I’ve been asking myself lately if an an ordinary t-shirt can serve a greater purpose than just being a fashion statement or another product damaging the ecosystem. It’s a valid question that’s been begging for an answer.

But perhaps I should preface my question with the reasons behind it.

A 36 year love affair I can’t get over.

When I was 16 years old, I started customizing my own clothing as a freedom of expression and rebellion.

My arsenal included an airbrush and paints, a set of Sharpie pens, hydrogen peroxide, and a stop at nothing attitude. I started creating psychedelic designs on my Chuck Taylor’s, Levis 501s, and Hanes Beefy T-Shirts.

This new outlet for creativity was my world of exploration and I absolutely LOVED IT!

Then I learned how to screenprint and it transformed me. Designing t-shirts and other clothing has been an obsession ever since then. And despite all my attempts to let this unhealthy love affair go, the passion will not subside.

A dark and dangerous place in my soul.

Years ago I vividly remember walking into my bedroom and looking at the 9mm Glock sitting on the stand next to my bed. It was always there ready to be used for self-defense but today my mind was telling me to use it for self-infliction. A lifelong list of extreme hardships and adversities had taken its toll.

Despite the deep pain I was feeling, somehow I found the strength to overcome my insane urge to commit suicide.

It was then that I learned mental wellness is critical for our survival. It was then I discovered a new purpose to keep pressing forward. It was then I knew there was something bigger coming up in my life.

Two words that would define the future.

Have you ever felt the sense of a divine revelation or experienced a blinding epiphany from nowhere? It’s surreal and not easy to explain but it can happen when you least expect it. Like 2:13 am in the morning while laying naked snug in bed.

Remain Strong!

My mind was racing over ideas for another company I was working with at the time and it was like the doors of heaven opened up and delivered two words that would be seared into my brain — laying the foundation for what would be the culmination of passion and pain intertwined together.

Which leads me to the question I originally asked. Can a t-shirt save a life?

I believe it can and it will.

Remain Strong means something very significant to me but I hope it will do the same for others struggling through adversity and hardships.

Sometimes we need a strong reminder to keep fighting the fight.

My purpose for this brand or mantra is to encourage you to keep pressing forward no matter what obstacle you might be dealing with. And while mental wellness is no joke, I want to inspire you to laugh in the face of adversity, because mindset is everything in winning those battles!

Our t-shirts and other products are designed to serve a higher calling. It’s not about the apparel but the message.

My love affair for t-shirts and creativity, combined with decades of affliction, is bringing forth an idea that I believe will save lives. How it is done or takes place is unknown but that’s not the point … it’s to remind you and others that life IS worth living and that you will overcome the adversity.

Whatever you are going through Remain Strong and remember you are never alone.

#TogetherWeRemainStrong