#GRATEFUL Graphic Tees: A Story of Gratitude and Fashion

The summer of 2016, unbeknownst to me, birthed the perfect graphic tee with the powerful message of gratitude. Believe it or not, I set up shop at a funeral director’s convention to get my Memory Bags into funeral homes. Little did I know that the two women, sitting across from me, selling religious-themed graphic tees would have such a huge impact on my life. Although their designs were charming, the tees were white, unisex, and boxy, making them unappealing for curvy women like me. Inspired, I started playing with the idea of creating a graphic tee that not only carried a meaningful message but also flattered diverse body types.

When school resumed, I told my lunch crew about the convention and my graphic tee idea, sought out the best quality and most flattering tees, deliberated over various sayings and styles, and then polled family and friends. The consensus was clear: make them and we'll buy them!  A few weeks later, the first batch of #GRATEFUL graphic tees was printed.

Family, friends, and coworkers placed their orders. One memorable Friday, my colleagues and I decided to wear our #GRATEFUL tees to work. Walking into the building, I was greeted by a beautiful sight—women of all shapes and sizes, donning my colorful tees. My heart swelled with pride, and tears welled up in my eyes. My fellow teachers looked amazing and our high school students were immersed in a sea of gratitude messages all day long. Mission accomplished.

Following that Friday, requests for my #GRATEFUL graphic tees poured in. People had FOMO (fear of missing out) and wanted to know where they could get a shirt. Shortly after, I expanded the collection to include #BLESSED, #BREATHE, and #ABUNDANCE. Before leaving teaching in 2017, my principal purchased #GRATEFUL tees for each of my students in our school colors—blue shirts with orange print. Seven years later, a teacher friend called to tell me that a current student was proudly wearing one of my shirts. We have no idea how he got it, but the message of gratitude lives on.

Before the pandemic, I used to set up shop at markets, conventions, and weekend workshops. By the final day of each event, at least half the attendees would be wearing one of my graphic tees. Returning to conventions years later, I often heard, “I bought your shirt a few years ago, and it still looks brand new! People always stop me to say how much they love it.” These moments reinforced the impact and quality of my tees and their message.

People love my graphic tees for various reasons. They are comfortable, flattering, stylish, and easy to dress up or down. More importantly, they are cherished for how they make people feel. Wearing a #GRATEFUL tee serves as a daily reminder to you and the people around you to look for your GRATITUDE W.I.N.S., choose to be happy, and focus on your joys, not your “oys”.

To date, I’ve sold thousands of shirts, expanding my offerings to include multiple designs, long-sleeve shirts, and hoodies. My graphic tees go on more vacations than me and have traveled all over the world. They are the number one, go to, graphic tees to wear to celebrations, when you need a pick-me-up, and serve as a symbols of hope and strength during challenging times.

Grab one of our Living in GRATITUDE Today graphic tees and experience the magic for yourself. These tees are not just pieces of clothing; they are a testament to the power of gratitude and the positive impact it can have on our lives. Whether you're dressing for a casual day out or need a reminder to stay positive, our graphic tees are here to inspire and uplift.
Embrace the trend of gratitude graphic tees and let your fashion speak volumes about the power of thankfulness.