I joined because I believed in what the brand once stood for. I had been a loyal customer for years, genuinely part of the community it claimed to represent. But the longer I worked here, the clearer it became that the values, the authenticity, and the connection to the alternative scene were all surface-level. What remains now is a company clinging to its old image while chasing fast money and mainstream approval.
The workload was unsustainable from day one. It was unreasonable, unmanageable, and impossible for one person to maintain. When concerns were raised, they were dismissed or met with thinly veiled irritation. The pattern was always the same: ignore the feedback, double down on short-term tactics, and call it “strategy.” It is performative leadership at its finest.
The company has completely abandoned what made it special. It no longer represents the alternative community; it exploits it. The audience isn’t blind. They can tell when something that used to be genuine has become a cash grab. The shift in direction has stripped away everything that once made the brand feel real. It is no longer about creativity or connection, only about conversion rates.
Internally, the culture reflects that same decay. Leadership is disconnected, defensive, and more interested in control than collaboration. Rudeness and unprofessional behaviour are common, and micromanagement is the norm. You are hired for your expertise only to be second-guessed at every turn. Expression and individuality are supposedly “encouraged,” but the reality is very different.
There is also a strange undercurrent. Decisions are made behind closed doors, conversations rarely add up, and there is a general sense that things are being hidden or quietly pushed through without transparency. It is hard to shake the feeling that there is more going on behind the scenes than anyone is willing to admit.
Morale is low for a reason. People are not leaving out of loyalty to any one person; they are leaving because they are tired of the hypocrisy and the toxic atmosphere. While leadership insists that everything is fine, the cracks are obvious to anyone paying attention.
It is difficult to watch something you once loved turn into this. What used to be a creative, authentic brand for outsiders has turned into a glossy, diluted cash cow. The only real positive I can mention is the people I met along the way. I have made genuine friends here, and that has been the one meaningful takeaway from the experience.
If you care about integrity, balance, or genuine respect for alternative culture, look elsewhere.
