Rise Up

The Imagine T-Shirt

Rise Up was established in February of 2007. It all started when designer Jesse Roberts designed a shirt “War Hurts” for a rally promoting peace after the 2nd anniversary of the Iraq war. This design was then picked up by retailers like Urban Outfitters. It was then when Rise Up became a full blown clothing company.

Their philosophy is: “We exist to empower and connect local and global communities to RISE UP against apathy, poverty and social injustice through education, engaging the arts and grassroots activism.”

With that in mind, the brand is made up of artists, idealists and socially involved entrepreneurs who use a variety of media in fashion and art to promote their goals of anti-poverty, equality, justice and empowerment. Their goal is to improve the lives of children all over the world, especially those that have been feeling the burden of poverty, abuse and neglect. They aim to make the world a better and brighter place by raising money for schools in third world countries like India and Nicaragua through their foundation, Rise Up International. Their foundation has also funded housing and counseling projects for the youth.

Art Activism Apparel

Not only has Rise Up made a name for itself through their international foundation, but they have also managed to excel in their main business venture, Rise Up Clothing. The MAGIC Trade Show has featured Rise Up clothing for the past three seasons. Whatever Rise Up has been doing, it has been working like a charm. The label’s creative team, Jesse and Seth Roberts, became art directors for MAGIC’s PoolTradeShow. The designers were featured in Metro.Pop, ReadyMade, Racket, Modernism and Beautiful Decay to name a few.

The first Rise Up store made their grand opening on April 12, 2008 in their Phoenix-based clothing store. To celebrate the company has been launching party after party, even holding a variety of benefit concerts for their cause. By the beginning of 2009, Rise Up gave away 20 scholarships. That’s what you call commitment to a cause. Rise Up is a brand with integrity – in their designs and their beliefs.

Products from Rise Up include accessories like hand made earrings, bags, bandanas and keffiahs. They also make a variety of skirts, pants and shorts. They produce beautiful t-shirt prints that are both creative and thought-provoking. Rise Up shows how fashion can indeed fight poverty.