1765 Apparel Co truly took root within me many years ago. Around 2011, I started a political blog on Facebook, full of rants, raves, and opinions on the events of the time. To my surprise, I developed a decent and fairly loyal following with active engagement. Contracting in Afghanistan, I had plenty of time and much to say. My blog's theme was about freedom and was called "The Liberty Tree Advocate."
Contracting was a great gift for me. After transitioning from Active Army as a Blackhawk Crewchief, I had the great honor of supporting some of my old troops and peers as a civilian. This gave me a different perspective, as I didn't have to conform to military standards and protocols. I had more "freedom" to voice my opinions and observe life outside the military and the political divides taking shape. After all, I never saw big divisions in service; we were all one team, one fight, all green.
As my blog grew, I became angrier and more aggressive, attracting a similar following. Some were so extreme that I had to ban them. I have no doubt that men in black suits monitored my page. However, my theme remained the same: get back to the basics, unify under our banner, and never take for granted our fragile legacy that might break before our eyes. I drew inspiration from our founding fathers, despite their faults, and the lessons we learned from our young Nation's history.
But what we do with this knowledge makes the difference. We must engage in open dialogues, not erase history or force-feed beliefs. Recently, I re-engaged with social media and drafted a "challenge coin" for my brothers and sisters. The engagement was good, and I realized that something tangible, like a simple coin, could unify us. Thus, the concept of 1765 Apparel Co was born, with a mission to unite us through clothing and lifestyle.
I know this is a heavy lift, but I plan to stand out by being truly transparent. When I say "made in the USA," I mean EVERY process, from the cotton field to shipping. If there's no way around this, I will detail any non-American steps. I also plan on showing my company's financials when it comes to charity contributions. Some might question this business decision, but I want my products to have meaning and bring back trust in America.
I hope you will support this cause, as I believe in this Nation with all my heart, even when we feel divided. This brand will fight like hell for our truth. Do not let corporations polarize you or allow overreach to take away your rights and freedoms. Embody the Spirit of 1765, unite and resist like the Sons of Liberty, our founding fathers, and all who have sacrificed for our freedoms. Together we will survive this journey, but only together as one.
