InspireHer is a company rooted in one woman’s struggles as a teen. Erica Cardenas, founder of inspireHER is empowering girls through “apparel with a purpose”.
JOSE: INSPIRATION COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. PRODUCER ALLYSA ADAMS AND PHOTOGRAPHER ROB MCJANNET TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT A COMPANY OWNER WHO LITERALLY WEARS HER INSPIRATION.
ALLYSA ADAMS: IN A QUIET ROOM IN THE CORNER OF A BUSY HOME ERICA CARDENAS IS LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION SHE CAN PRINT ON A T SHIRT.
ERICA CARDENAS: HEARING SOMETHING THAT IS INSPIRING TO ME I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A GREAT SHIRT I JOT IT DOWN AND HAVE NOTES AND SAYINGS
ALLYSA ADAMS: SHE BELIEVES WORDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE PRINTED ON THE FRONT OF A SOFT SHIRT, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
ERICA CARDENAS: OUR WORDS DO HAVE A LOT OF POWER. YOU KNOW, WORDS HAVE SO MUCH POWER.
ALLYSA ADAMS: HER APPAREL COMPANY IS ROOTED IN HER OWN STRUGGLES AS A TEEN.
ERICA CARDENAS: I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD IN MY LIFE WHERE I BECAME DEPRESSED AND WASN'T REALLY SURE ABOUT MY VALUE OR MY WORTH. THAT DEPRESSION TURNED INTO DIFFERENT THOUGHTS. DIFFERENT SUICIDAL THOUGHTS ACTUALLY. FORTUNATELY THOSE THOUGHTS TURNED INTO ACTION BECAUSE AT THAT YOUNG AGE I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT MY LIFE HAD SUCH AN AMAZING VALUE AND AMAZING PURPOSE.
ALLYSA ADAMS: SHE FOUND HER PURPOSE AND REALIZED IT.
ERICA CARDENAS: I ACTUALLY BECAME A MOM AT THE AGE OF 16.
ALLYSA ADAMS: HARD FOUGHT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
ERICA CARDENAS: I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN I REALLY WANTED TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION AND GIVE HIM THE BEST LIFE I COULD SO I WENT TO COLLEGE.
ALLYSA ADAMS: NONE OF HER STRUGGLES ARE FORGOTTEN AND ALL FODDER FOR MESSAGES HUNG ON A HANGER.
ERICA CARDENAS: I DIDN'T THINK MY LIFE WAS VALUABLE ENOUGH TO BE HERE IN THIS WORLD.
ALLYSA ADAMS: SHE HAD NO BACKGROUND IN APPAREL MANUFACTURING AND JUMPING IN THE BUSINESS WAS A CHALLENGE.
ERICA CARDENAS: ONCE I DOVE HEAD FIRST INTO THE PROCESS AND EDUCATED BYSELF AND LEARNED ABOUT THE INDUSTRY I GOT PAST THAT HURDLE.
ALLYSA ADAMS: SHE OVERSEES EVERY DETAIL FROM THE PACKAGING TO THE MESSAGES ATTACHED TO EVERY SHIRT.
ERICA CARDENAS: THIS GIRL BELIEVES SHE WAS SPECIAL AND CREATED FOR A PURPOSE. SHE IS BRAVE, CHOSEN AND UNIQUE.
ALLYSA ADAMS: SHE IS CONSTANTLY UPDATING THE ONLINE SCORE AND WORKING ON MARKETING BUT TAKING HER INSPIRATIONS ON THE ROAD IS WHAT KEEPS HER GOING.
ERICA CARDENAS: THIS IS A SPECIAL STATEMENT REMINDING YOU THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL AND YOUR LIFE HAS A PURPOSE.
ALLYSA ADAMS: SHE TALKS TO LOTS OF GROUPS. TEEN MOMS, KIDS WHO MAY NEED A DOSE OF INSPIRATION FROM SOMEONE WHO SHARED THEIR STRUGGLES AND HEARS BACK FROM LOTS OF THEM.
ERICA CARDENAS: HEARING YOUR JOURNEY MOTIVATED ME TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.
ALLYSA ADAMS: JUST A YEAR OUT, CARDINAS AND INSPIRE HER IS GAINING A FOLLOWING AND SHE HAS SOLD THOUSANDS OF T SHIRTS BECAUSE SHE KNOWS A MESSAGE ON A T SHIRT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU MOVING FORWARD.
ERICA CARDENAS: WE ALL NEED ENCOURAGEMENT, WE ALL NEED A REMINDER, WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR VALUE AND OUR WORTH YOU ARE A MASTERPIECE AND ONE OF A KIND. YOU ARE JUST SO PRECIOUS.
JOSE: CARDENAS ALSO STARTED A PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF HER COMPANY CALLED "SHIRTS FOR HER" WHERE SHE DONATES T SHIRTS TO ORGANIZATIONS HELPING TEEN GIRLS.
