Daniel Kauffman and William Wright combine their love for fashion and charity with Impact Threads, donating profits to local organizations.
Lovett senior Daniel Kauffman and Westminster senior William Wright have launched a philanthropic apparel brand, Impact Threads, aiming to merge their passions for fashion and charitable giving. Both teenagers have held ambitions of starting a business together since they were in fifth grade, and their vision has materialized into reality ahead of their graduation.
The inception of Impact Threads occurred the summer before their junior year in high school, influenced by a formative experience Kauffman had while volunteering at a homeless shelter during sixth grade. “One moment that really inspired me that made me know I wanted to do something like philanthropy was in sixth grade at Lovett,” Kauffman recounted in an interview with Rough Draft. “We had an opportunity to go to a homeless shelter and feed the people there. It was an amazing experience, meeting everyone there and hearing their stories. After that experience, I knew I wanted to do something that had a bigger impact.”
Officially launched in November 2024, Impact Threads works directly with local charities to produce apparel that features T-shirts showcasing the branding of each partner organization. The company has already aligned itself with three notable charities: the Atlanta Humane Society, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and I Will Survive, Inc. For each sale, fifty-one percent of the profits go to the respective charity, providing a substantial incentive for customers to contribute to their causes.
The design of the shirts includes an innovative feature—a QR code that enhances customer interaction and facilitates charitable contributions. “We want our clothing to be interactive,” Kauffman explained. “When you go up to and see someone wearing one of our shirts, we don’t want you to just be like, ‘Oh, that’s a cool shirt.’ We want you to actually be able to interact with it.” This approach allows wearers to donate directly through the QR code, potentially reaching individuals who may not wish to purchase a shirt but still want to contribute financially to the charitable organizations.
Wright acknowledged the price point of the shirts, priced at $30, which might deter some potential buyers. “There are a lot of people, especially at my school, who will see the shirt and be like, ‘Oh, that’s super interesting. I don’t necessarily want a shirt right now, or I would love to support but don’t want to spend $30 right now,’” Wright said. This dynamic allows for smaller donations through the QR code, further enhancing the fundraising potential for associated charities.
All aspects of Impact Threads’ operations—from design and production to marketing and sales—are managed in-house by Kauffman and Wright, requiring no financial commitment from their charity partners. Their products have been available at community events such as the Vinings Farmers Market as well as through their website, impactthreads.org.
With aspirations for their brand’s evolution, Kauffman and Wright view their current experiences as stepping stones for future initiatives. “It’s just been a learning process,” Kauffman stated. “Every challenge that we’ve had has helped us grow as a business and as a brand in moving toward a bigger goal.” Their plans involve diversifying their product line beyond T-shirts, enhancing the interactive aspects of their clothing, and extending their partnerships with additional charities across Atlanta and beyond.
“The charities want to work with us,” Wright noted, expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations. “So any charities that reach out to us, we want to work with you.” As they prepare for the next chapter in their lives with college on the horizon, Kauffman and Wright are committed to expanding Impact Threads into a larger platform for philanthropy through fashion.
Source: Noah Wire Services
