Cool Cat: Byron Appleton

Interview by Chase Beyer | Photo by Chase Beyer

Major: Sports Management with Sports Coaching specialization

CWU student, Byron Appleton, is much more than just your average college student. He runs a side hustle, a clothing brand, where he designs hoodies, t-shirts, beanies and more. Appleton strives to make a difference one sweatshirt at a time.

His clothing brand is OTM, short for “Only The Motivated.” Which speaks to nothing short of who Appleton is: motivated. 

Can you tell me about your clothing brand and how it got started? 

About two years ago in the summertime, I was discussing with a group of friends about wanting to open a clothing brand. It was actually a group thing to do with some of my friends, but I guess things kind of went more to the left as people had other things that they had to focus on. So in January, this past year, I took the time to find some clothing brands and drop some logos and connect with some people that can make some logos with me. They made a couple logos for me so within that, I just took it from there. 

I do pre-orders or I just randomly do orders. I have my direct to film transfers and a heat press them together and then whenever I'm ready, I pack them up. I have two stickers that go with it. One is with my instagram name that lets everybody know where they can reach me at, and then another sticker for my logo itself. 

So is this one of your sweatshirts? (Appleton wore the sweatshirt photographed above)

“Only The Motivated.” Life growing up has been a struggle. I grew up in a single parent household. Things were tough for me, my mom and my siblings growing up so it’s really just been more of a motivation thing. Just find a way to get after it. My mom's always pushed me no matter what she's done her job to show me the right ways and what I can do, but then there's only you, she could only go so far to your self motivation of what you want to do. 

I'm very into sports though. Yeah, absolutely. The football route didn't work out for me coming into play in college or what I was looking for. So over the years, the past three, four years I've been trying to find myself and find what I actually want to do, what makes me happy and makes other people happy. It's that just making it makes me a happy man. I walk around and I see it on and off campus. I walked into the gym, and I probably saw about 8 to 10 people with my clothing on, whether it was a full sweat suit, a sweater or a ski mask. 

What was it like at the beginning stage compared to where it's at now?

It was very slow, I'll tell you that, as in getting myself out there. I was more shy though. Posting myself, posting the brand, getting it out there. I kind of grew out of that stage of being shy. So I wouldn't say my business is booming, but my business is out there where I have people that are out and about and they’ll come up and say, ‘Hey man, I just saw somebody wearing your hoodie.’ I know that it feels good to me to see somebody else wear your hoodie or your shirt or whatever the case may be. And as of right now, business actually is going a lot better than what it was four or five months ago. It was a lot slower.

It's also about who you connect with, who do you know that are helping you get out there more too. Don't be afraid to connect with anybody. The most powerful thing is who you know is really a powerful thing right now. It's how a lot of people get put on jobs and everything else in life. So at the beginning, I would definitely say it was very slow. 

What are some business goals that you have?

My business goal would actually be to make sure I deliver somewhere to the East Coast. I haven't hit anywhere on the East Coast yet. So that's why I want to at least hit like three different states on the East Coast within the next six months.

My next goal would be to be able to get myself into a clothing store within the next three to five years and open up my own clothing store or a small little shop. It doesn't matter what state, I prefer Washington. This is where I was born and raised. This is like my hometown. So we're out where I grew up and somewhere in Tacoma is where I would want to open up my own shop within the next three to five years.

So what are some personal goals that you have?

The goal right now is to graduate because I've been doubted from where I've been in life. But yeah, I've already proved my doubters wrong. I'm going to continue to do that because of the type of work ethic and drive that I do have for myself. 

What is a quote you live by?

I wouldn't even say it's more of a quote. You are who you hang with. So don't mess up your name or let somebody else around mess it up for you.