Conversations with the Inspiring Morgan Tillema

Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Tillema.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Morgan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. 
When I got pregnant with my son, I knew I wanted to dress him in unique clothing. I started finding shops on Instagram and Etsy and fell in love with the small shop community. I had the burning desire to start my own shirt company, but it felt so out of reach. We moved to Arizona in June 2017 from Wisconsin, and my husband and I settled into our new jobs and life. Even with working full time, I kept mentioning that I wanted to start a shop. I think my family thought I was crazy, but they had also fallen in love with shopping small, too, so they understood my desire.

In what seems like fate, in August 2017, we saw a screenprinting machine and other equipment for sale on a Facebook garage sale site. After a ton of discussion as a family, we took the plunge and purchased the equipment. After a couple of months of prep time, we opened in October 2017! I can’t belive it has almost been a year!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you? 
I would love to say it was easy, but it has been so hard along the way. The hardest part was at the beginning, when we were still learning to screen print, but having orders come in frequently. We would mess up about 2 in 5 shirts. It was SO disheartening, and I definitely wanted to give up. We also started during the holidays, so we were so busy! Thankfully, we have improved, and things have gotten better, but it can still be tough.

Since I also work full time, it is hard to find the time to commit fully to the shop, and ultimately family time comes first. We have really worked hard over the last year to get to the point where we only have to print once a week. I also stay up late working on shop stuff and soaking up some “me” time. I feel like I have found a good balance, finally.

My advice to other women is to take a breath during the tough times. It’s okay if you need to take a break, regroup, and reevaluate. Those times don’t last forever, and then when the great times come, the fulfillment you feel will help you through the next tough time. Also, focus on YOU! This is your dream. Find a team and support system that wants to see you succeed. It makes all of the difference in the world.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Urban Dreams Apparel Co. story. Tell us more about the business. 
UDAC is a clothing company specializing in positive, uplifting shirts for the whole family. $1 from each tee sold is donated to a specific charity of the month! The most recent charities have been Together We Rise, No Kid Hungry, and currently, the Mercy Outreach Surgical Team. We start at size 6m and go to size 4XL because we really want everyone to be able to wear our tees!

We are unique because it is truly a family business, and every single step of the business process is completed by someone in my family. Each of us plays our own role in making UDAC successful. Every single shirt is hand printed by my husband in our guest bedroom. My mom helps with business decisions, cures the ink in our garage, and is my biggest emotional support; my stepdad entertains my son while we print; my son is the inspiration behind the shop; and I do the behind the scenes work such as finances, ordering, social media, and website maintenance.

I’m most proud of the fact that we are truly trying to spread kindness throughout the world and make a huge difference. Knowing that not only will people’s day be made better when they see and wear our shirts, but also that money from the shirts is helping those who need it most – that makes me so stinking proud.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally? 
There is such a split opinion on what women should do, now. There are people pulling you in every direction, saying to focus on your career or focus on your family. But, I am proof that you don’t have to choose one. You can be an extremely strong female leader and career person, and also be an amazing mom, spouse, or partner. There are going to be obstacles, but don’t give up! You will question your decisions sometimes, and you will make mistakes, but they will only make you stronger. Also, don’t let other people stand in your way. If someone is trying to break you down, they don’t deserve to be a part of your journey. As women, it can be easy to feel that you aren’t cut out for this, but you are.

Pricing:

• Readers can use code DREAM15 to save 15% on their purchase from our site!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.urbandreamsapparelco.com
• Email: urbandreamsapparelco@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/urbandreamsapparelco
• Facebook: Facebook.com/urbandreamsapparelco
• Other: Etsy.com/shop/urbandreamsapparelco

Image Credit: 
Personal Photo: Sheryl, Toney, Judson, Josh, and Morgan
My Mama is Amazing: Dylan, Jaxon, and Gavin – photo take by Lisa Saldin
Compassionate: Ryker – photo taken by Pattie Pischel
Scary Kind: Sydney – photo taken by Debra Jorgenson
Be Kind: Judson – photo taken by Morgan Tillema
You Are Enough: Ronin – photo taken by Treasa Hunt
Fall Leaves: Penelope – photo taken by Ashlee Schmidt
Twins wearing OG and Dope Kicks: Ashton and Hudson – photo taken by Janet Gassaway
Human: Kane – photo taken by Cambria Stockman

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.