Penn Hills teen shares lessons learned in years of developing clothing brand

Arshad Bryant was 12 years old when he created the first sketch for his clothing line.

He was on punishment. He can’t remember what for, but he can remember the moment he created The Underworld Apparel.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to start a clothing brand,’ ” Bryant said.

That was four years ago.

Since then, Bryant has made sales throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area and across multiple states.

Bryant said he has always been drawn to fashion. He grew up seeing his parents’ shoe collections, and his cousin, Tylynn Gault, began her own fashion brand a few years before he did. Having been surrounded by fashion for most of his life, the 16-year-old was met with enthusiastic support when he shared his plans.

He looks at his everyday life for inspiration when creating a new design. He creates pieces based on how he interprets different events in his life.

“I just naturally get inspiration and want to make T-shirts with my designs,” Bryant said.

Bryant chose the name The Underworld Apparel to remind the people who wear his clothes not to judge a book by its cover.

“When people hear ‘The Underworld,’ they think it’s evil or it’s bad, but it’s really not always bad,” he said.

Bryant said he has learned a lot about patience as his business has grown. When things are slow, Bryant finds himself working toward the next step for his company.

“I just remember to be grateful for each new opportunity because it really is just the next step in the business,” he said. “Everything’s a process.”

Throughout the past four years, Bryant has participated in various youth entrepreneurship programs, including Catapult Kids: Kidpreneurship Training Program, a six-month business incubation program for minority youths.

The program taught him how to start his business. He made his first sales by word of mouth and then began growing his social media presence on Instagram and TikTok.

Bryant also has been offered a partnership with UPMC, an opportunity he received after winning a “Shark Tank” event hosted this spring by Penn Hills High School.

The event garnered mixed opinions from the students, parents and staff, said his mother, Arianna Rosemond.

When it came time for the event, she said her son was one of the only students with a business to present. He was declared the winner and received help with writing a resume, grant applications and business cards.

According to Rosemond, there has been some discussion about her son becoming a student liaison for students throughout the Pittsburgh area. He already has served as a liaison between local businesses and his classmates at the high school to help connect young entrepreneurs and mentors.

Bryant said he feels honored to be named a liaison by his school, adding he enjoys giving his classmates advice and making sure they don’t make the mistakes he made in the initial years of his business.

There have been a few roadblocks. The first occurred when he sent his first order for shirts to his manufacturer.

“The first drop I had, I didn’t know what the material polyester was,” Bryant said. “When I got it, I ended up not liking the material. Always get a sample before ordering the actual shipment or tell your manufacturer what material you want.”

Bryant has stuck to cotton material since that first merchandise drop.

He intends to keep The Underworld Apparel going for a long time. Each day, he looks into trends and keeps up with what’s next for his business.

“I want people to feel like the person they’ve always envisioned themselves as (when wearing The Underworld Apparel),” Bryant said. “I hope they feel like the future them.”