How I Added “Apparel Designer” to My Skill Set
I didn’t set out to start a hoodie collection. I just wanted to show up for something that mattered.
About a month ago was the Black Joy Parade. I was unable to attend the event and still wanted to do something. So I went straight to their online store, ready to buy hoodies for me and my three kids so we could show our support. As a budget-conscious consumer, I had a certain amount I was willing to spend in mind. When I looked at the listing price, I did some quick mental math to total the cost. As a single parent in a high cost of living area such as the San Francisco Bay Area, the amount even before taxes and shipping just wasn’t something I could comfortably do in that moment.
For a brief second, a familiar thought surfaced:
“I can’t afford four hoodies.”
Through my Buddhist practice, though, I’ve been learning to catch those moments. Everything in this universe is subject to cause and effect. And I’ve come to understand that I don’t have to live at the effect of a story—I can choose to be at cause.
So instead of stopping there, I asked myself:
What can I do?
That question changed everything.
I decided to figure out how to design the hoodies myself—something personal, something meaningful, something we would actually wear. Because if I was going to do this, I wanted it to matter to my kids too. So I asked for their input. And then I asked again. And sometimes again after that. Colors, phrases, vibes—nothing was finalized without them having a say.
Slowly, we landed on designs that felt like us.
When the hoodies finally arrived, it felt like more than just receiving clothing. It felt like we had created something together. Something intentional. Something rooted in joy, not limitation.
And then another thought came to me.
These hoodies reflected one part of my children’s lineage—their African heritage, the spirit of Black joy, resilience, and celebration. But the other part of who they are—their Chinese heritage—wasn’t represented yet.
So I followed that thread, especially after the kids and I attended a Lunar New Year party. Wouldn’t it be great if we each had a different Lunar New Year greeting on our hoodies to attend next year’s party together? It’d be a hoot!
That led to the creation of the Lunar New Year Greetings collection. This time, I turned to my mother. I asked her for input on the first pass of phrases, for what felt meaningful and appropriate. It became another layer of connection—across generations, across culture, across memory.
And then, naturally, another question arose:
What other causes can I make?
My Buddhist practice has been such a grounding force in my life—guiding me to transform challenges, to take action, to believe in possibility even when circumstances don’t immediately reflect it. Faith is such an internal experience. I wanted a way to externalize this even in the clothes I wear. So creating a Buddhist Inspirations collection felt like a natural extension of my spiritual practice. The hoodies are not just something to wear, but something to live by and spark dialogue shall any of the designs speak to passersby.
Then two incidents occurred within days of each other: (1) a fellow cohort member in a leadership program suggested the invitation for an info share and support network to post things like my hoodies for sale; (2) a person I introduced to my Buddhist practice expressed that they wanted a Buddhist hoodie, too! Everything clicked into place. If I put in the time to design these hoodies and the designs were set anyway, then why not put the hoodies up online for others to appreciate?
So off I went to figure out how to incorporate the hoodie collection on my existing web domain, begin building the product pages and interactions, research what the process was to get a seller’s permit where I have “nexus,” and — most importantly — confirming potential suppliers that were reliable and responsive.
When I actually did the research and looked for 100% cotton material and sustainable printing and eco-friendly packaging to match my commitment to climate action and pricing strategies so the hoodies weren’t perceived as “too expensive” or “cheap” by undercutting the pricing of hoodies of similar quality, I came to understand why custom-designed premium hoodies fetched such a price. In other words, I came full circle to why the premium hoodies I saw on three different sites were listed at the price they were. So go figure! lol
Looking back, what started as “I can’t afford four hoodies” became:
- A creative project with my kids
- A deeper connection to our cultural roots
- An additional avenue to bring out my mom’s pride and expertise
- A way to express my Buddhist practice
- And ultimately, something I could share with others
That’s the quiet power of shifting from effect to cause.
Sometimes it doesn’t look like a big, dramatic change.
Sometimes it looks like asking one different question.
And then following where that question leads.
If you are curious about the collection, feel free to visit us again when the hoodie collection goes live to the public on April 28, 2026. 🙂
As a special thank you to our early supporters, the entire collection will be available at an introductory price of $78 then through May 31, 2026. On June 1st, the price will transition to its standard premium rate of $88. This adjustment ensures we can maintain our commitment to 100% cotton, sustainable production, and meaningful contributions to the causes we support.