Today we’d like to introduce you to Eujin Kim Neilan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Eujin Kim. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my business, as way to express my art and a message. I wanted to sort of give people validation to enjoy some great things in life they might otherwise overlook, like dancing, gardening, bike riding, etc. That’s how these shirts were born – as a kind of wearable reminder of what’s valuable to us as human beings. Uni-T is a portrayal of my life seeking happiness and meanings, which sometimes can get lost in this busy world. I embellished each shirt with a complementary artistic design and I was off!, learning the processes of printing and selling as I went, starting at local farmers markets and building up from there. I now have a shop in the Natick Mall which also serves as my studio and a venue for many other local artists to show and sell to the world what they make.
My shop as it exists now came to be when I was contacted five years ago by a Group Business Development Representative for the Natick Mall. I was asked if I’d be interested in running a cart to sell my books and t- shirts. I was a bit hesitant at first, given that I would be competing with immense national chain stores. But after I finally opened a kiosk there, I realized that many customers were happy and inspired to see my local products at the Mall and felt good about supporting a small business. They were able to have a one-on-one conversation at a mall with the artist who made the products they are buying. Running a cart was not an easy task given the nature of my business. After selling all day and coming home at 10:00 at night, I had to silkscreen more shirts to replace my inventory. Then before I went to work in the morning I needed to iron each shirt made the previous night to set the ink. Some days I worked from 6:00 am to 1:00 am.
After working night and day, a kiosk in the Natick Mall soon turned into my very own store called Uni-T! It has been my dream to open a shop/art studio where I can create and sell at the same time. I have always had this romantic idea of “make & sell.” Now, with so much encouragement and support from the Natick Mall I am so thrilled that my dream came true. I was able to open a store where I can silkscreen my shirts and paint. Customers are able to see what it takes to make the very product they buy. Uni-T has since grown into an art gallery that hosts the work of about 100 different local artists along with my clothing line, books, and original artwork.
Just 7 years ago, I was selling my shirts in farmers markets, hoping not to lose $15.00 I paid for the space. There are so many great artist/artisans out there struggling to make a living from their incredible talent and effort. I am so grateful to be able to show that this can be more than just a dream…
Has it been a smooth road?
I feel that in the current political climate, our core value of Unity is more important than ever. The world seems more divided of late, and as a woman, minority and immigrant, I think I experience that more acutely. And from this vantage point, I can give comfort and direction to others who might be undergoing similar experiences and emotions. We sell and have supporters all over the country. In the end, the goal is still Unity!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Uni-T is a T-shirt brand that I started 7 years ago in my home studio in Natick. I make my own t-shirts by drawing each design, and hand-printing them. Uni-T is also a boutique, a unique, vintage-inspired gift shop, affordable art gallery and eco-friendly clothing store. You will find truly unique and rare creations, handmade by 100 different local indie artists, designers and artisans in the Boston area. We also host events like music, dance performances and book readings. Our window at the shop is a gallery for local makers and fine artists. In doing so, we represent visual art, music, performances and literature…
We greatly value a unity between art and the environment. My t-shirts are printed on eco-friendly materials using nontoxic, water-based ink and a lot of our artists use up-cycled materials such as used skateboards, typewriter keys and used clothing. As part of a local and eco-friendly ethic, our shop is furnished with found and reclaimed treasures.
Uni-T artists are our neighbors and friends, working hard to satisfy and express their own special artistic personas. In their busy lives, they find time to exercise their creative mind and muscle, and they truly add colors and texture to our worlds. Work is what enables us to make a living, and great art is one of the things that make life worth living.
If you are an advocate of locally made, unique products and love to visit craft fairs, you should definitely visit our store. We have carefully curated the best of the best makers’ work in the area.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I love Boston! Bostonians have always loved art, always cherished the local flavor of the place they live and help to build. What better way to celebrate that than with the creations of locals themselves?!
Pricing:
- Bamboo & Organic Cotton T-shirt for Women & Men : $29.00
- Organic Cotton T-shirt for Kids : $22.00
- Unisex Hoodies : $42.00
Contact Info:
- Address: Uni-T in the Natick Mall
1245 Worcester Street
Suite 4048
Natick, MA 01760 - Website: http://www.shopuni-t.com/
- Email: info@shopUni-T.com
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=Uni-T,+1245+Worcester+St+%234048,+Natick,+MA+01760&ludocid=9945052850251486162#lrd=0x89e38882b5f2f3b7:0x8a03ece04bb9d3d2,1,
Image Credit:
Uni-T
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