Students are Screen-printing their way to Success

Three Millersville University (MU) students are stitching together a future through creating their own clothing line called Arbiton.

Tom Tchistiak, a junior majoring in graphic communication technology, started the company in his dorm room in 2013 and enlisted the help of Andrew Higgins and Kenny Feliz, a sophomore and junior majoring in speech communication with an option in public relations, to help promote and grow the brand.

The main slogan of the brand is the saying “Strive for the Upper Echelon.”

“It means that no matter who you are, you can do whatever you want and be whatever you want to be,” explained Higgins.

They created a line of shirts and hoodies and are working on other multifaceted designs. They also have plans to collaborate with other artists and create new lines including an urban themed series and a line for females.

“We recently got in contact with a hip-hop artist, Michael Waves, and he will be touring from Indianapolis to Lancaster and would like us to be a vendor at his shows, specifically at the Chameleon Club”, said Tchistiak. “He will be wearing our brand on stage and promoting it.”

The design process for the clothing can take months. From there, the designs were being sent to manufacturer in Kansas City, but are now creating more a local manufacturing process through MU graphic communications program. The students use screen-printing and other printing processes used in their classes to create and produce their clothing line. However, production is slowly becoming a challenge as the students are selling more products through their online store, pop-up shops and word of mouth.

They established a pop-up shop during MU Homecoming week and created nearly $600 in sales during that time. They also had a stand outside of Boutique 9 in Millersville and exhibited at trade shows like the New Jersey Sneaker Expo. Throughout the process, MU faculty have been assisting them grow including Dr. Thomas Boyle, professor & director of Entrepreneurial Leadership Center,  Dr. Thomas Bell, professor of applied engineering, safety & technology and Victor Capecce, professor of communication and theatre.

The team will continue to promote and create their clothing line and hope to be introduced into retail stores and throughout the local Lancaster community.  Look for their shirts next semester in MU’s Student Memorial Center, at First Friday and the Prince Street Park in Lancaster City.

For more information about Arbiton, please visit www.arbitonstore.com.