Since its inception in 2017, Broken Promises has been more than just a fashion brand—it's a movement that captures the raw and unfiltered emotions of love, loss, betrayal, and everything in between. It all began with the "Thornless" graphic, the very first design put into production. This graphic set the tone for what Broken Promises would come to represent: a visual representation of life’s most intense feelings, always with a twist of unexpected reality.
The Thornless Tee: Where It All Started
The Thornless White Tee, featuring a rose graphic, was an instant hit after YouTuber JC Caylen wore it, sparking a viral moment. The shirt quickly became a must-have item, embraced by influencers and, unfortunately, even replicated by bootleggers. But what makes the Thornless design so captivating is its deeper meaning—a thornless rose, traditionally a symbol of love at first sight, is juxtaposed with visible thorns in the graphic. This intentional design choice reflects the deception that can come with love, where things are not always as they seem. The rose, seemingly harmless, hides the painful truth of a broken promise.
Introducing the Feeled Guide: Emotions at the Core of Broken Promises
Building on the success of the Thornless design, Broken Promises created the Feeled Guide—a comprehensive guide to the 12 core emotions that inspire every design and phrase in our collections. The Feeled Guide became a blueprint for understanding the emotional undertones behind each piece, connecting our community on a deeper level. Each emotion represents a facet of human experience, from heartbreak and anger to euphoria and nostalgia.
Evolving the Concept: From Graphics to Experiences
Since its introduction, the Feeled Guide has been reimagined and integrated into various collaborations and products. We've revisited the concept with new elements, such as teddy bears symbolizing different emotions, and even expanded into makeup with our first eyeshadow palette. This palette, inspired by the Feeled Guide, featured 12 cruelty-free colors, each representing a different emotion. The Feeled Guide isn't just a design—it’s an evolving narrative that keeps inspiring new ways for our community to connect with their feelings.
The Feels Pop-Up Event: Bringing Emotions to Life
In 2020, Broken Promises took the Feeled Guide to the next level with the "Feels" pop-up event in Los Angeles, powered by Zumiez. This interactive experience was designed to tap into our customers' emotions in a unique and immersive way. Upon entering, visitors took a quiz to discover which Feeled Guide emotion represented them the most. Each answer led them down a path toward a specific door, behind which was a fully customized room embodying that emotion—each space a perfect, Instagram-worthy scene.
DJ Carisma from Power 106 kept the energy high with an after-party that turned the event into a true celebration of self-expression. Guests enjoyed food trucks, interactive stations, and a free t-shirt giveaway where they could customize their shirts with a heat press and bedazzling station. It was an experience that went beyond fashion—creating memories and moments that resonated deeply with every attendee.
A Guide to Feeling, Always Evolving
The Feeled Guide continues to inspire and evolve, much like the emotions it represents. Whether through graphic designs, interactive experiences, or collaborative projects, Broken Promises remains committed to connecting with our community on a genuine emotional level. As we continue to explore new ways to express these feelings, we invite you to join us on this journey and discover which emotion speaks to you the most.
Explore the Feeled Guide
Dive into the world of Broken Promises and discover the emotion that defines you. Explore our latest collections and let your feelings guide your style.
