Rarity Level: Exclusives

Stitching Details:
0001 - 0100: Gold
0101+: Silver

Product Details:
-Laser engraved serial number on the tag
-PANTONE® printed ultra-premium elastic
-Unique reversible design
-Number-matching Collector's card
-Individually packed within a protective, resealable sleeve
-Fits wrists between 5.25" and 7.25"
-Click here for care instructions

People Details:
-Handmade with love
-Happiness Guaranteed
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Story:
In late 2008 the US economy collapsed and it effected millions of people. In fact many are still recovering. This was the first time as an adult I had to live through a major economic downturn. The company I was with suffered a few major blows in a row and within a short time they ended up going out of business. I lost my job.

The months that followed was one of the lowest times in my life. I was living in central VA with a degree in fashion, an industry with almost no presence in VA, in the worse economy in decades. I was still very young and ambitious and a great deal of my self worth was tied up in in what I do rather than who I am. I think there are a lot of people who define themselves by what they do for a living. You really shouldn’t do that by the way.

I polished my resume and my portfolio, in fact I created several of each so I could target specific types of positions in my industry. I scoured the internet job sites for positions I was qualified for. I applied to positions every single day. I was doing everything I was supposed to do.

For months I lived on unemployment and the occasional side job as the debt from my seemingly useless college degree kept going up as I was unable to make payments on it if I wanted to be able to eat. I sold lots of possessions to make ends meet. No matter what I did I couldn’t seem to land even an interview let alone a job, and those that did reply back expressed disinterest when they learned I was not in NYC or Los Angeles, where the fashion industry is. I had many friends who were in a similar boat.

As the months dragged on and there didn’t seem to be any progress on my future I grew increasingly depressed. I lashed out at my family. I didn’t want to leave the house. I was barely eating. I was constantly sick to my stomach. I felt that I had little left to live for and nothing seemed to be changing. I was nobody if I wasn’t an employed professional excelling in my career. I felt ashamed to be a failed adult. It was a dark time.

After about 7 months of living with this shame and depression and hearing employers tell me they only wanted local candidates I knew I had to do something; I had to move to where my industry was if I ever hoped to get another job. The problem was I was destitute, and I would have to uproot my fiancé to do it. What a saint she was when she agreed to follow a loser like me to the other side of the country to try to start a new life. We scrounged what little we had and sold everything we owned except for our cars and some clothes. My wife was working for a national company and was able to secure a transfer to the area, but in a lower paid position. At least it was something.

We hobbled our way across the country staying with relatives and in seedy motels along the way. When we finally arrived in Los Angeles we were able to find a small apartment where the landlord was willing to take a chance on us. We moved in quickly and I got back to my job hunt immediately. Within just a month of moving to Los Angeles I had secured a new job. What a relief. It had been 9 months since I had lost my previous job and now I finally had my life back.

It’s now been 10 years since that time and my life has made a total 180. I finally got married, bought a house, have built up my career. Now I’m working with the coolest company ever. I get to travel fairly often, get to participate in all kinds of hobbies and activities I never thought I’d be able to afford. I eat well, I can afford nice things, my finances are great. Finally working on starting a family. Life is good. What a shame it would have been if I had given in to the darkness.

Our lives are filled with ups and downs. Some of the downs may be really, really low. Remember that the only thing in life that is absolutely certain is that things will change. Just as good things don’t last forever neither do the bad things. No matter how bad things get they can turn around. Have faith in the future because it’s just around the corner, don’t give up. You owe it to yourself and to the people who care about you to get back on that horse and stay on it. Whatever you are going through remember that this too shall pass.

Artist:
Will

Release Date: 6.13.19