With their feet firmly planted on the ground, this energetic team of young entrepreneurs at All The Above Clothing have their heads in the clouds. Their designs can be cryptic and quirky, with names like "Fly", "Looking Glass" and "Undead."
All the above takes inspiration from famous names like Einstein, Mother Theresa and even hip hop artists. Quotes, images and words set on "burn out" cotton make for a dreamy design. While the outside of the shirts are aesthetically pleasing, the inside of the clothing is what really makes an impact. Printed on the inside of each shirt is a description of the meaning behind each shirt's design. From the title to the images, to the choice of color and even blank space, every part is intentional and holds meaning.
Founder Cody Sudmeier describes the process, "What we do is take a quote and turn it into an abstract design and then we print on the inside of the shirt what the design is all about. Every time the customer puts it on, they're inspired at the beginning of the day and just motivated and can share that inspiration with others. "
Their motto is "Express Yourself, Change the World" and that's because "All The Above" clothing is part fashion, part giving and in some cases they donate 100 percent of the proceeds from a T-shirt design to charity. Organizations can register online to apply for this donation. Organizations that have been involved in All The Above's campaign to give back include Hope for Japan and Hats Off for Cancer .
Cody says he decided to, "jump and grow wings on the way down", admitting that he had no idea how difficult the process of starting a clothing company would be. He took a lot of advice, utilized mentors who had done it before and used the talents of his friends to grow his business. From website design to distribution, this has been a learning curve that ran slow and steady.
All The Above is now two years old, with just under a dozen employees, yet they are shipping all over the world. While they are a start up, they are all able to, "pay their bills, have cars, and have a beautiful life."
Cody remembers the first time he saw someone he didn't know wearing an All The Above T-shirt.
"It was just one of the most thrilling moments, it seems small, they bought a T-shirt, but it meant a lot to me because that person is carrying on our message."
To learn more about All The Above Clothing, you can visit their website here.
If you know of a person or business that has "started over", you can email Amelia at amelia.earhart@9news.com.
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