Meet Joe McDonald: CEO of Amare Dolore Clothing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe McDonald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When starting my brand Amare Dolore, I wanted a way to express myself creatively and freely through apparel. I wanted to express concepts from the two greatest educators in my life, Love and Pain. Amare translates as love in Latin and Dolore translates as pain. These two concepts have made me stronger and a more balanced individual. I want to show the positives that come from love and pain but also not be afraid to address any of the negative viewpoints on them. Love and Pain has provided a strange balance to my life almost like Yin & Yang. My brand has been inspired by not only the many things I’ve experienced but a lot of what I’ve seen my family and close friends experience as well. Love and Pain can consume someone entirely but can make someone into the best individual they can be when they fully understand their relation to them and how to use them. The balance between them is what I will express through apparel and the projects my brand executes. The concepts have become bigger than just apparel for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My form of art is very unique. As simple as some of the concepts and designs that I may put out are, a lot of thought and emotion comes behind them. There isn’t a single color, logo, or placement of fabric that isn’t intentional. I am most proud of my vision from when something comes from an idea on a piece of paper all the way down to how my photographer and I shoot my vision and make it come to life through photos. I am most excited to see how people gravitate towards the brand once they not only see merchandise but hear and feel more of what it’s about through creative projects. Launching my brand was not easy at all, it can be even harder to truly execute the projects I want since I have such a big vision for the impact. A lot of obstacles come from time, the pandemic, and on hand disposable resources. To conquer this, I’ve slowed down to put even more time into planning and utilizing the resources I do have available to me as best possible. I want people to know that love has inspired me to accept myself and my flaws now more than ever. Love has inspired emotional, physical, and spiritual healing for me. It’s also inspired me to take more time to love and support those in need whether it be family, friends, or even a stranger. Pain has inspired me to let go of the fear of the unknown and take more chances. Pain breeds growth and we come by it one way or another, I chose to grow from it in a way that develops me for the next stages in my life in a positive manner.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my bestfriend were visiting the area, there are a few go to’s we’d have to visit. The first place I would take my friend is a rooftop area where I go to meditate, journal, read devotions and sometimes sketch. The view from this place has been a huge breath of fresh air for me in recent months. Next I would take my friend to Ruth Chris downtown, I LOVE their food and service. Next we would have to take a ride to a few murals around Charlotte. I also thoroughly enjoy stopping downtown to have discussion with some of the less fortunate. Hearing their takes on their lives, the city they see when most of us are in a comfortable home moves my heart. It reminds me to go harder and be thankful for what I have and the little I can do for others. I would take my friend on this experience in hopes it’ll open their eyes to the many things we can do to change the world we live in as well as appreciate what we do have. There are a few other places we’d have to go as well, but those are musts for me. I would definitely have to introduce my friend to some of my other creative friends from designers, music artists, cooks, etc.. There is so much creativity and wealth brewing in our city that it feels like a modern day renaissance.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give thanks to God for grace, mercy, and showing me so much about myself as I was preparing to launch my brand. I also want to thank my team and parents. From our ambassadors down to the administrative team, the support has been truly inspiring. A huge shoutout to my friend that assisted me with all of my aesthetics and concepts in the beginning stages of the brand; without him, I wouldn’t have been able to express myself as freely.

Website: www.AmareDolore.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/amare.dolore?igshid=sqadl0fy9nhw

Twitter: Amare.Dolore

Facebook: Amare Dolore Clothing

Youtube: Amare Dolore

Other: Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/homeruncho?igshid=t4g3cc4o5sg4

Image Credits
Photos taken by Brandon Kelly/1813 Studios