By Barrett White
The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to get creative—in the ways we work, the hobbies we adopt, and the art we make. For queer Houstonian Chuck Ohamara, that creativity birthed Paradox Moth, a fully inclusive, LGBTQ-focused, minimalist streetwear brand. Along with fellow co-creator and queer model Alex Sundstrom, Ohamara set out with a simple mission: to build a fashion brand for everybody and every body. “It started as a side hustle,” Ohamara explains. “We wanted to test how to run a website and start some e-commerce through Shopify. Being ADHD, we [Ohamara and Sundstrom] have this tendency to hop into something new if it sounds interesting enough. So we decided to do it together.”
Ohamara’s kind smile and calm voice run counter to the stereotype of the imperious high-end designer and their inaccessible brand. Unlike the days of mid-2000s Abercrombie elitism, Paradox Moth isn’t too cool for you, it’s for you.
With designs by brands like Off-White, Civil Regime, and Essentials on their mood board, Paradox Moth’s designs are chic, urban, and simple—without losing their edge. Top sellers like the “Anxiety” collection—a collection of tees and skull caps with “ANXIETY” embroidered on them—are relatable, fun, and eye-catching.
“These designs speak volumes on the wearer’s behalf,” Ohamara says. The vibe is tongue-in-cheek, but one does find sincerity in the collection. Prior to “Anxiety” was Paradox Moth’s first bestseller, “I Am Very Uncomfortable,” a line of tees and beanies of similar execution. (As a millennial living in America myself, I can see why they sold so well.)
While still affiliated with the brand, co-founder Sundstrom has taken a step back, leaving Ohamara as the creative lead for the brand. For Paradox Moth’s second season, which dropped in late May 2022, Ohamara found inspiration in the brand’s slogan: Self-expression, redefined. “That’s what was on my mind while I was creating every one of these pieces,” he says.
Sustainability matters to Paradox Moth, too. In an age where brands like SHEIN, H&M, and Forever 21 are regularly lambasted for clothing waste (among other issues), Ohamara looks to ensure that Paradox Moth remains an ethical supplier of fine streetwear. “Everything is made to order,” he says. “There is no huge stockroom. There are no ‘last-season’ garments going to waste.”
“There are plenty of fulfillment centers and distributers that require a quantity minimum order from a business,” Ohamara continues. “When Alex and I started the company, we decided we didn’t want to go that way. Not to throw shade on some of those companies, but you’ll see them having massive sales every other month with items they thought we wanted.”
Aside from the problem of waste is the issue of quality. Those blouses on the 70-percent-off sale racks aren’t usually the best quality, either. Mass-produced for low-cost in a high-consumer market, many customers find a loose stitch after only a few wears. Ohamara isn’t here for that. “It’s quality all around,” he says.
From the beginning, Paradox Moth has also prided itself as size- and gender-inclusive. Most fits are gender-neutral, and many range from size XS to 5XL. “We wanted to make sure that the sizing was there and that it was true-to-size,” Ohamara says.
Ohamara hopes that Paradox Moth brings something “dope and edgy” to Houston’s LGBTQ community and beyond. With the corporatization of Pride Month, a phenomenon that describes large corporations “pinkwashing” or “rainbow washing” their brand (while often making corporate donations to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians), Paradox Moth offers a refreshing relief. “As a Black, queer male, I know what it’s like to have to be subjected to a certain label or stereotype,” Ohamara says. “And I know what it means to break free from that.”
Keep up with and shop Paradox Moth on Facebook, Instagram, and at paradoxmoth.com.
