Today we’d like to introduce you to Francisco Figueroa.
Francisco, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started in 2006 making shirts for friends using iron on paper from the local store to create custom and original designs for friends. After some traction and having word of mouth spread on some of my “home made” tshirts I decided to invest on my own brand to meet the demand I was getting from clients, it wasn’t until two years of inception that I decided to have a storefront that showcased the brand and the direction the clothing brand was heading.
I attribute the explosion and recognition the brand has gotten due to technology, been able to reach places around the globe has attributed us to have a storefront in Tokyo Japan and New York City, where on these areas we have been able to tap into a unique niche market as San Diego provides the same cultural lifestyle which could be found on these areas we have a strong presence. I can not attribute GWEAR’s success without the support the fans and loyal clients have provided through the years as without them there’s no GWEAR, they have made us a household name and voluntarily pushed the brand to places I only dreamed of, during the many nights I sat on my mother’s table pressing designs with an iron.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No it hasn’t been a smooth road, like anything in life, you first have to fail to feel successful; this journey has had the ups and downs any successful business would encounter. I was able to learn from our bumps early during our preliminary days with GWEAR, anything from been scammed by distributors in other countries to having no revenue in months. These challenges are what made me fall in love with the trials and tribulations that come from having a business, the fact that I was able to overcome these obstacles and now talk to you about the good times, it makes it sweeter that I stuck with this dream of having my own brand and see it come to life. The cliche of never give up is real.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the GWEAR story. Tell us more about the business.
We are GWEAR a clothing apparel that specializes in garments that translate your forward-thinking dress style and incorporates the cultural scene with apparel that could be worn on any occasion. We are best know for our original designs and styles, and our quarterly themed releases that incorporate significance with local or global issues or trends. The thing I am most proud of is that my brand is recognizable and has a social presence, from a kid on the streets in Tokyo to the warm sandy beaches of San Diego.
A few things set us apart from our competitors, we have affordable prices for all of our garments, as my vision was to create something affordable, stylish and practical. Our garments offer the same feel and look as those competitors that charge their consumers an arm and leg, we at GWEAR provide a unique style without sacrificing on the quality and making it impossible for that kid that is saving money to purchase one of our items. We take pride in providing ALL the opportunity to be able to own a GWEAR product.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I say the role of good luck, as I was able to jump on a market that was dormant in 2006, now you look left and right and see multiple brand apparel emerge overnight and have to compete with one another. We have been fortunate to find a home in several locations and dedicate ourselves to those markets.
The opportunity to have been employed with an organization that required me to travel helped me bring my brand to these places and understand the markets, without knowing it I was building relationships with foreign markets that helped me launch my brand in places that I physically had no residence.
Pricing:
- All of our snapback hats are $ 24 excluding limited edition hats.
- Shirts are $20 no matter the style or colors.
Contact Info:
- Website: gwearz.bigcartel.com
- Email: infogwear@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/GWEAR_CO
- Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/GWEAR1
- Twitter: twitter.com/genio08
Image Credit:
5TH Degree Photography
Unit Eight Photography
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
