10 Years of Status: From a Creative Hustle to a Community Brand

In 2015, I came back home to Washington, DC after graduating from Temple University. I was fresh out of school—creative, hungry, and looking for ways to express myself while also trying to make some money. I had already been making tees and experimenting with designs while at Temple University but returning to DC pushed me to think bigger.

That’s when Status Apparel DC really started.

I knew I was a designer at heart. I’ve always been creative. But I couldn’t have imagined that a few sketches, some heat press tees, and a vision would evolve into a full lifestyle brand—10 years later—selling hats, socks, hoodies, and full collections, and hosting events that bring people together.

I’ve learned so much over the years. Status has grown right along with me. I’ve spent a decade developing the brand, designing, learning my own design language through repetition and real feedback. Every collection, every pop-up, every late night working on colorways or finding the right fit—it's all been part of the process. I’ve figured out what people like, how clothes should feel, how style and message come together.

But more than anything, I’ve learned how much this brand means—not just to me, but to the people who support it.

Status has always been about being motivated, positive, and driven. Lately, I’ve been calling it “positive influence”—because that's what it’s become. The energy I’ve poured into this brand has been met with love, support, and inspiration from people I’ve met through pop-ups, collaborations, and just out in the city.

Washington DC made this possible. The city shaped me, gave me a foundation, and showed me how far creativity and authenticity can take you when you stay consistent. That’s what Status is rooted in—forreal.

Looking ahead, I’ve got a roadmap. I want Status stores. I want to organize my own festivals—not just in DC, but in other cities I’m connected to. I want this brand to keep evolving while staying rooted in the same message that started it all.

Ten years is a milestone—but we’re just getting started.

Thank you for rocking with Status Apparel DC.

— Gabriel Massalley, Founder