We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sophillia Tagaban a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sophillia, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Heart Blaster is a family company, first. My daughter Janelle would spend time with her dad when he first started the clothing part of his own company, Cookies. I was studying Human Services at the time, which is tied to working in various areas of policies, programs, services, and facilities to meet basic human needs relating to the quality of life in communities.
Our family comes from artists, creators, and my kids are all very creative in their own ways. Nel showed interest in her dad’s work. He asked her to make a logo, which was our original logo and is now the logo of Heart Blaster Kids.
It makes my heart happy to know that the representation of our now-registered trademark is special. Not just to our family, but because it is an authentic symbol of pure love, innocence, and happiness that Janelle wanted to project into the world. Not because she was an advocate but because she was raised right. At six years old she understood the importance of being inclusive from a pure human intention.
They sold t-shirts online through Instagram before there was a store option like today, and through her dad (Berner) and his following. We did not become a proper business until 2017. It was just an Instagram page until I understood the potential it could have.
My inspiration came from many facets of my life and the knowledge I gained by learning how to advocate for myself and my children. I know what it is like to have to fight for something or someone and for change out of circumstances that I had no control over. I was born an advocate, not by choice, and like many people subconsciously because it is part of our survival.
While studying social science in Human Services, I knew I wanted to do meaningful work. I thought of making a change in communities and helping people like myself and my family. In my studies, I was searching for answers about my life circumstances and trying to find resources to help me understand the people who let me down or who I had lost to toxic generational cycles and substance abuse.
Simultaneously, I rediscovered a passion tucked away for most of my adolescence into adulthood. An unnurtured identity that started when I was about five years old. My grandmother was someone I still love deeply. She was a strong woman who loved and protected me, and she was a seamstress. She made all of her clothes, and she would sew me dresses. I remember she made dresses for beauty pageants she would sign me up for and my kindergarten graduation. She would send me home with bags of fabric, chalk, and a sewing needle. She taught me to make custom Barbie clothes and bought me paper dolls that had fashionable paper clothes in the 80s. She taught me that I could express myself through creativity. Which was also my outlet.
When Gil started Cookies Clothing, I was excited for him, and I naturally was interested in what he was doing. I would send him sketches of things I thought would be dope, even if he did not use them or like what I sent him; it was a prominent point in my path that sparked something lost. I thought about Heart Blaster, and I started making sketches of girls’ clothing, which came easily to me, having three daughters. Sketches that I had already had visions of, like most HB designs, they come to me before I understand what they are intended for. At this point, it was for my pleasure, but it felt familiar.
It is January 2017, and the first-ever Women’s March sparked after the inauguration of Trump. A worldwide protest of, women, men, and children standing up in union against people and policies that continue to hurt people, and project discrimination, prejudice, and inequality against women’s rights, gender equality, civil rights, and other issues expected to face new and resurfacing challenges under the new Presidential administration. I was fired up, my advocacy rose again, and it was a teachable moment in History that I wanted my family to be a part of. We marched with an estimated 4.1 million people that day across the world. The impact was profound, and in the following weeks, all I kept thinking about was; what now, how do we move forward, what is everyone else going to do to keep the momentum going but also what kind of work can we do to make sure we keep fighting for each other in our daily lives. The importance became essential to me as a woman of color, a mother, a friend, a neighbor, contributing citizen, and a teacher to my family.
I thought about our youth and how many kids I had seen that day with their families. I thought about how proud my kids were of themselves and the impact it had on their understanding of the world. I wanted to be a part of the growing advocacy that is now a visible part of our everyday lives. Not that we felt differently before then, but now realizing there was much more to learn.
We launched a year later on March 3, 2018.
I think back to that day, March 3, 2017. It felt essential to the world to create visibility to stand up for many vital causes. When I think about advocacy in that moment today, I believe that it was a combination of different viewpoints of what advocacy looks like individually in one space. Meaning that most people had their own agenda, cause, and commitment to bring through their own experience, influence, and understanding of what policies, discrimination, prejudice, and inequality, gender equality, civil rights, and other new and old challenges ethically align with them. Because people make judgments based on their own experience, bias, or privilege, and there are many factors that influence these ideas based on ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, etc. It is broad.
The strongest chants that day were for women. As a woman of color I stand with those individuals; However, I do not see women’s rights as separate from any other space or persons marching for equal rights. It is a scientific fact that this is partial to; because I can identify with more than one cause. It is important to recognize it is indecent to tell any person that is different from ourselves they are not deserving of the same treatment and basic human rights.
Although Heart Blaster launched our first collection for girl empowerment, we also launched as a genderless brand, no labels. X and since then we have made it clear that we do not discriminate against anyone based on ethnicity, nationality, culture, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. Any effort each of us make in our daily lives to embrace other people who are different than we are, shed our bias, understand people from an outside perspective, and support policy that protects the equal rights for all Americans is worthwhile.
Because that one single day of the year, when any of us are marching along side POC, BLM, LGBTQ+ , Latino, Indigenous , AAPI, etc., you have to understand that the quality of life for minorities is not based on a walk in the park, but more importantly to your personal commitment to speak up everyday of your life with your conscious intentions, votes, and good nature.
Not one person, company, corporation, advocate, is capable of solving the issues that this country stem from. If that were true, the great minority leaders and advocates in history, and today would have done so already. What will make a greater impact, would be; for everyone to confront and understand the dark history that has led us here, know that absent history exists but erased through power, barriers, and political control to silence the voices of minority people. Acknowledge the suffering of minority people still today, make an effort to create jobs and equal spaces that support POC, vote for people who ethically align with these values and not for self interest. Acknowledge the great minority leaders from the past and support the important work that is being done today. It does not take anything away from you as a person to stand with others.
Heart Blaster is unique because of how little effort we see being made by individuals, companies, corporations, to speak up, and stand up for multicultural purposes.This is not a business approach it is a humane one.
There is a documentary called “where to invade next”, by Michael Moore. He travels to different countries in Europe to gain knowledge and share collective ideas around community and health.
In Germany where the history there is much like the United States where hate and genocide has greatly impacted our shared culture and the foundation of how we function as a nation today; it is astounding to see how much more they have progressed than we have. They do not hide from the past. In fact, there are visible reminders everywhere you go; for accountability and collective efforts to acknowledge where they have been and where they will not go back.
It’s quite embarrassing when you look at what our own political leaders and the unethical standards we are still fighting against. Just yesterday, all (DEI) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices from all Florida Universities were removed by the potential presidential running candidate.
It is these messages that continue to inure hate and violence on the people of our country. We cannot control violence to our benefit or our own interest, and we witness innocent lives of men, women, and children lost to gun violence everyday based on hate.
Statistics for hate crimes in the U.S from the DOJ read:
Victims of Hate Crime Incidents
https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics
– 7,074 single-bias incidents involved 8,753 victims
– 4470 of these hate crimes were based on race/ethnicity/ancestry
– 1005 based on religion
– 1127 and 266 based on sexual orientation and gender
– In 188 incidents, a total of 271 victims were targeted because of more than one bias
– Among 8,673 hate crimes reported in 2021: Crimes against persons is 66.7%, property 30.0%,
When we think about the future we are creating for our families, we have to ask ourselves, where are we putting our efforts.
I enjoy my work, connecting and collaborating with people excites me. I hope to see more individuals, companies, corporations embrace the true meaning of community moving into the future to protect each other and set new precedent for ethics and Integrity in our country. Most importantly take into consideration the impact we have on our future change makers.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a multicultural person. I come from a family of mixed roots being, Mexican Indigenous to California, Portuguese, Spanish, and Filipino. I love culture, art, design, community work, and being a mom. All of my passions, skills, and life experiences led me to Heart Blaster.
Gil was already in the clothing industry. He introduced me to my partner Chris Grunge who had been in the industry for many years. Chris and I vibed right away. We shared a passion for youth growth and development. Both being at risk youth, we understand the importance of community, shared education, and resources. In 2017 we talked about having a nonprofit and just last year Heart Blaster Inc. was approved.
Chris already had experience in manufacturing, design, etc. He shared his knowledge and I got really creative. One of our first designs is our olive signature kids windbreaker. This was a collaborative design between the two of us. It is still one of my favorite pieces and water resistant! We have two websites, kids and young adult, both genderless. We carry leggings, basics, graphic tees, backpacks, reusable water bottles, and so much more. Our most recent campaigns were our Zodiac Collection and LIMITED Denim Project.
My favorite collection is our organic 100% biodegradable eco lip balms and tints. This was a CyKosmetics collaboration by a mom and daughter manufacturing company, black owned, and our dear friends.
I am most proud of the standards that shape our brand inside and out. Standards that are transparent, honest and ethical. Standards that should be normalized in any company. I always work through mindful intention to make good products, and know who I am sourcing and creating with.
Other parts of our commitment are to make quality clothing and products that are affordable and worthy of our customers, to create campaigns where creators, and youth can join us, and collaborate through a collective hands on experience, which is my favorite part.
I am also proud of the knowledge I continue to gain through my ongoing commitment in my own education, and tenacity to learn how to start a business, grow a brand, stay true to myself, and start a nonprofit.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Growing up being a poor multicultural person was not easy, and my path has been full of hardships, stereotypes, and discrimination since I was very young.
I was a teen mom at 16 years old. At 1 month old my son experienced his first prejudice encounter. While studying human services, and intercultural communication, I now understand, this happens every day in medical offices across America.
My son Vinny was born sick. He had respiratory issues because I lived with negligent people who smoked cigarettes in the house while I was pregnant, and continued to do so after Vinny was born, and although he was sick. I was scared for my son. I had no knowledge or support to help us. Trying to care for a newborn was already hard. I made my son his third doctor appointment that month because I was afraid he would stop breathing. He was so congested.
I walked into the doctor’s office with him. At this time, we were on medical assistance. It is pouring rain outside, and I got a ride there from a friend. We head into the office when his name is called and I put his car seat down, and wait for the doctor. A tall old white male doctor comes in, doesn’t say hello, grabs the chart, briefly looks at it, and puts it down, and says “well what’s wrong with him”, I say, well that is really why I am here, he has been sick for over a month and I am scared for him, and I came here for help. He kind of gives me this look, like my son and I are a bother to him, almost an eye roll, but without making eye contact, basically dismissing my concerns for my baby. He gets up to look around, I take Vinny out of the car seat and lay him down. The doctor grabs a nasal aspirator or rubber bulb syringe, but I let him know that I have brought Vinnys’ because I have had to use it frequently. He says, “good cause I don’t know where this one has been.”
My entire heart sank. Here I am a teenage mom looking for any kind of support to help my baby get better, some compassion, resources, and medical attention. I immediately jump up and say get the F*#! away from my baby! I tell him exactly where to go. I am trembling, crying, and I pack up Vinny and run out of the office outside into the rain, thinking about what to do.
Luckily a kind nurse, also white, runs after me and Vinny asks me to come inside and tell her what happened, so I do. She apologizes, reschedules Vinny’s appointment and gives me a phone number I can call to file a complaint against the doctor. She then told me that we were not the first to be treated this way by this particular doctor. She gave me her name, and told me she would also report the incident
I am still grateful for her today. To be completely honest, she was one of three people in my entire life who advocated for me, and taught me the importance just by that interaction.
I called, I filed, I advocated for my son, and myself against what I now know identifies as institutional racism in Health Care. He was fired.
The emotional trauma from that experience still hurts my heart to this day. Were we not deserving of supportive ethical healthcare, as anyone else, regardless of our socioeconomic status, and other cultural variables. The nurse thought so, and because she cared enough to educate and support me in filing a complaint
I know that there are good people in this world, and everything I do for Heart Blaster is worth it. We need a visible representation of what that looks like. It’s important to understand each other through transparency.
We live in a world where minorities have to be resilient. There were times before that moment, and more times ahead where I would advocate for myself, others, and my children. These aren’t proud moments. They are draining and create layers of trauma that impact who you are and how you navigate through life. But it is important.
Right now, I have an open case through Heart Blaster Inc. I am advocating for middle school students against an old dress code policy that is discriminatory. Where kids are accumulating excessive detentions and being labeled gang members over their sweatpants.The first meeting with the Principal, I wore HB relax pants, in Subtle Sage. It’s petty, and for minority children this can impact and label their academic profile causing more discrimination in the future based on false pretenses.
Gavin Newsom also signed into policy The Crown Act, to protect black children from hair discrimination. He also states that “School administrators and other staff should also be knowledgeable about the dress code and appropriate enforcement. Through policy, governing boards may set expectations that enforcement of the dress code not be addressed during instructional time or in front of other students, not result in a student being sent home or given alternate clothing to wear, and does not send a message that what students wear is more important than what they learn.”
https://www.change.org/p/stop-sending-kids-to-detention-over-sweatpants-stop-student-discrimination/u/31281812
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
It helps to have opportunities to share about myself, experiences, knowledge and my purpose through Heart Blaster. It helps people understand who I am authentically and why I am so passionate about inclusivity and community.
Ethics are integral in every space and we should all want to know where our money is going and who is behind the brands we support. As we have seen, major fashion brands in current times struggle with ethical principles over influencers, and campaigns. When your shared interest is only money it will get ugly. I’ve seen it happen to people in business who are also close to me. I’ll always protect and advocate for the integrity of my companies before any dollar amount.
We all make an impact in this life, in the future of our children, grandchildren and beyond, whether it is intentional or not. That is how the collective works. To understand your personal impact and to act with conscious intention for the good of human decency is not hard. It is a choice we all make every day of our lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heartblaster.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartblaster/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartblasterClothing/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/heartblasterc
Image Credits
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