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SALT LAKE CITY — Believing in God isn’t always considered "cool," but the makers of a new Christian clothing line hope to change that.
Al Fox Carraway and her husband, Ben, married her design skills and his affinity for business when they created a company called Believer Clothing Co.
Al Carraway started the process in 2011 when she began making T-shirts by hand, but when the demand proved to be too high for her supply, she quit.
Then, a few months ago, the couple began talking about starting a business together.
“Ever since Al and I met, we’d talked about doing things together as a couple,” Ben Carraway said. “We really wanted to bring back (Believer Clothing Co.) and make our shirts inspirational.”
Believer Clothing Co. currently sells six inspirational T-shirts emblazoned with sayings such as “Let go and let God” and “Hold to hope.”
In the future, the couple hope to create more shirts designed specifically for each gender as well as sweatshirts.
When the Carraways launched their company website Monday, they didn’t know what to expect, but the response was huge.
“We were blown away with how quickly people responded,” Al Carraway said. “I feel like people have been hungry for another outlet to show their faith and belief so they caught on really quickly, which is awesome.”
The T-shirts are available for anyone to order, but Al Carraway said she and her husband designed them specifically for teens.
We want to make believing cool again because it is so cool and crucial and important.
–Al Fox Carraway
“What I’ve come to notice in the younger generation is they have a hard time showing and living their beliefs because of what other people think and react when they do,” Al Carraway said. “We want to make believing cool again, because it is so cool and crucial and important."
Ben Carraway said people are judged by what they wear every day, and he hopes when others see people wearing the T-shirts, they will be inspired and want to wear them too.
“If you’re a young kid at school and someone likes your shirt, they’re going to ask where you got it,” Ben Carraway said. “I think it’s just a way for people to see that if someone was having a hard time and they see that shirt, it can inspire them to keep going or turn to God if they’ve forgotten about him.”
Although starting the business has been a challenge, the Carraways said doing it as a couple has been a spiritual experience.
“It’s kind of fun as a companionship to see what prayer does for the two of us and to see what kind of inspiration we receive as a couple,” Al Carraway said. “It builds up our marriage.”
