We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samuel Snelling a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Samuel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Urban Testament was born from a desire to create clothing that reflects faith, strength, and purpose—something deeper than just fabric and designs. As someone who has always looked for ways to express my faith and values, I found that the options were often limited to traditional or generic designs that didn’t capture the bold, unique expression I envisioned. I wanted Urban Testament to be a brand that empowers people to wear their beliefs proudly, in a style that feels authentic and modern.
Our mission goes beyond clothing; it’s about connecting with people who share a desire to represent their faith and identity in a way that feels true to them. We want Urban Testament to serve as a reminder that our faith and values can be part of everything we do, even in the simplest ways, like what we wear. For me, Urban Testament is a reflection of my own journey—balancing family, faith, work, and the drive to build something meaningful for the future.
It’s meaningful because I know that when people wear Urban Testament, they’re not just putting on a t-shirt or hoodie. They’re embracing a message of strength, resilience, and hope that they can carry with them. It’s also a way of building a community around these values, something that’s especially important in times when people feel disconnected or isolated. My hope is that Urban Testament can offer people a sense of belonging and purpose, uniting us through shared values and the courage to live them out loud.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
For sure! Building an audience on social media, especially in a niche like faith-inspired apparel, has been about showing up authentically and consistently. One of the main things we focus on is posting daily Bible scriptures—messages that inspire, uplift, and resonate with people’s daily lives. Even though our follower count is still growing, we’re committed to being consistent because we know that connection and trust are built over time.
If you’re just starting to build a social media presence, my advice is to focus on consistency and authenticity. Share content that truly aligns with your mission and values, and don’t be discouraged if growth seems slow at first. Engage with your audience—respond to comments, ask questions, and make it a conversation. Social media is about building a community, not just posting content, and every interaction counts. Also, remember that it’s a journey; with patience and perseverance, the right audience will find you.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Urban Testament has been funded entirely out of my own pocket and through countless hours of my time, driven by a passion to share faith-inspired apparel. From the start, I wanted to create something meaningful without a huge upfront investment, so I found Printify, which became a game-changer for getting Urban Testament off the ground. Using Printify’s print-on-demand services has allowed me to avoid the risks of high inventory costs, and with its pop-up shop feature, I can showcase our clothing directly to customers without needing a brick-and-mortar store or a large online setup.
Printify lets us focus on creating quality designs and getting them out there, while they handle the printing and shipping. It’s allowed me to put my energy and resources into building the brand’s message rather than worrying about stock or production overhead. This approach has not only kept startup costs low but also given me the flexibility to test new ideas and styles to see what resonates with our audience. It’s been a journey of steady growth, and I’m grateful for tools like Printify that make it easier for small brands like ours to get started.
Try Printify today: https://try.printify.com/wv67f2h9dlgv
Contact Info:
- Website: https://urban-testament.printify.me/products
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urban.testament
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urban.testament