MISSION
To spread kindness and positivity through apparel. Shop Kirsten’s
mantra is to ‘be kind to all kinds’ and hopes to spread inspiration to not
only the people wearing Shop Kirsten, but the individuals reading it
too.
ABOUT
"I am 26 years old and have been running Shop Kirsten for 6 years now!
What started as a hobby I was doing out of my college dorm room turned
into my current full time job. Here’s a little about me…
I have always been passionate about spreading positivity and mental health
awareness. I was working full time in the social work field after I graduated
from college. When I wasn’t in business casual, I was in a sweatshirt. Even
in the 90° Florida heat. I’ve always loved a cozy sweatshirt!
I got an idea one day to merge my two passions. Which sounds silly,
spreading positivity and mental health awareness via a sweatshirt. But it was
the first thing I noticed about people-what their clothing said. I decided that
it would be super cool for people to be able to read a phrase like “you are
capable” or “be kind to all kinds” (my two mantras) and feel inspired or
encouraged. & it works both ways, the person wearing the sweatshirt is
literally wearing a positive affirmation on their sleeve, while spreading
positivity to anyone reading it.
I launched my You Are Capable sweatshirt in February of 2021 and it went
viral on Tiktok. I’ve shipped thousands of sweatshirts all over the world
since then, and as of last year I went full time with my business!
The phrase “you are capable” means a lot to me. As someone who has dealt
with anxiety since I was little, it’s a phrase that has gotten me through a lot. I
made a pact with younger Kirsten that I was going to make a difference in
the world, and I hope to do that one sweatshirt at a time.
Shop Kirsten launched it’s first philanthropy campaign in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay in 2023. For every sweatshirt sold in
November, a sweatshirt was donated to a teen enrolled in a local club. At the
end of the promotion, Shop Kirsten was able to donate to 3 clubs in the
Tampa Bay Area!
A 2024 goal for Shop Kirsten is to continue to partner with local non-profits
and give back. Whether that be monetary donations or sweatshirts, it’s
something that is incredibly important to me.
I sell my sweatshirts on my website, do pop-up markets, make custom
apparel for businesses and personal orders, and document my journey on
social media in hopes of inspiring other women to start a small business. If I
had to give anyone advice, it would to be that you are capable of even the
things that scare you. Don’t let fear hold you back from reaching your
potential."
-Kirsten Russel
