Last month, we released our latest collaboration with Dave Fortier, aka DAWD, a local Ottawa artist whose work we’ve admired for years. This project marked a new creative direction for us as an Ottawa clothing brand. While many of our previous collaborations have leaned into tattoo-inspired and street art aesthetics, working with DAWD allowed us to explore a more art deco–influenced look, designed specifically for apparel.
DAWD is a multidisciplinary Ottawa-based artist who has been developing his creative practice since 2013. Working across mediums such as acrylics, oils, charcoal, and mixed materials, his work is known for bold shapes, expressive colour, and a strong sense of rhythm influenced by music. His pieces invite conversation and interpretation, making them feel just as at home in everyday spaces as they are in galleries.
From the start, this collaboration was about more than placing artwork on a t-shirt. We love working with artists on projects where people can own a piece of original art and wear it, and DAWD was immediately open to creating a design that translated his style into clothing rather than repurposing existing work. The result is a piece that feels intentional, wearable, and true to both his artistic voice and our brand.
At Black Coffee Apparel, we make a point to collaborate with artists we’re genuinely fans of — not just of their work, but of who they are as people. Partnering with DAWD reflects that approach. This collaboration celebrates local creativity, thoughtful design, and what’s possible when an Ottawa artist and an Ottawa clothing brand come together to create something new.