About Us

Why New Orleans?

We started Dirty Coast in 2004 to up the ante on what was passing for local apparel. After the storm, our work took on new gravity as the city rallied around shared symbols and a renewed sense of pride.

Now—more than 15 years later—we’ve evolved with our city, becoming both a tourist destination and a local favorite. Our shirts are secret handshakes, game day standards, and Mardi Gras uniforms. They venerate our icons, promote our causes, and celebrate our way of life.

Over hundreds of shirt designs later, we’ve honed a distinct voice and fostered real trust with our community. We’ve developed a reputation for knowing where to find the perfect po'boy, which dive bars have the best jukeboxes, and which festivals you can’t skip.

Everything we make is a proclamation of love. When you truly love something, you share it with as many people as you can. Whether you’re a Charity Baby, a transplant, or simply passing through, Dirty Coast helps you be a New Orleanian. Wherever You Are.

We take our connection to the Crescent City seriously. We invest in local creators, partner with those around us making a difference, and lend a hand whenever we can.

Why T-Shirts?

You don’t need to be witty to sell t-shirts. Want proof? Take a stroll down Bourbon Street and see what passes for clever: Drunk #1, Drunk #2, and I Put Ketchup On My Ketchup.

To galvanize a motley city under one banner, to revel in its glorious contradictions, to celebrate its hard-won triumphs, and to critique its' hypocrisies—all with t-shirts? That takes some talent and it’s a challenge we’ve gladly taken on.

At Dirty Coast, we strive to create t-shirts that transcend the laundry pile. Our designs aspire to a higher standard than mere recognition, tribalism, or kitsch. At their best, our shirts stoke nostalgia, spark conversation, and make people laugh. They elicit knowing nods at your neighborhood bar and hearty “Who Dats!” in foreign airports.

Why More?

While we still love making t-shirts, our ambition has us seeking bigger canvasses than a screen print can provide. There’s simply too much worth sharing here.

We want to write, record, film, and photograph. We want to evangelize our city with whatever tools we can. With a little help from our friends and collaborators, we can create an online home for knowledge, opinions, and stories that help us love our city better.

Here, we can share enthusiasms, give recommendations, and tell tall tales. We can cheerlead, criticize, and engage in a little friendly argument about who we are and what we want from our city. You’ll leave with a new favorite song, a cocktail recipe to try, and a few deep cut facts to share at your next crawfish boil.