Woven in Rebellion: The Vision and Voice of Who Decides War

The Birth of a Statement Brand: Where Fashion Meets Philosophy

In a world oversaturated with trends and transient styles, Who Decides War has emerged as a powerful, principled voice. Founded by Ev Bravado and Téla D’Amore, the brand is more than just a fashion label—it’s a living, breathing critique of power, resistance, and the socio-political landscape. Its name alone is a provocation: Who Decides War? That question forms the backbone of every garment, every runway show, and every campaign they release. The brand was born in New York City, a place where culture, hardship, and creativity collide. Initially, it grew from the underground scene through Ev’s previous work with Murder Bravado, which laid the groundwork for this transformative endeavor.

The brand isn't only about what we wear; it’s about why we wear it. From the beginning, Bravado and D’Amore insisted that their work reflect deeper meanings—stories of pain, struggle, triumph, and divinity. The clothes carry narratives in their distressing, embroidery, patchwork, and graphics. They ask: who profits from war, whether it's on the battlefield, the streets, or within our own identities? These garments aren't just fashion statements—they're philosophical confrontations stitched into wearable art, placing the brand at the intersection of fashion, art, activism, and spirituality.

The Art of Resistance: Aesthetic Choices that Speak Volumes

Who Decides War’s visual identity is unmistakable. The brand’s clothing merges gothic imagery, distressed denim, stained-glass motifs, and scriptural references into pieces that demand attention. A central aesthetic philosophy of the brand lies in juxtaposition. It puts together what is often kept apart—destruction and beauty, faith and fury, history and futurism. In every garment, there is visible conflict: torn jeans, frayed hems, bleeding embroidery, and text-based graphics meant to be read and remembered.

Symbolism plays an enormous role. The stained-glass windows featured on denim jackets and pants are more than just ornate visuals—they symbolize fractured yet sacred spaces, suggesting that brokenness doesn’t diminish holiness. It evokes a powerful metaphor for marginalized communities, especially Black and brown populations, who have been historically fractured by systemic violence but remain sources of profound beauty and resilience.

Color theory is another subtle but deliberate tool used by the brand. Reds, blacks, and deep purples signal warning, power, mourning, and regality. In contrast, earth tones and faded blues often evoke grounding, calm, and reflection. This duality makes the pieces feel like emotional time capsules, always situated between tension and tranquility.

In short, the aesthetic of Who Decides War is carefully curated to speak volumes—about war, faith, identity, and survival—all without uttering a single word.

Ev Bravado and Téla D’Amore: The Architects of Defiant Style

Behind every powerful brand are the minds that shape its vision. Ev Bravado and Téla D’Amore are more than just co-founders—they are storytellers, community builders, and cultural historians. Bravado’s background lies in DIY streetwear, starting his fashion journey by bleaching and distressing jeans in his home. His hustle gave rise to Murder Bravado, a project that taught him craftsmanship, brand building, and resilience. That experience matured into Who Decides War, which retained the edge of street fashion but added layers of cultural critique and spirituality.

Téla D’Amore, the brand’s co-creative director, is equally essential. With a background in fine arts and design, she brings an ethereal, almost spiritual tone to the work. Her contribution transforms the clothing from rebellious to redemptive. She is credited with integrating the divine aesthetic that defines much of Who Decides War’s identity—biblical references, celestial visuals, and high-concept symbolism. Together, they operate as a seamless unit, each complementing the other’s strengths and pushing the boundaries of fashion’s potential.

Their creative process is a dialogue between the sacred and the secular, the oppressed and the powerful. It’s their shared vision, grounded in lived experience and fearless introspection, that has enabled Who Decides War to become both iconic and iconoclastic in the modern fashion world.

Runway as Revolution: Theatricality, Symbolism, and Social Commentary

Who Decides War’s runway presentations are not just fashion shows—they are full-scale theatrical productions, performances designed to ignite thought and emotion. With each collection, the brand constructs a narrative that speaks to current events, spiritual dilemmas, or generational trauma. Every element is curated: the setting, the music, the lighting, and of course, the garments. Together, they form an experience that goes beyond visual stimulation into the realm of spiritual and political awakening.

For example, their Spring/Summer 2022 show took place in a repurposed church with stained-glass light projections, transforming the runway into a cathedral of resistance. Models were styled like modern-day apostles, saints, and warriors. The collection’s title—Genesis II—suggested not just a beginning, but a rebirth, a second chance for humanity.

Runway models don’t simply walk—they march, embodying the weight of the stories stitched into their clothes. Protest slogans are embroidered into seams, religious verses painted across backs, and faces often covered in veils or masks, symbolizing lost identity or divine concealment.

The use of live gospel music, chants, or spoken word poetry adds yet another layer, ensuring the message is felt, not just seen. Through these performances, Who Decides War transforms fashion into a social commentary platform, demanding not just attention, but introspection.

Material as Medium: The Craft Behind the Concept

One of the defining qualities of Who Decides War is its painstaking attention to craftsmanship. These are not fast-fashion pieces made for mass consumption—they are heirlooms in the making. Each garment is built with intentionality, from the selection of denim to the thread used for embroidery. Many items are handmade or hand-finished, lending them a uniqueness that defies factory replication.

Distressing isn’t random—it’s narrative. Each tear, burn, or patch tells a story. Denim becomes a canvas not only for aesthetic experimentation but also for social critique. Some pieces may reference the cotton trade and its ties to slavery; others invoke the scars of protest and unrest. Embroidery is often dense and sculptural, layering meaning into every inch.

Furthermore, the brand often incorporates sustainable practices by upcycling and reworking vintage garments. This isn’t just environmentally conscious—it’s philosophically aligned with the brand’s emphasis on resurrection, repair, and redemption.

Fabric becomes a site of transformation. Old becomes new. Broken becomes whole. Damaged becomes divine. This speaks to the brand’s broader ethos: that even the most fractured elements of society and self can be rebuilt into something powerful, beautiful, and worthy of reverence.

Symbols and Scripture: Religion as Resistance

Religious symbolism runs like a golden thread throughout Who Decides War’s collections. It appears in the form of crosses, halo motifs, angelic wings, and direct references to scripture. But the brand’s use of religious iconography is never superficial—it functions as a form of philosophical engagement and cultural resistance.

For Bravado and D’Amore, religion is not just about doctrine; it’s about metaphor. Biblical themes of suffering, exile, salvation, and rebirth align seamlessly with the Black American experience and broader struggles for justice. Their clothing becomes a sermon, each piece a verse, each show a gospel.

Stained-glass window patterns stand out as a repeated motif, symbolizing beauty through fragmentation. Much like society, these pieces are cracked but whole, fragile but formidable. Crosses appear not just as religious emblems, but as symbols of burden and redemption. The use of angels and saints reflects an aspiration toward grace, even amid pain.

Religious text is often paired with modern protest slogans or social critique, creating a dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary. In this space, spirituality becomes a tool not for escape, but for empowerment—a call to resist injustice and seek liberation, both externally and internally.

From Streetwear to High Fashion: Bridging Cultural Borders

Who Decides War blurs the line between streetwear and high fashion. While rooted in DIY culture and urban aesthetics, the brand operates on the same conceptual and production level as high-end fashion houses. This dual identity allows it to speak to diverse audiences—those from the block and the boardroom alike.

Early on, Bravado’s pieces caught the attention of celebrities like Kanye West and Playboi Carti,  https://whodecideswars.com/ helping to amplify the brand’s visibility in music and pop culture. These endorsements weren’t just marketing wins—they were affirmations that the brand’s message resonated with influential cultural leaders.

Despite growing acclaim, Who Decides War has refused to compromise its values. The designers continue to prioritize storytelling over sales, meaning over mass appeal. Even as they receive invitations to prestigious fashion weeks and garner coverage in Vogue and Highsnobiety, they maintain the brand’s underground ethos.

The brand’s success illustrates a larger shift in fashion: one that embraces authenticity, depth, and dissent. Who Decides War isn’t chasing relevance—it is defining it. By bridging cultures and contexts, they have created a blueprint for fashion that’s not only cool but conscious.