We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Saundrea Sampson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Saundrea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.

Embodied Apparel is a social advocacy brand that expresses the passions of the Black community while also allowing customers to give back to programs, foundations, and scholarships created by African American pioneers.

Endowments are provided to pay homage to African American pioneers that have laid the groundwork for us today. Each pioneer is celebrated on their birthday and gifted a donation to a project, foundation, scholarship, or memorial fund made in their honor.

Below is a list of the pioneers and organizations Embodied Apparel has donated to:

Malcolm X – The Malcolm X & Betty Shabazz Educational & Cultural Center

Assata Shakur – Assata’s Daughters

Fred Hampton- Save the Hampton House

Mahalia Jackson- Black Women’s Health Imperative

Shirley Chisholm – The Shirley Chisholm Educational Foundation

Nashville Community Impact – Free Community Food Program & Creative Girls Rock

Angela Davis – Critical Resistance

Huey P. Newton – Huey P. Newton Foundation

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

The idea of Embodied Apparel was born in the midst of the pandemic. After a year of setting a solid brand foundation, the social advocacy brand was founded in May 2021. During a time of uncertainty, I was confident that I wanted to start a brand that not only spoke to the hearts of social activists but also actively made a difference in Black communities.

Embodied Apparel is more than a t-shirt company, it is a social advocacy brand built on being civically engaged, resilient, expressive, endowed, and embodying the role of a revolutionary.

Embodied Apparel has unisex garments from baby to adult sizes. T-shirts are printed by a nonprofit that supports men who are on the path of turning their life around after prison. When one purchases from this brand, you are actively supporting life after prison and helping to financially support Black communities.

I am most proud of Embodied Apparel’s customers and supporters! They are truly a blessing and a tribe like no other!

The ultimate goal of Embodied Apparel is to serve as an inspirational vessel of change and to encourage as many people from as many walks of life to give back to civically engaged communities to keep the movement thriving.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Honestly, after patrons hear the mission of Embodied Apparel, they immediately fall in love with the brand. That was always my goal for supporters to love the purpose of Embodied Apparel first, and the garments second.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Running a business is not easy. Running a business alone is even harder. There are so many things that I have planned for my business, but I do have to constantly remind myself — I am one person. It’s perfectly okay to take one day at a time and what I can and be okay with it. I’m not in a race or competition. I move on my own terms.

Contact Info:

• Website: Embodiedapparel.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/embodiedapparel
• Facebook: Facebook.com/shopembodiedapparel

Image Credits
-Eric Jordan II
-ANW Photoshoots