Imperfectly

It started with a bunny.

Baja Bear (pronounced Baa-Sha) was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who came into my life in December 2007 and left far too soon in May 2020. She was my travel companion, my constant, my good girl. Wherever Baja went, her bunny went too.

That bunny was found by my girlfriend Kari at a thrift store — just a colourful floppy rabbit on a shelf, waiting for someone to take it home. She couldn’t have known then that it would become Baja’s most treasured thing, or that she’d spend the next several years carefully sewing it back together every time it came apart. More than fifty times. Arms, legs, ears, even the head. Some bits ended up a little wonky. Nothing quite matched anymore. She never once suggested we replace it.

After Baja was gone I still couldn’t put the bunny away. It sits on our headboard now. Our three golden retrievers carry it around sometimes, like they know.

One day I sat down and drew my own version of that bunny — patched up, a little rough, completely imperfect. When I finished I thought I just want to put this on a hoodie. Just for me.

That drawing became Mr. Stitches. And Mr. Stitches became Dead Cute Studios.

This isn’t a dark brand. It’s a brand about things that are loved so much they fall apart — and get put back together anyway. A little patched up. A lot loved.

We hope Mr. Stitches brings you a little of the joy he brings us.