KABOOSH is a contemporary streetwear label that makes clothes with sustainable fabrics, under ethical conditions and in a transparent way. KABOOSH aims to create expressions that are raw, true to the bone and challenges the status quo. To create awareness, provoke and bring attention to the problems in our society.
It's a middle finger to the judgmental, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, capitalistic system we live under. Each product we design is a work of art; an expression that reflects this philosophy.
These artworks are filled with cultural references that are fresh and have a unique perspective.
The brand is named KABOOSH, derived from the root-word Khanabadosh or Khana-ba-dosh, from a poetic language “Urdu” widely spoken in India and Pakistan.
The word Khana-ba-dosh is used to describe Nomads, literally translated "those who carry their homes on their shoulders". Nomads are like a social commentary to our lifestyle, almost as if they were living in a parallel universe.
Talha Masood is the founder of KABOOSH. Talha came to Belgium from India in 2012 to pursue a Master in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. After living in Belgium for 5 years and working for one of Antwerp's fastest-growing tech company as a project manager and an innovation consultant, he decided to take a sabbatical year in 2017 to reconnect with his family and his roots in India.
During this time, while trekking in the Himalayas, he was confronted by a fellow traveler about how fashion as an industry is one of the biggest pollutants in the world.
Talha couldn’t believe that he wasn’t aware of how serious the situation was and could only imagine how many people aren’t either. Once the trek ended and he got back home, he started looking through his closet and this set in motion a chain of events that made him decide that he was going to do something about this problem.