Authenticity is making a comeback
AUTHENTICITY IS MAKING A COMEBACK
By D. Redwine
The Only Thing That Ever Worked Was Being Real
I’ve been building brands and painting fish for over 30 years now. I’ve seen every kind of marketing trend come and go — the flashy buzzwords, the fake hype, the “next big thing.”
But you know what’s always worked?
Being real.
Back in the day, buying something in the outdoor world started with trust.
You heard it from a buddy.
You saw it at a boat show.
You fished with a guide who used it.
Or maybe you watched someone like Jose Wejebe, Flip Pallot, or Blair Wiggins talk about it — people who actually lived the life.
It wasn’t about algorithms or hashtags. It was about handshakes and stories.
Now We’re Drowning in Fake
Fast-forward to today, and the internet’s flooded with fake everything — fish catches that never happened, boating accidents that don’t exist, and “outdoor experts” who’ve never been outside.
AI can do a lot of good, but it’s also become the tool of choice for people pumping out fake content and fake brands. It’s getting harder every day to tell what’s real and what’s not.
“AI isn’t the problem — it’s the people misusing it.”
I love AI. I use it. It’s a powerful creative tool. But just like a paintbrush, it depends on the hands holding it. And right now, there are too many bad hands making a mess of the outdoors online.
Trust Is Fragile — Once It’s Gone, It’s Gone
Imagine if the IGFA — the holy grail of record-keeping — started using AI-generated fish pics in their ads. You’d start questioning every record they publish.
Or think about those brands claiming to be “authentic” while they skip hiring real artists and use AI to fake outdoor art for profit. They’re missing the whole point.
People don’t buy the shirt — they buy what it stands for.
They buy into a tribe, a story, and a shared passion built on truth.
You can’t fake that.
Not for long.
People Can Smell Fake — Always Have, Always Will
The good news?
Authenticity’s coming back.
Folks are tired of the BS. They want real stories again. Real fishermen. Real artists. Real experiences.
They don’t want a t-shirt with an AI-generated fish slapped on it. They want one designed by someone who’s been there — who’s seen that marlin crash, who’s watched that redfish eat in the shallows.
When you buy art from a living, breathing artist, you’re not just buying an image — you’re buying a heartbeat.
Back to What Matters
Maybe that’s where we’re headed again — back to the good stuff.
Back to boat shows.
Back to fishing with trusted guides.
Back to local fishing clubs, dock talk, and word-of-mouth truth.
Because when it comes down to it, we are the outdoors.
We live it, breathe it, and pass it down.
“Buy that boat.
Take your kids fishing.Support brands that actually live the life.”
AI can make pictures, but it can’t feel salt spray.
It can write words, but it can’t tell a story from the heart.
That’s still our job — keeping the human heartbeat in the outdoors alive.
Keep It Real
So yeah — authenticity’s making a comeback.
And I’m all in for it.
Until then, this is D. Redwine Art saying:
Put me outside, now.
Because I’m making my buying decisions the old-fashioned way — from trusted fishermen, guides, and outdoor folks who live it for real.
The rest? They can keep their fake fish.
