In 2007, I launched Rawtee, a webzine dedicated to indie brands and focused on hand screenprinted garments!
It led me to learn screen printing, and Rawtee quickly evolved into a micro label, releasing limited editions of hand-printed t-shirts in collaboration with talented artists such as Death in Paris or Alex CL to name a few.
As a filmmaker by trade, Rawtee was the perfect side hustle when I wasn’t on set. However, after moving from France to Germany, my workload grew, and new responsibilities arose. I reluctantly had to pause Rawtee to make room for these changes.
In 2024, while struggling with depression and after a 10-year hiatus, I relaunched it, first with a soft launch.
It reignited my motivation and some happiness. I realized that working as a freelancer or employee didn’t fulfill me, but collaborating with people truly did. I can offer a canvas to graphic artists, and enjoy the craft of screen-printing, as much as I love being on set, telling stories and collaborating with people, technicians, actors…
With the relaunch, I needed a new identity for the brand. I cycled through options— first, 43912, meaningful to me but too cryptic to stick, and then Aegir, which I used for film projects, only caused confusion. Then I came across the Japanese concept of Jōhatsu, and it felt so obvious.
Jōhatsu (蒸発) is a Japanese term meaning ‘evaporation,’ often used to describe people who intentionally disappear to escape personal struggles or societal pressures—vanishing as if they were never there. To me, it represents stepping away from an old life and starting anew with clarity and purpose.
At Jōhatsu’s core is independence, creative freedom, and a commitment to helping others, giving part of the profits to support mental health resources because giving back is at the heart of this project.
Jōhatsu isn’t just a name—it’s a fresh start, a personal transformation, and a message for anyone who needs to reinvent themselves, escape what holds them back, and embrace the possibility of change.
While Jōhatsu is still in its early stages and remains a side hustle for now, it represents a path toward independence. Growing Jōhatsu to the point where it enables me to live life on my own terms, giving me the creative freedom to balance all my projects — including The Edge, a feature film I’m currently writing — and, in the process, help others along the way.
The journey is just beginning, thank you for being part of it.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook—whichever you prefer. I don’t post often on social media, so for the latest updates on new drops and special projects, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. No spam, just the essentials every once in a while.
Your support means the world as we grow this community together.
Some memories and a sneak peek
