Hello DODO: The world’s happiest brand 
By Jasmine El Samad

With a range of recognisable designs from ‘Koality Merchandise’ to ‘Gull Power’, Hello DODO is a pillar of West Sussex’s indie business scene. An obsession with screen-printing has led to a whirlwind of opportunities for the couple who met at university. 

Hello DODO is the most joyful brand you’ll see today… or perhaps, ever. 

Founded by Ali and Jam Lewry-Beale, the business is based on the coast in Worthing. It has grown a cult following on social media, amassing almost 30,000 followers on Instagram. The business initially launched on Etsy in 2011 when the online store started making waves amongst the craft community. 

With a whopping variety of designs in their arsenal, Hello DODO are one of the most unique clothing and lifestyle brands out there, and they do it in a bold and colourful fashion. All of their products are screen-printed by hand in the shed in their back garden, with new pieces launching all the time. 

“We are constantly coming up with ideas and scribble everything down. Sometimes they quickly become products, other times they sit in our notebook for a few years first,” says Ali. 

“We both love being playful with words and so puns have become a huge part of Hello DODO. We love how they can make people really, properly laugh.”

After welcoming their son Sunny Bear – perhaps the most fitting name for a child in the history of names – in 2021, the couple opened their first bricks and mortar store in Tarring, Worthing. It allowed for the brand to expand, whilst also freeing up space at home – although the printing shed lives on in the garden. Having their own selling space also led to the creation of workshops, printing parties, Badge Club, and most recently, Squeegee Club. 

“Everything has changed. Time is absolutely precious now and we have to make sure that we’re working on projects that are not only financially beneficial to our family, but also light us up creatively.” Ali says. 

The last few years have been challenging for small businesses in the UK for a multitude of reasons, and sadly Hello DODO were not able to side-step these hurdles. They didn’t fall at them either, and in true DODO fashion they found a way to stay positive. 

Pictured: Jam hosting Squeegee Club. Credit: Hello DODO

“The challenges in recent years from Brexit to the pandemic to the cost of living crisis have been more than we could ever imagine being thrown at us. We have adapted where we can and really embraced our local community with events and our Worthing shop now that we can’t ship all over the world like we used to.

“We stay positive by continuing to make the silly, happy things that we love.”

In store and online are not the only places you can get your Hello DODO fix. Since the brand was founded, Ali and Jam have attended festivals and pop-ups, but this side of the business has really taken off in the last few years. Multiple artist residencies at the beloved Colonnade House in Worthing snowballed into a whole host of events on the road, including community hubs, TED Talks, and even to Jarrolds – Norwich’s iconic department store. A project that holds a soft spot for the DODO’s is ‘The Grand Bug Hotel’. 

Pictured: Ali and Sunny at The Grand Bug Hotel event. Credit: Hello DODO

“A collaboration that has really reignited our imaginations and desire to get out there more was working with the wizards who are MakeAmplify to create ‘The Grand Bug Hotel’, an interactive, projection-mapped light show free for local communities to enjoy.” Ali says. 

“It was just incredible seeing our work huge on a building and we can’t wait to do it again.

You would think that after over a decade of being in business, having a favourite design would be like having a favourite child, but one specific collection stands out. “Who Runs the World? Gulls!” has become a brand staple, bleeding into other collections that Hello DODO have released – including the iconic ‘Calendar Gulls’ calendar. The design has gone viral, can be seen on the jumpers or t-shirts of many Worthing residents, and even made an appearance on actress Aubrey Plaza’s Instagram story. The design speaks to their values – empowerment and owning the figurative ‘it’, whilst also keeping things light and ‘laugh out loud’ worthy. 

“Living by the sea, we obviously have a soft spot for all of our “gull” puns designs. “Who Run The World? Gulls!” continues to be one of our bestsellers. Our favourite designs are usually something new we’re working on though, and at the moment we have five new ones launching for ‘In To The Trees’.” Ali says. 

Pictured: “Who Runs The World? Gulls”, Hello DODO’s best selling design. Credit: Hello DODO.

‘In To The Trees’ is the next big thing for Hello DODO. It will run as a group exhibition in store and online from 5th June to 28th June, featuring 12 guest artists. It is the couples biggest group show yet and they couldn’t be more excited. 

Also coming up for Hello DODO is the expansion of Squeegee Club, a collaboration with a local optician, and a Community Arts festival.

Operating as a totally unique and authentic brand in 2025 is no small feat, yet Hello DODO continues to deliver, creating space for fresh and joyous designs that are produced ethically and by hand. 

“Our whole mission with Hello DODO has always been to make things that make people feel happy,” says Ali. 

“Keeping things fun and colourful, a little bit clever, a little bit silly is the most important thing to us. The world needs more happiness and joy.”