We recently connected with Laurel Hudson and have shared our conversation below.

Laurel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

We were working a tradeshow in Vegas—it was the last day, about 30 minutes before it wrapped up. You know the feeling: tired, ready to pack it up and go. This guy walks into our booth and says, “I have to run to the airport, so I can’t talk. But here’s my card—send me a sustainable t-shirt.” That was it. Usually when someone says that, they just want a free sample and nothing ever comes of it.

But I followed up once I got home, and it turns out he does the decoration for Bacardi—and they were actively looking for a sustainable t-shirt. We had a great conversation, I sent some samples, and now Bacardi has Allmade T-shirts in their souvenir shop in the Bahamas!

Moral of the story: always take the time to talk to everyone. You never know where it’ll take you. That guy is now a good friend, and we still laugh about how we met!

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

With a degree in hospitality, I never imagined I’d end up in the apparel industry! But when I saw that Allmade Apparel was hiring for a customer service/marketing/wear-all-the-hats kind of role, I immediately applied. Their values and beliefs aligned perfectly with mine—I knew I’d be a great fit.

Being part of Allmade since almost Day 1 has been rewarding in every way. We make better blanks—for people and the planet—and it’s incredibly fulfilling to say I’ve been part of that journey. Allmade was founded by screen printers who wanted better shirts to print on. But once they started digging into what actually goes into making a t-shirt, they realized it wasn’t just about better fabric—it was about better treatment of people, too.

Our makers work in factories that provide safe working conditions and opportunities for growth. Everyone is 18 or older, which might seem like common sense, but unfortunately, the apparel industry hasn’t always been kind to its workers. We’re proving you can take care of people, use better ingredients, and still make an affordable product.

People often ask us, “What do you think about so-and-so adding an organic tee to their line?” We say—we love it. We want everyone to make ethical and sustainable choices. That’s the future we’re working toward.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I feel like nowadays, this answer almost always starts with “Well, during Covid . . . ” And that goes for us. We pivoted almost instantly to making masks out of our tri-blend fabric. This caused extra stress and long days for our team, but we were able to make an item that was a necessity. We even donated masks to schools and non-profits. They looked funny, but the breathability was amazing!

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

It really is all about who you know! My best friend owns a print shop and has been a big fan of Allmade since day one. When she heard they were hiring a team member who could wear all the hats and play multiple roles since it was a startup, she recommended me. That was 7 years ago, and I’m not going anywhere! I have helped to build Allmade’s voice, products, and customer base, and am so proud of the work we have done.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://allmade.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allmadeapparel/?_kx=_uDwbBj5AqAAtvc3UcK_KQ.JNa6Qh
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/17941392/admin/page-posts/published/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllmadeApparel