By Kate Dalton-Hoffman

“Create Yourself” is more than just a tagline for Worcester clothing company Monogram Apparel; it’s a statement of self-motivation and hard work.  One night in 2010, company founder Kyle Jarvenpaa was on tour with his band and childhood best friend and the two were talking about how far they’d come since their dreams of making it in the music scene.  “We finally got to where we wanted to be and realized you can make it happen if you keep your mind focused on what you want to do,” he said.  With that sentiment in mind, Kyle began the clothing line.

At first, he was the sole force behind Monogram Apparel.  “I started doing design work for bands and it’s what got me into doing it for myself with my idea behind the ‘Create Yourself’ message.  For a long time it was just me, but I did have some help from featuring friends in photos modeling my work.”

Now Kyle has regular help from a handful of friends, most notably Adam and Jeff.  Jeff helps with promotions and photos, while Adam, a graphic and web designer, assists with Tshirt designs, branding, and web layout.

“They have been helping take business to new levels I’d never even thought of,” says Kyle.  “They [each] bring different talents to the table.”

Now that Monogram Apparel has gained a strong fan base, Kyle has bigger plans for the company.  First on the list is their participation in stART on the Street’s fall festival on September 16.  They will debut their fall line in person at their Monogram Apparel tent. Soon after, Kyle plans to launch a limited edition Halloween shirt for Monogram Apparel customers.  “This will be the last release of the year and will feature a movie poster look.  There’s going to be special packaging and we’ll probably include some freebies as well.”

Kyle’s very excited about January 3rd, 2013, as it marks the three year anniversary of Monogram Apparel and is also when he plans to have the company’s biggest release to date. Additionally, he plans to focus on expanding his line’s reach and accessibility.  “The Coastal Theory Store in Whitinsville is the first retail store to pick up our brand and sell it in stores.  For now they are our current retail support and we will concentrate on getting into more stores after the new year.”

You can find out more about Monogram Apparel and purchase clothing by going to www.monogramapparel.com .  Also, you can add them on Facebook www.facebook.com/monogramapparel .