experience continues to inform how I think about material honesty, emotional tone, and storytelling in physical product design.

Go back