The Man Behind The Brand
Raphael Hall, the visionary behind Change It Up, a clothing brand that's more than just about fabric and stitches, it's a movement, a movement of spreading positivity, creativity, and empowerment.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Raphael's journey to entrepreneurship is a testament to his resilience and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world.
From a young age, Raphael knew he had two gifts to share with the world: helping others and creating art. His love for art was evident early on, as he first began filling notebooks with sketches and drawings.
As he matured into his teenage years, his passion for art and design only intensified. While attending Jules E. Mastbaum High School in 2010, he pursued Graphic Design as his elective class, honing his skills in logo design, Adobe software, typography, and more.
Despite his artistic pursuits and academic success in school, Raphael recalls small fond memories while in high school as well, one of them being "dress down days " for a dollar on Fridays.
Hall states '' I couldn't stand wearing a uniform, every time dress down day came around, I paid my money. It was such a relief being able to wear my own clothes and express myself freely".
" It also brought back memories to when I was a little kid. My mom would take me shopping, and tell me to put stuff back, I would pick out the craziest colors, styles of sneakers and clothing . I didn't care what others thought "
Although he was happy during dress down days, he often witnessed many of his peers get bullied by others for what they wore, and would stand up for them.
Following his graduation in 2014 at the age of 18, Raphael took a brief hiatus to contemplate his future path. A few months later, he would land his first part time job, working at The Franklin Institute as a guest service representative, continuing to help others around him, while also attending acting classes at night. He would work there for five years until early 2020
He would land another job at Amazon as a Whole Foods Shopper, a few months later, where he would pack groceries for online shoppers until 2021 during the Pandemic. Despite all of these amazing experiences, Raphael still had a burning desire to follow his own path and pursue his true passion : Creating
Raphael states " I am grateful for everything I was given, but I always told myself that I am meant for more. I'm an artist, I have to create ! And I wanted to have my own business one day, to not only change my life, but most importantly help so many others that are less fortunate and create something that people can resonate with . I knew I had to take a risk ".
As the year 2022 rolled around, Hall would find himself in a slew of hardships, more than he ever imagined.
He recalls " That was a very hard time for me, I was at a very dark and low point in my life. It was like I had to start all over, I had nothing, I was down for a whole year, but in my mind, and heart, I knew that it wasn't going to be for long.
I kept reminding myself of everything I promised myself before and the two gifts I have, and this was the test".
One year later , things will start to turn around for Raphael, as a huge door would open up for him as he enrolled in an Entrepreneurship Fellowship in February 2023. That would be the light at the end of the tunnel for him.
Raphael says " I remember applying like so many others, and getting accepted. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that this was my time, I have to see it through, I have to do this
After a long six month journey working with fellow business mentors and peers. Raphael would successfully complete the fellowship program in September of 2023 and become an official business owner, but the journey is not over yet !.
Raphael Hall - '' This is more than just about making clothes, It's about empowering others, and giving back".