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The Incredible Mission to
Keep a Cult Favorite Clothing Line and Brother’s Legacy Alive
Tatyana Arrington is dedicated to fulfilling her brother’s ultimate goal—creating a streetwear brand that makes everyone feel loved, honored, and included.
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Ahjanee
begins sketching
his ideas -
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Ahjanee
Starts Stix
Unlimited -
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Stix
Unlimited
takes off -
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Ahjanee
expands his
clothing line - circle Ahjanee passes
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Vanessa &
Tatyana take up
Ahjanee’s vision -
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COVID affects
business -
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Tatyana begins
building the brand’s
online presence
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Vanessa &
Tatyana take up
Ahjanee’s vision -
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COVID affects
business -
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Tatyana begins
building the brand’s
online presence
At age 15, Ahjanee (Lemon) Arrington began designing his own streetwear, with an eye for detail on everything from logos and colors to the fabric itself.
“He was really into his clothing being good quality, very concerned about the material,” explains Ahjanee’s mother, Vanessa. “He wanted things to have a good feel, to look good, to wash well.”
Over the years, his collection grew to include hoodies, t-shirts, joggers, hats and socks. "For the last few years of his life, he primarily wore his own clothes," Vanessa recalls. The signature logo for his brand, Stix Unlimited, highlighted his core mission: to create quality clothing for everyone. He wanted everyone to feel loved and included.
So when Vanessa lost her son to suicide in December 2019 at just 24 years old, she and her daughter Tatyana knew they couldn’t let his vision and dream die with him. Less than a month later, they got to work.
“We didn’t know what to do, where to start. Though I had some knowledge of fashion...I was in no way prepared for what we had ahead of us,” Vanessa recalls. “We actually had to break into his computer to get to his designs! And that’s how this all started.”
Fortunately, they found a binder filled with notes, with names of printers and companies Ahjanee had worked with in the past. Still, it was an uphill battle to get the business up and running. The pair initially struggled to find partners who met their quality standards. “We didn’t just want his designs transferred onto a T-shirt. We wanted to create a brand he’d be proud to wear, that people would want to wear again and again,” Vanessa explains.
Her passion is just phenomenal. She has a great eye for choosing and selecting designs, and for really orchestrating the whole brand.” – Vanessa Arrington
Then COVID brought additional frustrations. Shipping delays meant product took weeks or months instead of days to arrive. Thankfully, one key piece fell into place right on time, Vanessa recalls: “That first weekend in March, right before the shutdown, we had a photoshoot using his friends as the models. Everyone was amazing, and the photos are phenomenal.”
In spite of pandemic obstacles, Tatyana got to work, uploading their new brand photos to the website and growing an Instagram following.
“Tatyana, from the time she was born, was always a happy child. A bright star all the time,” Vanessa says of her daughter. “Her passion is just phenomenal. She has a great eye for choosing and selecting designs, and for really orchestrating the whole brand. She understands branding, marketing, influencing. She has a great eye for this whole business.
“And,” she adds, “because it’s her baby brother, she is really impassioned to bring his dream to life.”
Our heart extends beyond clothing. In September 2020, Stix Unlimited donated a portion of their proceeds to suicide prevention and other organizations.
Reflecting on a full year in business, Vanessa says, "We're so grateful for the support-from people we know, from strangers. I'm sure my son is looking down, just overjoyed with the size of the Stix family, a bubble of people who genuinely love his designs. I can see his beautiful smile."
And while she’s happy to have raised such humble children, Vanessa wants the world to really see and know her daughter’s spirit. “Tatyana is such a phenomenal person. She can be humble to the point that she falls under the radar, and you could miss her because of her gracious, humble nature. Sometimes I wish she’d toot her own horn a bit more. I’m just so proud of what she’s done.”
Tatyana’s story is part of a powerful series highlighting the hope and resilience of small business owners across America. Whether your business is well-established or just starting out, U.S. Bank has the banking tools and support you need to keep your business dreams alive and thriving.
