THERDUNE

Clothing is a conversation. It can be quiet, or it can be loud. But sometimes, it represents a conversation we don’t have. It has the power to convey emotions we often hesitate to talk about. I endeavor to make these conversations easier to have. Particularly those surrounding mental health. My name is Jesse Bibb, the ghost inside the machine behind Therdune—an intersection of fashion and mental health awareness.

Throughout my life, I have had major depressive disorder. Therdune emerges as a reflection of this. Depression often blurs the line between acknowledging the disorder and self-doubt. Leading one to downplay their struggles in an attempt to conform to societal norms. To pretend that you’re “normal” and don’t need to be “fixed.”

Therdune has evolved into becoming an expression of my own mental health issues. Everyone else is just sort of coming along for the ride. It’s been interesting so far—from frantic phone calls and sad emails. To teary-eyed hugs with strangers who only know me through my work. If there is one thing I’ve learned so far, it’s that we as a society tend to keep these feelings bottled up. And I’m tired of it.

The biggest thing I try to advocate is the importance of open communication. Encouraging individuals to share their thoughts and feelings. That speaking with friends, family, or confidants, can provide valuable external perspectives. Hypocritical as it might be, this is advice I myself seldom take, but I’m trying.

I want my work to show that it's okay to feel. You are not "broken" and there isn't anything to "fix". It's estimated that 1 in 4 people suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. That doesn't make any of us an outlier or abnormal. Ultimately, I’m just a sad dude, doing my best to do right by the world. And it may not mean much, but I’m happy to know that you’re here.

Life is just weird.
But I'm finding it’s worth living.