Name: Evan Maeda
Major: Digital Design
Year: junior
Hometown: Honolulu, HI and Bay Area, CA
What is Gifted By Choice?
GIFTED BY CHOICE is a creative brand that believes in inspiring, educating, and illuminating the minds of the masses that are self-determined and seek to realize and apply the potential that they are innately instilled with. With this as our foundation, we strive to promote this lifestyle through an apparel collection and creative agency. Through our products, we strive to embody and reflect the GBC lifestyle within every piece we produce and push the limits in regards to each design and message. Through our creative agency, we serve as a hub for like-minded creative individuals to explore ideas and concepts that embody and reflect the GBC lifestyle through collaborative branding and design projects.
How do you hope to see GBC evolve in the future?
If you had asked me for this question 3 years ago when I was screen printing our first shirts, I probably would have said that I hope GBC blew up and was in every Zumiez around the country, as well as in Kanye’s wardrobe rotation. Nowadays, I’m just enjoying the ride. There’s a level of flexibility that comes with running a company on your own. I can allow it to adapt and change just as I adapt and change as a person. We’ve grown from just being merely a t-shirt brand to creating a variety of different products and managing a blog. I’ve even worked on branding projects for other businesses under the company.
Aside from designing apparel and inspiring the masses, what do you enjoy doing? Are you involved in any activities on or off campus?
I really enjoy exploring this great city we live in. I’ve been here in Seattle for 3 years now and I still feel like there’s more to see. I also enjoy going out to eat with my homies and just kickin’ it. On campus, I am an active member in the United Filipino Club and the Vietnamese Student Association, the marketing manager at the SU Recreation Department, a clerk at SUperCopy, and the design intern at the SU Marketing Communications Office.
Do you have a role model or someone who inspires you?
My role models will always be my parents, hands down. They’ve given me so much, making me into the person I am today; there probably wouldn’t be a GBC without them. When it comes to inspiration, I am really inspired by the work Pharrell Williams is/has been doing. He’s just all-around the greatest, promoting positivity over everything. If there’s anything I hope for GBC, it’s to get that Pharrell co-sign.
What do you hope to accomplish after graduating?
I really hope I can find a job in my field, sooner rather than later. I also hope to travel, maybe even work abroad as soon as an opportunity presents itself. Lastly, I hope I’ll always have time to do GBC, whether it remains my side project or grows into something I can pay the bills with.
If you could share any one piece of advice, what would that be?
“You are already that person… just put yourself in that place.” – Pharrell