When FAMU senior business major Brooke Whitted first got accepted into college, she looked far and wide for university apparel that fit her sense of style and school spirit. After not finding the perfect garment, she decided to start a clothing line of her own.
Founded in 2021, Cotton Creations offers unisex activewear for college students across the country.
“I figured since there was nothing out there that I liked, I could just make something that fit exactly what I was looking for,” Whitted said. “My hope was that it would not only help myself but other students too.”
Whitted specializes in designing sweatshirts for HBCUs. Since Whitted transferred to FAMU from Howard University, her first designs featured imagery from the Washington, D.C.-based school.
“The first hoodies I sold had camouflage bison on the front,” Whitted said. “A lot of students seemed to like them so I just kept making more.”
After the success of her debut, Whitted began experimenting with different patterns, designs and colors. She branched out from her original black and white color scheme to brighter pallets like royal blue and olive green. She said the design process allowed her to channel her creativity, and served as an outlet for her sense of expression.
“Designing the clothes is actually one of my favorite parts of the whole process. I sit on my iPad and just doodle a whole bunch of drafts until I land on one I really like,” Whitted said.
Whitted uses the digital printing service CustomInk to design and produce her apparel. After purchasing the clothing items in bulk, she receives orders through private messages to her social media accounts. Whitted then repackages the clothes and ships them to her customers herself.
“It’s easy when people on campus buy my merchandise because then I can just hand deliver it,” Whitted said. “But otherwise, I have to go to the post office myself, which can be time consuming and expensive depending on how many orders I’m shipping out.”
FAMU alumna Maya Johnson has been a faithful customer of Cotton Creations since its inception. She found the clothing brand on her social media feed, and has since purchased several items ranging from tee shirts to sweatshirts.
“Not only are the designs cute but the stuff is really affordable,” Johnson said. “I haven’t really found anywhere else that has the same quality for the same price.”
Johnson said the returning customer discounts she receives also keeps her coming back. Along with keeping clients up to date with the latest releases, the Cotton Creations newsletter also offers exclusive deals and bargains.
“I remember one time I got half off because I referred a friend to buy something. So it’s a win-win for everyone,” Johnson said.
Howard University student Amber Jones has also kept up with Cotton Creations since it first began years ago. Jones met Whitted in an incoming freshman message group chat, and was inspired by the student’s business plans. When the company finally launched, Jones said she was one of the first customers.
“I thought it was cool because I remember when the brand was just an idea, and to see it come to life was really inspirational,” Jones said.
Although Jones and Whitted now attend different schools, Jones said she still frequents Cotton Creations’ website as a way to support her college friend. Since Whitted ships her gear throughout the country, the distance between the two is not an issue.
“I still wear her stuff to this day,” Jones said. “People will come up to me and ask where I got it from and I’m always so proud to show them her page.”
For Whitted, her journey is far from over. Through initiatives like updating her website and promoting her clothes through photoshoots, she said she plans to expand her business to reach an even larger audience.
“I have big plans for this and I think I could really go far,” Whitted said. “I don’t want to ever get too comfortable because I know I can always improve.”