Junior Irizarry launched Motivate Me Apparel & Custom Printing in February of 2016. “It had become challenging to find clothing that described how I felt and what I stood for,” he says. “I wanted to create a brand that motivates and helps inspire people to be better.” What started as a hobby soon became a full-time gig, as Irizarry and his whole department were laid off from their corporate jobs in April of that same year. Instead of letting that defeat him, he invested his severance pay into purchasing equipment to make custom clothing and fully delved into Motivate Me Apparel.
Completely self-taught, Irizarry learned to draw logos and use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to make his designs. “The ideas come from my surroundings: social media, music and the perceptions of the challenges I face myself on a daily basis,” Irizarry says. Customers can either submit their own mock-up for the design they want printed, or they can explain the concept to Irizarry and he'll create it. The phrase “Built for the Hustle” is the brand's motto and describes the drive to overcome all obstacles and succeed in your chosen path in life. Irizarry describes the brand as “athleisure with a message.”
