What’s in a name?
Tiger Byte’s name originates from a Hmong idiom–a curse used to utterly dismiss one’s sense of worth. We hope to reclaim “tsov tom” (pronounced: jaw d’thaw), or tiger bite, into a force of transformative empowerment.
Tigers are seen in the Hmong culture as dangerous deities in disguise, transforming into human form only to infiltrate our life and lure us away. In this way, “tsov tom” (“tiger bite”) can be culturally one of the worst things to say to someone.
However, we prefer to view tigers for what they are–powerful and majestic, to be respected and protected.