So I did A Thing!

So I did A Thing!

Welcome to Rise Statement Clothing

Hey y’all, welcome to the very first blog post for Rise Statement Clothing.
This brand started in a place most people don’t talk about out loud: frustration, burnout, and feeling completely discarded.

How This All Started

After 17 years working for the federal government, I lost my job.
On paper, it was just a layoff.
In real life, it was:
  • Years of PTSD and anxiety stacked on top of everyday life
  • The stress of constantly having to “hold it together”
  • Feeling like I gave everything to a system that could let me go in a moment
I was angry. I was hurt. I felt unseen and disposable.
So I did what a lot of us do when we’re trying not to fall apart: I looked for something to help me breathe again.

From Stress Reliever to Statement Brand

Rise Statement Clothing started as therapy for me.
I was tired of being quiet.
I was tired of shrinking.
I was tired of being told to “calm down,” “be professional,” or “don’t say that.”
So I started putting the things I really wanted to say… on shirts.
No sugarcoating.
No fake positivity.
Just real thoughts, real feelings, real experiences – in bold letters.
At first, it was just for me. A way to get the weight off my chest (literally and figuratively).
But then something happened: people started asking for the shirts.
They saw the messages and said:
  • “I’ve been wanting to say that.”
  • “That’s exactly how I feel.”
  • “Where did you get that?”
That’s when I realized this wasn’t just about me.

Why Rise Statement Clothing Exists

We’re living in a time where it feels like everything is being censored:
  • What you can say at work
  • What you can post online
  • How honest you’re “allowed” to be about your mental health, your anger, your grief, your boundaries
Rise Statement Clothing is my answer to that.
This brand is for people who are tired of being quiet.
It’s for the ones who:
  • Have been dismissed, overlooked, or written off
  • Are healing from trauma, anxiety, PTSD, or just life being life
  • Want to wear something that actually reflects how they feel
Every piece is a reminder that your voice matters — even if the world tries to mute it.

A Veteran-Owned Brand Built From the Hard Stuff

As a veteran living with PTSD and anxiety, this season of my life has been no joke.
Losing my job after 17 years wasn’t just a career shift. It was an identity crisis.
But instead of letting it break me, I decided to build something for me, for once.
I’m taking everything I learned in nearly two decades of federal service — the discipline, the structure, the resilience, the ability to keep going when everything feels heavy — and I’m pouring it into this brand.
Rise Statement Clothing is my way of saying:
I’m still here.
I still have something to say.
And I’m not shrinking anymore.

What You Can Expect From This Blog

This blog is not going to be fake, fluffy, or corporate.
Here’s what you can expect:
  • Real stories about mental health, healing, and starting over
  • Behind-the-scenes of building a veteran-owned clothing brand from the ground up
  • Breakdowns of our designs – why we chose certain statements and what they mean
  • Conversations about censorship, voice, and being “too much” in a world that wants you quiet
If you’ve ever felt silenced, misunderstood, or like you had to water yourself down just to survive, this space is for you.

Thank You for Being Here

If you’re reading this, thank you.
Whether you’re here as a supporter, a fellow veteran, someone navigating PTSD or anxiety, or just a person who’s tired of pretending everything is fine — you’re part of this.
Rise Statement Clothing isn’t just about clothes.
It’s about wearing your truth.
It’s about rising anyway.
It’s about refusing to disappear.
This is just the beginning.
— Ty
Founder, Rise Statement Clothing
Veteran-Owned. Unapologetically Loud.
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