Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Manuel.
Hi Zach, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started off in highschool selling vintage clothing. Slowly started to fall in love with the fit & design of clothing and wanted to make my own stuff. By senior year of highschool i started to make clothes and learn how to screen print in my garage. After doing that for awhile I started getting asked by homies who also had brands or I had met thru selling vintage to print for them. my goal was never to make clothes for other people my whole goal was to make stuff 24/7 and perfect my craft of whatever i was doing if it was sewing screen printing or just taking photos. After a few years of moving quietly printing / working on my brand and building a good amount of clients or friends in the clothing space and operating in my parents garage with my buddy who I employed I moved into my first shop in February of 2025 and was super nervous of the risk but now 9-10 months later I have hired 4 more of my friends to help with production and creative projects for my brand or other stuff & and moved into another shop that is way bigger then my parents garage and I don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
no it has not been an easy road or journey filled with highs and lows 24/7 and me being the only person in my family who owns a brand or business in the clothing space the struggle has been hard.
just trying to stay focused on my goal and working for yourself and learning new things everyday it gets pretty stressful for one person. by learning how to manage being broke or not having enough money to do certain things the thing I never wanted to do was give up and with the support of my friends and family or also the clients / customers I have met throughout the years im still going.
and just cause you don/t have millions of followers or dollars doesn’t mean you cant make it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are known for all sorts of things Vintage / Brand / Screen Printing / Etc.
What I or the team always tells people who ask is basically “Anything Clothing Related We Do” or “Anything Clothes”. Im most proud of what I have built by not being super big on social media or having anyone giving me handouts it has all been built by the love of clothes and by my friends who work or support me all chasing the dream of building something what I have always dreamed of.
and I think the thing that sets me apart from others is how lowkey we are on social media but how relevant we are in the clothing space by just doing good work or not putting out stuff to just make a quick dollar . its cause I really do love making and selling clothes and chasing my dream.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Yes im a big risk taker especially if I really believe in what im doing which I always have. its not about taking the risk its about being able to manage the struggle of taking the risk sometimes and not giving up and staying focused.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://befriendedstudios.com/
- Instagram: befriended.studios
