BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Dressing to impress and finding the upside to life, two things a new Bakersfield business is trying to bring to the city.
The founder and creator Michael Girgis says that his new apparel line Upside is designed to be fashionable and enlight the community.
"I love people they make me happy, feel supported, and I want to be an advocate for the Down Syndrome community," Girgis said.
The 34-year-old Bakersfield Native and his life coach Rafael Berrones say that the brand is to remind people of the positive upside to life.
"Upside is about looking at the things like circumstances, that may not initially look like an advantage," said Berrones. "Often if you look at the upside there is so much beauty to be found in those things."
Girgis the entrepreneur, also has Down Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that causes developmental and physical delays.
He says that his disability hasn’t stopped him from owning his own business.
It also inspired his logo where he incorporated the popular three arrows where many affected by down syndrome have used as a sign of support.
"We have black and white designs for Upside and we do t-shirts and fanny packs with upside," Girgis said.
Girgis has been working on his Upside project for two years and now with the help of his support group they are now prepping for Upside's first-ever,free pop-up shop.
"So we will have a pop-up shop in downtown Bakersfield on November 2nd at the Idea Hive," Berrones said. "It will be a good time to see the product and we will have a live band."
Girgis says that his disability or anyone else who has one should never stop them from following their dreams.
"I am just finding the ability of having Down Syndrome in life and don’t let it stop us from doing what you want to do," Girgis said.
For more information on Michael's apparel company and how you can attend their pop up shop, follow this link.
