Meet Tory Christopher | Lead Designer

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

Hi Tory, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
The decision to remain dedicated and consistent, and to be willing to adapt and evolve. Often times, I believe that your success in entrepreneurship is directly tied to your willingness to put in work when you least feel like it. That is where your dedication and ability to be consistent is most tested. I also think that you have to be willing at times to allow your environment to dictate the direction that your business takes when it makes the most sense. Listen to your customers. We started as company focused on workout apparel. Over time, we transitioned into a company with a focus on apparel for sports, teams and athletics. This was not our initial focus, or even a path that we had discussed, but as we looked for ways to push the business forward, we changed our focus and strategy. Being able to adapt when necessary is just as important as being consistent.
 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My grandmother helped push my creativity from a young age. She always kept me busy with painting and doing crafts. I believe she recognized my passion for creativity because she also shared a passion for art. In college, my affinity for technology and art steered me towards teaching myself how to use Photoshop. I self-taught graphic design and spent years designing logos and websites. When I decided to venture into apparel, I enjoyed being able to create designs with the ease of technology, and then seeing a tangible product brought to life. Early on, I spent particular attention to functional design that stood out and caught the eye. I believe this is what differentiated our company from others in the space – we paired our knowledge of what we felt made apparel look “cool” with our design skills and made team apparel that players wanted to wear. We felt that the “old fashioned” looks were outdated, and during the “swag” era, it was time to update the style and designs of team apparel.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I enjoy the North Georgia mountains. I travel to the Great Smoky Mountains a few times a year – whether it be for a cabin trip with friends, or to camp. I enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, mountain biking, camping, tubing, distillery tours, etc I put on my calendar multiple times yearly. I feel that not enough locals understand the beauty of the outdoors that is just a short drive away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my business partner Jameel James – he has epitomized dedication, always been willing to put in long hours, learn new skills, push his limitations, and taken all the ups and downs in stride throughout the journey. Much of our continued upward trajectory has been due to his commitment to the business. Much appreciated Jameel. Onward.

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