One Small Step For Man, One Giant Leap For Nerd-kind…

It’s all about heroes. This current pop culture renaissance we are enjoying is the result of extraordinary men and women (and some robots). Whether you are into sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, novels, TV or film, heroes are somehow at the center of it all. They inspire, lead, sacrifice, serve and save. More importantly, they push us mere mortals to be the best versions of ourselves to make this world a better place. This is the main reason why I am such a nerd.

At the same time, as much as I have loved my nerdy interests, I have also loved fashion. I have always felt an important connection between who you are on the inside and how you express yourself on the outside. Everyday we make choices about how we present ourselves. For some, it’s a carefree decision made mostly out of convenience or comfort. However, for others, it’s intentional, deliberate and for a purpose. For me, I have always longed to merge my love for heroes with my love for fashion but my choices have always been so limited- I have a stack of graphic tees and hoodies as tall as me to prove it (and I bet you do too). This has left me to fend for myself and to make or to have made for me various fandom apparel that says something more. That I am creative, empowered, sophisticated and confident. Unfortunately, in my endeavors, I have failed. Out of everything that I have made, nothing has quite reflected my inner hero.

Last September, I sat down with my good friend Michael, who I collaborated with on my WB Swag Bag coats, to have a heart to heart talk. I shared with him that I am struggling to figure out what was next with this whole fashion journey. We agreed that sooner or later if a change in fashion culture were to ever to happen, it would take 100% commitment and dedication. The fear. The instability. The uncertainty. It was all so paralyzing- and I consider myself a risk-taker but the thought of going out on this limb seemed impossible. So I decided that if the universe wanted me to go in this direction, it would have to be abundantly clear. I got laid off in February. Okay, loud and clear.

After taking a few weeks to meditate and seek council, I decided it was the time. In four months, a vision crystalized, a collection was created, an amazing team assembled and a company was birthed. The company name; Hero Within. I named it this because I believe there is a hero within all of us. Regardless of age, sex, orientation, social economics, race, culture or beliefs, we all have the capacity to inspire, lead, sacrifice, serve and save. So I developed a line of men’s apparel to reflect this. Hero Within is a sophisticated style for everyday geeks. For the office, out on a date, meeting clients or attending a comic con, Hero Within is perfect for today’s geek guy. With an integrated design philosophy, our apparel is subtle yet empowering to create a truly unique fashion experience. This is what I have been searching for most of my whole adult life. It’s a geek dream come true. However, there is a problem.

They say, men don’t buy clothes.
They say nerds don’t really care what they look like.
They even say geeks don’t care to be sophisticated.

Since last year’s version 1.0 Hero Within jacket I have literally spent a year talking with hundreds of my peers- and they would disagree. A myriad of fans have expressed to me that ‘If there was just something I could wear to the office and not look like a goofy fanboy, I would buy it no matter the cost…“. I am proud that my team has come up with a solution. However, it doesn’t matter how good the idea is and how cool it looks. We can’t create change without you. Money speaks louder than words. If products like our collection don’t sell, the market will never change- and we’ll be stuck with graphic tees and hoodies till the end of the multiverse. But I can’t let that happen and I bet we can change culture together. In fact, I have bet my livelihood and future on it. I think what we have created at Hero Within is pretty awesome. Oh, DC Comics thinks it’s pretty cool too since it’s officially licensed by them.

I’m about ready to introduce you to Hero Within but there are a few things for you to know. First, the store is exclusively open for Pre-Orders from July 6 to July 31. I intentionally planned that so you could see it live at San Diego Comic-Con (TBA). However, it could close sooner if we over sell but it will reopen again at a future date regardless. Secondly, we are a young company so the site is not perfect. Send me feedback and help me get it right. Lastly, the greatest thing you can do to change geek culture is to share Hero Within online, socially and to your friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances. Make sure to follow @HeroWithinInc on Twitter, on Instagram and on Facebook for the latest updates. I want to thank you for helping this dream become a reality. Your inspiration, support, encouragement and friendship over the years has made this moment possible. One giant leap for Nerd-kind…

So now I welcome you to: HeroWithinStore.com.