Promotional Apparel Design

UpNorth Distribution, a leading cannabis brand in Northern California, wanted to create more than typical promotional gear—they envisioned a line of exclusive apparel that embodied their brand’s energy, quality, and lifestyle. They turned to me to design wearable pieces that customers would be proud to own—and that would deepen brand loyalty far beyond traditional marketing.

As a freelance designer, I led the concept development, design execution, and production coordination for a collection that included custom-fitted caps and reversible hoodies—delivering pieces that told UpNorth’s story with every stitch.

UpNorth’s goals were ambitious:

• Create apparel that felt exclusive, premium, and genuinely wearable
• Blend functional streetwear style with brand identity
• Collaborate with a production partner who could deliver top-tier quality
• Capture the vibrancy of UpNorth’s green-and-black brand color scheme
• Design pieces that would stand out—not blend in—with typical cannabis merch

This wasn’t about slapping a logo on a hat. It was about storytelling through design.

I spearheaded a creative collaboration between UpNorth and Grassroots California, a well-known name in high-end, limited-run streetwear.

Key deliverables included:

• Fitted Caps:
  Featuring a raised, embroidered UpNorth logo against a textured background pattern—plus a surprise playful graphic lining the interior.
• Reversible Hoodies:
  Designed with a sleek black exterior and a vibrant green interior—drawing inspiration from UpNorth’s signature cannabis jar carton design.
• Material and Vendor Coordination:
  Worked directly with Grassroots California to ensure fabric quality, embroidery precision, and production timelines aligned with UpNorth’s vision.

The collection struck a perfect balance between wearable style and brand storytelling—turning customers into proud ambassadors.

The custom apparel line:

• Elevated UpNorth’s brand presence in both retail and event settings
• Created a sense of exclusivity with limited-edition runs
• Strengthened customer loyalty through premium, lifestyle-driven merchandise
• Demonstrated UpNorth’s attention to quality and culture

The fitted caps and hoodies weren’t just merch—they became part of the UpNorth experience.

“Andrew didn’t just understand our vision; he elevated it. His expertise in design brought our brand to life in a way we couldn’t have imagined. The hoodies and caps have been a massive hit with our customers, who appreciate the quality and the story behind each piece. Working with Andrew has been an absolute pleasure, and we’re proud to wear our brand on our sleeves, quite literally!”
– Geoffrey Hoopes, UpNorth CEO