Many high school students like to spend their time online shopping. The need, or more accurately, the want for more clothes is shared by most high school students, but not many have had the idea to start their own clothing business.
Seniors Keegan Hicswa, Seegar Wormald, and Marshall Lewis started their own clothing company, Smooth Sailing, after conceiving the idea during a free period around September of 2022.
“Smooth sailing started last year around September. Keegan, Seegar, and I were chilling in the purple pod, and we were looking at clothing brands and some clothing,” Lewis said. “I looked at Keegan and said, ’It really wouldn’t be that hard to make a clothing brand,’ and then we started looking at blank t-shirts and at overhead.”
Smooth sailing started last year around September. Keegan, Seegar, and I were chilling in the purple pod, and we were looking at clothing brands and some clothing. I looked at Keegan and said, ’It really wouldn’t be that hard to make a clothing brand,’ and then we started looking at blank t-shirts and at overhead.
— senior Marshall Lewis
From there the now group of seniors took off with their idea. They started brainstorming ideas for names and designs.
“Lots of things came up and then we came across Smooth Sailing,” Hicswa said. “We all liked it, and then we just started getting into it.”
As soon as the name and design were solidified, they needed to find where they could buy their clothing in bulk. Once that was done, they needed to find someone to screen print and embroider their design.
“Every day during that 5th period class we would make calls to printers around the areas looking for the lowest price,” Lewis said. “We eventually found a pretty good one, and we all chipped in $39, and we ordered lavender and peach-colored hoodies.”
Once they started selling their hoodies, they expanded their business to selling shirts, crewnecks, and hoodies. Along with that, they expanded their color options, but some have proven to be more popular than others.
“Sweatshirts[are the most popular], mostly the colorful ones,” Hicswa said. “We offer a bunch of different colors. The peach one is a popular one and then blues and pinks are all popular too.”
Sweatshirts[are the most popular], mostly the colorful ones. We offer a bunch of different colors. The peach one is a popular one and then blues and pinks are all popular too.
— senior Keegan Hicswa
Overall the clothing company that the group of seniors created has proven successful.
“A lot of kids have them, so I think it’s cool,” Wormald said. “I always point it out and compliment people when they wear their sweatshirts. It kind of creates a sense of community.”
Students can buy their own Smooth Sailing apparel by contacting the business over Instagram @ssclothing_co.
Brandon Preator • Feb 27, 2024 at 12:46 pm
This is fantastic! Smooth Sailing is a bussin’ company that has some very stylish colors and clothes! I LOVE their sweatshirts! And I NEED one of their t-shirts! Hopefully, they’ll keep the business going even after graduation!