T-shirt boom: The #RedForED drive is helping some local businesses.
In recent weeks, thousands of Arizona teachers and public education supporters have demonstrated in support of higher pay for teachers and an increase in education funding.
Many of those demonstrators wore red.
Shortly after Arizona teachers began the #RedForEd movement to voice their concerns over low teacher pay and education funding, red shirts began flying off the shelves. Many educators have bought shirts through word of mouth and Facebook posts.
As school districts prepare for closures ahead of Thursday’s planned walkout, companies across the state are filling orders for T-shirts, tank tops, water bottles and other merchandise in support of #RedForEd.
Scottsdale-based Creations by K&C LLC created several designs for the movement.
“Supporting education, teachers and kids is very dear to my heart,” said coowner Kristi Mogalian.
Mogalian is a former teacher who left the profession because of the low salary.
Originally, the company’s owners created shirts to support their children’s teachers.
However, more people started requesting #RedForEd orders.
Customers can buy customized shirts with different sayings such as, “Real Men Marry Teachers #RedForEd,” as well as tank tops that say “The future of Arizona is in my classroom.”
The company has sold more than 400 shirts so far, Mogalian said.
Jen Bailey and Kristen Duncan decided to sell T-shirts and other products through their Etsy store, TakingIt PersonallyAZ.
The former elementary school teachers created the store to help support their families while they stayed at home to raise their children.
Customers can also buy water bottles, car decals and children’s attire with the #RedForEd logo. More than 450 products have sold, said Duncan.
Another business, ACME Prints of Phoenix, has sold about 20,000 shirts, according to owner Dan Hargest.
The shirts say “Arizona Educators United #RedForEd” online and instore. The company sells the basic shirts for $6.
“Teachers don’t get paid well, so buying shirts online for $20 is not really in their budget,” said Hargest.
The owner believes giving teachers a living wage is a way to make sure children have good educators.