Freshletes was founded upon an idea, hard work and chasing a dream. So let’s rewind and let me share with you how Freshletes was started.

I graduated college with a BFA in Product Design and I quickly landed a corporate design job. Unfortunately, I was laid off within a year due to the recession in early 2009. I still had bills to pay and not knowing what to do at that very moment, I immediately packed up my stuff and moved back to my hometown in Illinois hoping I'd figure out my next step when I got back there. Once I got home, I started working several part time jobs just to make ends meet, but I still had the passion to design, so I started utilizing my skill set and began freelance designing. One thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was purchasing some apparel decorating equipment from a former co-worker that was looking to get rid of it. Having nowhere to work out of, my father ended up clearing out a small room that was attached to his shop and from there I taught myself how to use the equipment and began taking customized apparel orders from family members, friends and small businesses.

Always a sneakerhead and into sportswear, taking a shot at starting a clothing company was the next step that made sense for me and I figured I had nothing to lose if it didn't work out. In the spring of 2010, I started personally making and handing out free Freshletes apparel samples. Success didn't happen overnight and it took about a year before people even started taking notice and asking where they could get it. I finally made the decision to expand outside of my local area and I launched Freshletes online with only a couple items on April 1, 2011. Making that decision forever changed my life.

Over the next few years, I was able to grow the company by always being prepared to capitalize on opportunities if and when they presented themselves. In the fall of 2013, I relocated Freshletes and my family to Saint Louis, MO where I hope to continue to improve and expand the company, by always making sure quality and service comes first.