Open for Bees-ness: Kwasi Butler’s message stifles fear

Written by Colleen Miller, photos by Rachele Terranova

It’s a risky pursuit starting your own business, but Kwasi Butler, a second-year painting student, doesn’t let fear stand in his way. This student-entrepreneur began his apparel company, Moon Death, almost three years ago. Since then, it has blossomed into a collaborative, creative effort yielding 205 orders. 

Since the age of 13, Butler has dreamed of beginning his own t-shirt line and proceeded to fill sketchbooks with designs and future company names. The final inspiration came after watching a video his junior year of high school. “It was a monologue about why moths are attracted to light,” Butler said. “The video said moths believe artificial light is the moon. So when moths are buzzing around artificial light, they believe they are reaching for their lifelong goal of the moon. I was inspired by how reflective that is of us. We can go for the wrong things, but in our mind, it’s the right thing.” 

In a similar way, Butler began Moon Death not knowing exactly what he was reaching towards. Despite this uncertainty, Butler forged ahead with the creation of Moon Death’s first t-shirts. After initially using a professional printing service, the first collection finally released was made with linoleum block prints. Beginning January 2019, Butler’s media incorporated spray paint, heat press, and screen printing. Each of these elements is done entirely by hand.    

This variety of media is indicative of Moon Death’s experimental nature. Although Butler has a passion for fashion, he sees the business more as a visual expression of art. Each collection is “thorough and thematic.” “I use Moon Death’s apparel to motivate, to broadcast different types of fear and how to use it to an advantage,” Butler said. 

An important part of this artistic process is the idea that the apparel does not stand alone. Instead, it is accompanied with teaser trailers, videos and music. “Everything is music-oriented in my brain,” Butler said. To create these multi-media elements, Butler believes strongly in collaboration. Students from majors such as film and photography actively participate in these projects. Butler has even begun to teach others his skill set. “I have a teacher who’s teaching me piano so in return, I’m teaching her how to screen print,” Butler said. 

Learning and teaching is a big part Butler’s experience with Moon Death. At the end of the day, despite gathering as much information as possible, entrepreneurs are much like the moths that inspired Moon Death. They reach towards an uncertain goal with hope. “The thing is to just start,” Butler said. “That’s the hardest part about doing anything. The rest of it is just learning. You learn as you go. You talk to everyone you know because you can learn something from everybody. Everyone knows something you don’t. The risk is the best part.”

To check out Moon Death apparel, visit the website or Instagram.