HOW IT ALL BEGAN
EARLY PASSION & CREATIVE ROOTS
Raphael Hall, the visionary and creator 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.
Growing Through Experience
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
Following his graduation in 2014 at the age of 18, Hall's graphic design teacher awarded him a letter of recommendation to attend Temple's Tyler School Of Art, but something came up, and he could not proceed with it.
Raphael then took a brief hiatus to contemplate his future path. A few months later, he would enter the work world and 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
Commitment to Individuality
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 ".
Facing Challenges, Finding Strength
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 had to take care of mom, plus other things, I was at a very dark and low point in my personal life. I was in a dark depression state for almost a whole year, but in my 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 just a 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.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
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