My Story
My Story — The Journey Behind Brumby in the Moonlight
Hi, I’m Brigette Hatzis and I am the founder and creator of Brumby in the Moonlight and this is the story behind the brand.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of building a business of my own. I grew up watching my parents run a successful company, seeing firsthand the rhythm of entrepreneurship, the risks, the rewards, and the freedom it brings. It planted a seed in me early, even if I didn’t quite know what it would eventually grow into.
After high school, life pulled me in a different direction. I studied Property & Valuation at RMIT in Melbourne, made lifelong friends, and met my partner, Jesse. I loved my time there… but that spark for entrepreneurship never really left. It just waited quietly.
A Leap Into the Unknown
I worked in a corporate role for a few years
until Jesse came to me with a wild idea:
“Let’s do a lap around Australia.”
My immediate response?
Absolutely not. Too risky, too uncertain, too everything.
But beneath all the excuses was just one thing, fear!
Six months later, after many trips to Bunnings and a lot of convincing, we packed up our lives and hit the road. Before this, the longest I’d ever camped was maybe two or three nights, so the idea of full-time travel was intimidating. Everything was new: setting up and packing down a campsite every day, living with fewer comforts, navigating new places constantly.
But slowly, something shifted.
Jesse was endlessly patient, and I began embracing the unknown.
The discomfort became excitement.
The uncertainty became freedom.
. 
Falling in Love with the Outdoors
I didn’t grow up camping, yet I found myself falling in love with nature in a way I had never experienced before. Every weekend adventure, every untouched landscape, every spontaneous detour — they all changed me. We made life long friendships along the way, connecting with people who had the same desire as us, to explore the unknown. Some of my most fond memories of the trip are with friends sitting around a camp fire, looking up at the stars and exchanging stories about our lives and what led us to these moments.
Along the way, I rediscovered parts of myself I hadn’t visited in years. I started watercolour painting. I journalled constantly. I let my imagination run wild again, something adulthood often pushes into a corner.
Travelling full-time gives you space, real, deep space to think, reflect, connect, and grow. And that’s exactly what happened.
The Journey Home
After two years on the road, Jesse and I felt ready to come home and pour everything we had learned into something of our own. That journey shaped us in ways we never expected. The confidence, clarity and self-growth I experienced still surprise me today.
When we settled back in, I didn’t know exactly what my next step was, only that I wanted to build something inspired by the outdoors, the simplicity of travel, and the beauty of a slower, more intentional life.
The Birth of Brumby in the Moonlight
About 12 months ago, the idea came to me and everything clicked into place. Travelling full-time teaches you exactly what matters when it comes to comfort, durability and living with less. I poured that knowledge, love and inspiration into creating my first collection.
Every piece of Brumby in the Moonlight has evolved from that adventure, the landscapes that stole my breath, the peaceful nights under the stars, the people we met, the lessons learned, and the freedom we found.
This business is deeply personal to me, and I’m incredibly proud of the beginning of the Brumby journey. There’s so much more on the horizon, and I’m endlessly grateful to share this journey, and this brand, with fellow adventurers like you.
Thank you for being here. 🤍
Here’s to exploring more, dreaming boldly, and embracing the wild beauty around us.