By Sally Horowitz

One day in 2008, long time friends Andy Freda and Nelson Rojas, both natives of Leominster, were doodling. Freda spelled out his last name and together they tweaked the font. “When we were done, we looked at each other and we knew,” Freda says.

That doodle is now a burgeoning streetwear brand. The name “Freda” can be found on staples like hoodies, t-shirts and sweatpants for men and women.

But success didn’t come easily. Freda and Rojas began by selling their gear to networks of friends. Now, however, requests for their merchandise come from across the country, and the two hope to open stores in Worcester, Leominster and Boston.

With their bold prints and neon hues, Freda’s clothes bear the trademark aesthetic of street skating culture. So do Freda and Rojas, who count the skater-cum-MTV personality Rob Dyrdek and the skate shoe brand DC as their chief influences. Decked in fitted hats, baggy jeans, t-shirts of their own design and about 20 tattoos each, the two 20somethings look like they stepped out of a mid-‘90s skate video.

Though lines like Freda are as DIY as they come, streetwear is big business. Countless companies release small batches of t-shirts and accessories, hoping their wares land on trendsetting blogs like HypeBeast. Freda’s designs would fit right in. And while slogans like “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” and “Destroy,” written in gothic letters to mirror a tattoo on Freda’s chest, veer toward the gimmicky, the guys from Freda don’t slack on details. All their clothes come pre-shrunk and with custom tags. However, there is no price hike for these perks, “We are pretty much selling them for what we are getting them for,” Rojas says, “We aren’t trying to kill anyone. The price isn’t something you would go down to Pacsun and find.”

To check out Freda Clothing Company for yourself, visit www.fredaclothing.com.