Designer starts island shirt business

We all like to hear about local businesses that are starting up and doing well, and with the help of the "I LUV R.I.' Facebook page we found one. 

In Newport, one man has started a t-shirt printing company that shows his pride in the Ocean State.

“Our island Apparel” shirts are printed out of a one room apartment in Newport.

"It's just a company that I started because, I’m from Rhode Island, I love Rhode Island and we want to make it a better place and t-shirts help us get there,"  said Kevin Boughton, owner.

Designer Kevin Boughton started this company from scratch.

"To be honest I had no experience at all, and learned the process as I started the business."

It all began as an idea to give back to the island and the state we all call home.

"If you buy an organic shirt which is made in America from our website, ourislandapparel.com , we will donate $4.01 to Save the Bay. If you buy any of our other American made products we will also donate 4.1 percent of the sale to Aquidneck Island Land Trust and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank."

Even the company slogan shows his pride in the city by the sea. 

"We’re from Rhode Island. It's kind of self explanatory 'It's our life, it's our love, it's our island.' The R.I. stands for Rhode Island. It doesn't necessarily have to stand for Newport, but it is state encompassing."  

The design takes time.  

"It’s a multi step process. There is a computer design process which you have to make the design. You have to make the screen you have to emulsify the screen and then you have to print the screen. From beginning to end one t-shirt probably takes about five hours, but obviously the more shirts the easier it is.”

With so many products these days being made over seas Kevin said he's most proud his shirts are made right here in the U.S.A., and more importantly in Newport, Rhode Island.

"We do all our work right here in Newport on Thames Street. We ship right here on Thames street. That's one of our main things about the company is that we are locally designed and operated. We are actually only in one store right now which is green envy eco boutique."

The company is growing everyday, and he is coming up with new ideas for the company every day.

"We have t-shirts, sweatshirts; we just came up with yoga pants for woman. We are actively coming up with new things all the time I-Pad cases, hats, stickers. People’s reaction. I mean I can stand on my balcony and see people walking down the street wearing my shirt and it makes me smile every single time."

If you know of a local business that stands out in the state you can head over to the "I LUV R.I.' Facebook page and tell us all about them. 

If you want a link to purchase anything from them you can go to http://www.ourislandapparel.com/