About Us

Who we are

 Hi! We’re Tom 34 (He/Him) & Tianna 35 (She/Her). We’ve always been a little awkward talking about ourselves, but we also know people want to understand who they’re supporting. So, here is an imperfect, non-AI-generated 'About Us' ^_^

Tom grew up in Boston, and Tianna grew up on Cape Cod. They met in 2007 through friends from going to the same concerts, you know, Juggalo things, haha Tom has been a professional graphic designer for over a decade for MNE & works for Astronomicon and Silver Scream Con. He has created album covers, extensive merchandise, event graphics, social media advertisements, and more. Tianna has extensive experience in corporate administration, event promotion, photography, and graphic design. We both grew up with a deep love for Halloween, horror, wrestling, and the nostalgia of the 80s/90s. Long story short, we have been together since 2014.

How Things Started

We originally started as Braindead Customs back in 2016. We grew up in a time when everything we consumed was unique, weird, and spooky-coded. It certainly impacted us, and we would have it no other way. Tom had not just been designing merchandise but sourcing and producing it for others, so we figured it was time to put our skills and passions together and make a business out of it.

We started small: pins, patches, stickers, and small t-shirt runs. We always had a vision to be a well-rounded alternative brand and quickly expanded to hoodies, hats, jackets, jerseys, and collectibles. We love designing, and we are big on quality. One thing we said from the beginning is that we wanted to provide big brand quality from a small business. We didn't cut corners in the beginning, we have never done drop shipping, reselling etc. Obviously, a lot of our stuff is based on parody work, but we always have original designs. We are always expanding our product lines, upgrading materials, and investing in better production. 

How It’s Going

We’ve attended many markets and conventions in states like MI, OH, PA, MA, RI, CT, and ME. We’ve had the opportunity to work with and design for bands, artists, events, and local businesses. Whether it’s merchandise, branding, or event collaborations, we approach every project with the same level of care as our own work. 

Over the years, we have built a recognizable presence, especially in Salem. We have a very clear aesthetic, are known for our eye-popping merch, tent and booth setup, our attention to detail, and the fact that we legitimately care about everything we do. We have seen how markets have changed over the years. We don’t rush releases just to keep up, we don't resell things you can buy on Temu, we don't carry things anyone else has, and we don’t put our name on things we wouldn’t buy ourselves.

Ultimately, we do not come from generational wealth, and our mission is to build something that lasts. We've always been committed to creating with integrity, staying true to our values, and earning trust through genuine work rather than trends. We don't mind slow growth, if we know we are doing it the right way.

Our hope is simple: to have a brick-and-mortar in downtown Salem, host community events in the store, keep doing everything sustainably, and keep creating things that bring people joy and make people feel excited to wear or collect them.

What We Stand For

Morally and creatively, we’re pretty straightforward:

• ABOLISH MAGA. ABOLISH ICE. ABOLISH ZI0NISM. ABOLISH SUPREMACY OF ANY KIND!!!
• LGBTQIA+ safe and run (Tianna is Queer & a Volunteer with NAGLY)
• Generative AI is ruining our planet
• Artists deserve fair pay
• Small batch production over mass waste
• Quality and honesty over fast money
• Fair pay and respect for collaborators
• Small batch production over mass waste
• Quality and honesty over fast money

We don’t use or support AI-generated anything, we don’t dropship, and we aren’t interested in flooding the market with redundant, disposable merch.

Why Salem

As native Massholes, we have always loved Salem. We have been coming here to vend since 2018 and have always had a dream of moving here. We love the community here and have been blessed to live here officially since 2023. Being here matters to us, and not because of virality, but because Salem is a rare place that embraces the weird, the creative, and the queer. It feels like a community where people can not just show up, but legitimately thrive as themselves.

We want to put real roots down here, open a storefront, and contribute meaningfully to the local economy and creative ecosystem, not just during October, but year-round.

Every purchase helps support a long-term goal:  opening our own storefront in downtown Salem and what may be the first black-owned alternative apparel shop in downtown Salem!

Thanks for being here and supporting a small, independent business. We truly wouldn’t be able to do this without you!!