Local entrepreneur blends faith and fashion
By Kati Stovall
For the St. Louis American
As the second-youngest trustee nominated to the board of Mount Bethel Missionary Church, Ryan Pierce has always tried to find ways to incorporate his faith in a way that is relevant to the younger generation.
Guided by the principles of his faith, Pierce decided to create a clothing line that subtly expressed the Christian faith. Now Pierce oversees Destiny Manifested, the clothing company that he said God wanted him to create.
“I feel like I was inspired by the Lord to do it,” Pierce said.
Fully inspired, Pierce began researching the next steps he would need to take to establish the company. He found a website that would enable him to create T-shirts emblazoned with the Destiny Manifested logo. This cyber store turned out to be cost-efficient, which helped him avoid overhead.
Next, Pierce asked his good friend and graphic designer, Jason West, to help him with the project. The two shared a faith in Christ and have since teamed up to create chic T-shirts and other fashions that proudly display their Christian beliefs.
“I’m trying to input a lot of stuff that’s going on in the world and build it with Jesus Christ,” West said.
Hoping to expand beyond T-shirts, Pierce and West want Destiny Manifested to bring Christianity into the mainstream and make more of the younger generation find it cool to believe in God and be active in the church.
“I want to open up a whole avenue of Christian products into the mainstream marketplace,” Pierce said. “Not just clothes, but food items in the grocery store or learning materials.”
Pierce is currently working with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). SCORE, known for helping entrepreneurs and small businesses with free advice, referred Pierce to a marketing consultant which he hopes will help him tap into a larger consumer pool.
Destiny Manifested offers top-quality faith-based clothing and merchandise with a modern-urban edge, and each stylish design conveys a message of faith. The company also offers products that can be personalized according to individual specifications.
Ranging in price from around $22-$27, The t-shirts and sweatshirts come in a variety of colors and styles with scripts like “God made me this cute,” “All you need is a little faith” and “Jesus is my CEO.” The phrases are meant to be uplifting, not overpowering, which is something that is very important to Pierce.
“I don’t want to convert anybody or change anybody,” Pierce said. “Because in my mind that comes from the higher power.”
For more information, visit www.destinymanifested.spreadshirt.com.
The Gospel Scene
The Men’s Ministry of Southern Mission M.B. Church will sponsor a men’s conference on August 26, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The theme is “Taking Back What the Devil Stole.” Call (618) 271-7040 or (618) 538-7170.
New Life Christian Church, 1170 Wiethaupt Rd., will present the Youth Outbreak Explosion Saturday, August 26 from noon until 6 p.m. There will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Little Arrows childcare facility from 9 a.m. until noon. Call Karen Pleasant at (314) 839-5800.
The Golden Voices of Youth Choir of Bethesda Temple Church, Hwy. 70 and Bermuda Road, host their annual summer concert on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m.
“The Day Daddy Came Home,” a play that focuses on a family’s emotional struggle as they cope with the return of the husband and father, who walked away from them 12 years prior, will make its debut this weekend, August 25-26. Written and directed by Paris Crayton III with musical director, Praiz’, the play will be held August 25 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, August 26 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Harris-Stowe State University Emerson Performance Theatre.
Advance tickets are $20, and tickets purchased at the door are $25. Call Angie Jennings at (314) 918-0511, Doris Dednam at (314) 531-5452 or Marcia Williams at (314) 352-4857.