Shirts with purpose

I don’t remember what I was searching for on Etsy that day, but I came across some t-shirts with the saying “On Wednesdays we wear pink”.  It’s a quote from the 2004 movie, Mean Girls.  It must be a popular saying because there are a LOT of shirts to choose from if you’re looking for one with that quote!

When I first came across these shirts, my mind almost automatically responded with “Well, on Fridays we wear blue.”  Because blue is the color for type 1 diabetes awareness and in our community, we wear blue on Fridays.  And then I searched Etsy for a shirt that said “On Fridays we wear blue”.  Guess what.  There weren’t any.  And I wondered if I could change that.

So last Fall, with help from another t1d parent, I set out to make it happen.  My three goals with this t-shirt: 1) The design needed to be simple.  2) The shirt needed to be so soft that it would quickly become everyone’s favorite.  3) And if possible, I’d love to use it to fund raise a bit for JDRF.  I ordered t-shirt samples, chose the softest one, worked with the graphic artists on a simple design and then shared it with my local t1d community.

Orders came flooding in!  I was a bit overwhelmed (and obviously thrilled) at the positive response, but keeping track of everyone’s orders on my steno pad got a little confusing at times.  We ordered and shipped well over 100 t-shirts, and then had people asking for more.  So the t-shirts are back for 2016 with a few new options!  This year we have toddler sized t-shirts and hoodies for adults.  (Let me just plug the sweatshirts real quick.  Again, I was super picky about the shirt quality.  I didn’t want stiff and bulky.  I wanted soft and vintage-y.  And that’s what we got.  You are going to LOVE this hoodie!)

Also new this year, I ditched the steno pad and opted for an Etsy shop instead.  Etsy allows me to take credit cards rather than relying on strangers to mail me cash or checks.  And it also keeps track of orders better than my pencil did last year.

Head over and check it out.  I promise this shirt will quickly become your favorite.  You’ll want to wear it because it spreads awareness, because it supports my little girl, and so many others who live with the burden of type 1 diabetes.  You’ll want to wear it because it’ll remind you that your purchase made a donation to JDRF, helping to fund a cure. (Twenty percent of your purchase goes directly to JDRF.)  And you’ll want to wear it because it. is. so. soft!

Here’s the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheJoyBeforeMe?ref=search_shop_redirect

Please note this VERY IMPORTANT detail:  I will ONLY take orders until October 10th (so you have just one week).  After that, I’ll close down the shop and place the order.  I want everyone to have their shirts by November, because November is International Diabetes Awareness Month!

 

My kiddos both wearing size Youth Small.

My little guy modeling the toddler t-shirts.  He’s wearing the 3T.  It’ll have the exact same design as the other shirts.

The original “On Fridays We Wear Blue” t-shirt

The new HOODIES!  These will have the same design printed on the front.