TFK Hats (The Fisherman’s Kid) by BJ Cabaltera

“Bay-amon isuda, tumuladdanto ken ni tatangda a mapan agkalap.”

This was a common folk saying in BJ’s community when he was a kid which translates in Tagalog as “Hayaan mo, matutulad lang sila sa tatay nila sa pangingisda”, spoken in somewhat of a degrading tone. His father is a fisherman, and these words did bring some stings for the young fisherman’s kid.

Now that’s he’s all grown up, he used his brand and design background to pay homage to his roots and turn the message of being a fisherman’s kid into a message of hope and happiness to the community, thus a small but nicely branded hat, “The Fisherman’s Kid” (TFK).

The brand might have been started because of a hurtful past, but this is where BJ’s skills shine as he turned the story into a brand that would bring pride and honor to the folks he looks up to, especially to his dad who in by sense, is a hero who brings food to the table.

Some design notes from BJ: “The term “Cosmic Wave” represents the idea that our paths are interconnected in a larger cosmic journey. The northstar on the hat serves as a guiding light through life’s challenges, reminding us that purpose is a continuous journey, not a fixed destination. With waves symbolizing life’s ups and downs, the hat encourages resilience and finding meaning in the interconnected dance of existence.”

Personal projects with community impact are one of our favorites since these things usually come from a point of passion and love. BJ Cabaltera’s TFK Hats or “The Fisherman’s Kid” is just the perfect project that tells a personal story with goals of helping a community, one hat at a time.

A portion of the profit goes into helping the local community of fisherfolks in BJ’s town.

You can still purchase the hat by sending personal message the designer himself: BJ Cabaltera.