Apolis: Contemporary for a Cause

Raan Parton and his brothers, Shea and Stenn, have screen printed T-shirts plastered with street art–style drawings for friends since they were in high school in Santa Barbara, Calif. What motivated the brothers to turn their homemade T-shirts into a business two years ago was the goal of generating funds for humanitarian causes.

Apolis’ garment-dyed T-shirts, which are sold at stores including Scott Hill in Los Angeles and Villains Vault in San Francisco, hook customers in with premium- quality cotton and a slim fit. Raan Parton said stores and customers keep buying the line because of the brand’s message of goodwill.

“The loyalty has grown because it aligns with people’s values, especially with the generation of [single people in their mid-20s] who have come into buying power now,” said Parton of his generation. “They have been over-marketed to. They’re hungry for things that are authentic.”

The line has expanded from cotton T-shirts for $20 wholesale to include women’s Supima French terry hoodies that can double as a dress, striped cashmere sweaters with lambskin elbow patches, men’s garmentdyed woven shirts and a limited-edition men’s jacket made from recycled olive-green military tarps, which wholesales for $240. Original graphics designed by Parton capture the company’s philosophy with sayings such as “Defend Tomorrow” applied with an upholstery foam stamp.

In addition to donating a percentage of Apolis’ revenue to humanitarian organizations, the brothers organize special events that link their family’s circle of philanthropically inclined friends with Apolis’ partnered nonprofits. Parton’s father, Lindsay Parton, is a principal in the real estate private equity investment firm DJM Capital Partners Inc., whose investment portfolio includes the Bella Terra mall in Huntington Beach, Calif.

For the nonprofit organization Invisible Children, Apolis invited important real estate figures and business owners to a screening of the documentary film “Invisible Children.” The film was produced by Raan Parton’s friends from San Diego who run the Invisible Children organization, which provides jobs and education for people in north Uganda. The Parton brothers declined to disclose how much money has been donated as a result of the events, but some attendees expressed interest, and Parton has faith it will pay off in the future. “It’s getting influential people to support these causes and even know about them,” he said.

For more information about Apolis, contact The Standard Showroom in suite 211 of the Cooper Design Space at (213) 622-6121. —Rhea Cortado