Alternative Motive is a home-grown t-shirt company that fans know for their quirky 'Nati designs, and for being super soft.
"The greatest compliment is when I meet someone that bought one of the first designs made, and they still wear the shirt every week because of the message and the softness of the fabric," said founder and designer Logan C. Wallace, of Mt. Washington.
Wallace and his wife Christie Reinshagen-Wallace, who owns the Mustard Seed Boutique in Clifton, launched the Alternative Motive brand in 2006. Wallace has been in wine sales for the past seven years, and is a 2003 graduate of Xavier University, with an Organizational Communications major and an Art minor.
"I've always found myself landing sales jobs. Sales is something that has always come naturally to me, so I try to use creative and clever ways to get my sales message across," Wallace said.
The company sells about a dozen shirts with messages like "Nati's Little Girl," "Who's Your Nati?" and best-seller "Hooter" a breast cancer awareness shirt that features a bright pink owl. Prices range from about $19 to $30 and include short- and long-sleeved t-shirts and hoodies made of cotton (the environmental line is made of organic cotton). Wallace also designs and prints custom shirts for special occasions.
"Alternative Motive uses high quality t-shirts and apparel with each design. The customer knows that the product they are buying is typically made in the USA and will last for an extremely long time," Wallace said.
Shirts can be purchased online or in person at The Mustard Seed Boutique (full line), Kismet (women's sizes only), The CAC (men's and women's sizes), The Red Tree Gallery (all designs and sizes), Park + Vine (Natiland + Environment designs), Little Liza Janes (kid's designs). Ten percent of the company's profits go toward supporting non-profit organizations.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Alternative Motive founder Logan C. Wallace
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