A large company based in Southern California is attempting to ruin a small community-based organisation in Brixton.
Brixton Street Wear, currently based in Brixton Market, tells what it sells through its name.
Launched in 2019 by Daniel O’Connell and Pete Adams, it celebrates the diversity and strength of Brixton.
The two London taxi-driver brothers’ brand sells products that champion Brixton as a community, and its profits go to the community, especially young people.
Brixton.com, official name Brixton LLC, is based in Oceanside, California, and was founded in 2004 by three men “who wanted to convey their lifestyle through unique products”.
It has more than 250 employees and a revenue of over $60m a year.
It is demanding that Brixton Street Wear hand over their name and hand over any profits they have made.
Pete Adams has started a Gofundme appeal to raise funds to pay for the massive legal bills associated with such cases.
It has already raised more than £1,500 towards a £20,000 target.
“This legal battle is about more than just a name – it’s about protecting the identity of Brixton and the businesses that call it home,” he said.
Our ethos is to “Give Back to our Community” by raising much needed funds for local projects and we want to be able to continue doing this.
The US company believe that no one can use the word “Brixton” except for them, “what a scary thought,” said Pete.
“Our brand name reflects not just our geographical location. but also our commitment to the people and businesses that make Brixton the vibrant place it is.
“We run our community hub from Brixton Village and we take no money ourselves from the shop, instead we rely on our income as London Taxi drivers.
“This ensures that all profit goes back to those that need it more than we do.
“We are reaching out to our community for support in this legal battle. We need to raise £20,000 to cover the costs of defending ourselves in court.
“If we do not reach our fundraising goal, all donations will be distributed among the local community and organisations that we work with, ensuring the funds still benefit the Brixton community.”
Pete said Brixton Streetwear has been an integral part of the local culture, collaborating with local artists, designers, and organisations.
“Our mission has always been to uplift and reflect the Brixton community, providing not just fashion but a platform for local talent and voices.”
He warned that the legal action could have an impact to other Brixton-based businesses and said it is not just about a name – “it’s about the identity and autonomy of Brixton as a community”.
If Brixton Street Wear was forced to change our name or cease operations, “it would set a dangerous precedent where local businesses could be silenced by larger, international corporations with no ties to our community”.
Pete called on the Brixton community, local government, and business networks to help the brothers fight their legal battle.
The Brixton Street Wear brand was created after Pete surprised his brother with a hoodie and hat for his birthday, both featuring a custom logo reflecting Daniel’s life.
Friends and Family saw these garments on Instagram, and several of them, as well as strangers, requested products of their own.
The demand became larger and larger, until the brothers decided to embark on the project as a unique business opportunity. Now, their brand sells much more than T-shirts and hoodies, including tracksuits, t-shirts, mugs, and much more.
From Brixton originally, Daniel and Pete’s family-owned business launch their Giving Back project each year, which seeks to fund and support projects in the Brixton area.
The brothers believe in the power of positive thinking, and treat everyone in the community as friends.
Over the years, their small business has launched sev eral different fundraising campaigns, all with the hope of giving back to the community that they say has supported them over the years.
Their first fundraising project in 2020 raised over £800 for Brixton Street Gym, and their second raised £720 for Brixton Soup Kitchen with Lazy Scientist, a local business selling hot sauces.
They raised £1,015 in 2021 for Re:Sole, a charity that repurposes donates trainers and supports the homeless and refugees, and in 2022 collaborated with iconic pop artist, TBOY, raising £1,200 for a charity that runs local graffiti workshops and art projects for children in the Stockwell Hall of Fame.
In 2022, they also raised £400 for Mind Over Matter London, who use spoken-word to help people with their mental health.
The “Reverse Logo” campaign raised £600 for Mentivity, a charity that provides support for young people through mentoring.
In an Instagram post, Daniel said the brothers had not wanted to ask others for cash, but “we can’t financially support the legal fees for this”.
“I feel a bit choked,” he said. “We’ve come this far. We’ve done a lot of work. We’ve put a lot of work in, a lot of effort, a lot of groundwork, and people just come along and just try and take the name of your your area where you live in a place that you’ve always loved
“But if these things happen, and if we want great things to happen and succeed, we’ve got to put the effort in to keep it.”
