We were lucky to catch up with Lindsay Grohowski recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsay, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Say Hello Threads is a small business on a mission to start meaningful conversations, build community and inspire advocacy through our designs and intentional messaging. Our business name comes from the quote “Instead of ‘Don’t Stare’ let’s start teaching ‘Say Hello.'”

We were inspired by our son, Brayden, who has severe intellectual disabilities, apraxia of speech, dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder. Because of Brayden, we have gained profound insights into the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and their families and caretakers.

We are collaborative in nature, supporting other businesses with similar ideals and missions to amplify the collective voice advocating for accessibility and inclusivity. Our long-term goal is to open a storefront where we can employ people with disabilities.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are Alana and Lindsay, the owners of Say Hello Threads and the moms to Brayden! Alana is currently the Director of Engagement at a local non-profit which serves youth with disabilities. Lindsay is a School Counselor in the alternative education setting. We are avid travelers, coffee drinkers and sunny day lovers.

Say Hello Threads was inspired by our son, Brayden. Our name comes from the quote “Instead of ‘Don’t Stare’ let’s start teaching ‘Say Hello.'” Brayden was born premature and stayed in the NICU for 2 weeks. About a year into his life, it became clear that he had some major delays. At the age of two, we began to notice that he would gain words and then lose them. Around that time, he was diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech and Dyspraxia. We remember wanting so badly for him to talk. At three years old, Brayden was still non-verbal. He fell constantly and was always moving; he truly could not sit still. Brayden was diagnosed next with Sensory Processing Disorder. It was around 4 years old when he picked up the diagnoses of Intellectual Disabilities and Global Developmental Delays.

Brayden is now 13 years old. He is still non-verbal and severely intellectually disabled. Brayden is an incredibly fun and loving kid! He truly can light up any room and demands that EVERYONE be included. His interests include playing basketball, soccer, football and really, any sport! If he’s not playing a sport, he’s watching a sport. He also loves music! If we had to guess, his favorite season is summer since the pool is open and the ocean water is warm. Brayden is also passionate about Schitt’s Creek – don’t judge! Brayden has an older brother named John (17), his dad, Brian, and his favorite puppy, Aspen Mae.

The Say Hello Threads mission is to start meaningful conversations, build community and inspire advocacy. All of our products are intentionally crafted to spark dialogue and foster connections. In line with our collaborative spirit, we actively partner with organizations and businesses that share our vision and values. Our long-term goal is to be able to open a storefront where we can employ people with disabilities. Ultimately, our hope is that we contribute to the creation of a more accessible and inclusive world for all people.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Alana and I met when we worked together at the Goddard School. We became good friends and later fell in love. About five years into our relationship, we started Say Hello Threads. Not only are we great life partners but we believe we are great business partners! Lindsay does a lot of the behind the scenes work – keeping track of inventory, purchasing supplies, managing our budget, writing blog posts, etc. Alana brings the creative energy and can strike up a conversation and make a connection with anyone, anywhere. It is truly a blessing to do this work together.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We truly believe the way we are able to make personal connections has built our reputation and success within our market. We are not just a t-shirt company. We are a resource and a support for people with disabilities and those who may care for them in some capacity. We have sat with people while they were moved to tears and given them a space to share their story. Countless people have struck up a conversation with us and we were able to offer our insight regarding resources in our community. People also visit us just to see Brayden! He loves stuffing the mailbox with packages and being at events, talking to people and collecting goodies from his fans.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sayhellothreads.com
• Instagram: sayhellothreads
• Facebook: sayhellothreads
• Linkedin: sayhellothreads