Manuel Bassa
Staff Writer
There are many dreams and aspirations that, as young men and women, we desire but never decide to take action and pursue them. Many grow up and say to themselves that it was just a “childish dream” or “innocent aspirations” or “impossible tasks.”
But some chase those dreams without hesitation. Thomas Tchistiak in one of those people.
“Kanye West and Nike were my inspiration and my “push” to begin the Arbiton movement,” Tom says. “Just do it I thought, and did.”
Tchistiak, a 20-year-old Millersville sophomore, began this project when he was only 17. He describes himself as an owner and founder of a clothing company seeking for the “Upper-Echelon in the industry, and in the business of life.”
“But no one really knows how I got here,” he adds.
Not too long after beginning his college career Tom quickly bonded with two other promising students, Kenny Feliz and Andrew Higgins. They met in the same dorm, and later became both business partners and roommates.
This immediate boost of personnel and brainstorming power gave them the tools to begin spreading the word about the company, the brand, the “movement”, as Tom describes it, and a newly implemented business idea for screen-printing shirts. The Arbiton crew had a deal during the month of January for 100 shirts to be made for the MU radio station (WIXQ 91.7 FM) for the “MU underground” event.
“We hope to catch a deal with other groups and clubs on campus and eventually move off campus, but we’re at a good start,” Higgins says.
Feliz and Higgins both see the screen-printing of shirts as a great way to create an income to provide for Arbitons others business needs.
“We can only follow our dreams and hope it all works out as we grow; as a company and individuals, and develop just like Tom did when he started this company by himself,” Feliz says.
For now the Arbiton guys are starting small and just trying to get things off the ground, but they have big dreams.
“I want this company to be recognized as an ambitious, innovative clothing product company determined to provide accessible, high quality and well-designed products,” Feliz says.
