Sophia Williams shows off the popular Beeyoutofull hoodie from her Lovership Apparel designs
Sophia Williams sits at her iPad drawing larger and larger spirals. “Larger spirals, larger thoughts,” she explains. Sophia says she just draws whatever comes to her mind whenever it happens. Sophia, a resident of Alexandria, is 11-years-old and has been attending school for three years through Virginia Virtual Academy which gives her a lot of flexibility.
Her mother comments, “We haven’t really discussed the spirals one yet but I like the idea.”
Nikki Mills and her daughter, Sophia, are the owners of Lovership Apparel, a family brand. “Sophia is head of the Children’s Department,” Mills explains. She is the inspiration for the children's designs and added yellow and brighter more fun colors that are only for kids. “For instance, we have our hoodies and T-shirts in azalea, orange, sand and sapphire.”
Mills is a psychologist and life coach and she started the business in 2003 to help spread peace and love. Sophia says, “a lot of people in the world need kindness. We spread love to everyone who needs it.”
Mills says a lot of people in her family have struggled with mental health so she transfers positive messages to the hoodies and T-shirts they produce. One of the favorites is “Beyoutofull” with “Be You to the Fullest” on the other side. “This means be yourself.” Mills says they sell it in almost every color “and every color sells; no one seems to be the favorite.”
Sophia adds they will be coming out with a new breast cancer shirt for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Mills says her daughter’s ideas come from her sketches “but I’m a middle of the night kind of creator.” She writes down her notes and then goes back later and investigates her “downloads.” Mills explains they keep journals of their ideas. “We keep track of what’s going on in the world, what’s needed. We have a new Peace Department for people of all diversities. We have rainbow T-shirts and different forms of unity and love.”
Sophia has been drawing since she could hold crayon pens in her hands. “She used to draw on my wall,” Mills remembers.
Mills explains that Sophia is enrolled in virtual learning which is really easy. “You can go anywhere and do your work.” The transfer to virtual learning happened after Sophia struggled with health issues in the regular classroom and nearly died after contracting pneumonia from a classmate, her mother says. “She was really susceptible to a lot of things, and it just didn’t work for her.”
Now Sophia explains she gets up and opens up her computer, does a few assignments, eats lunch and finishes up with more assignments. Her mother explains Sophia has live classes online, too, where she is in the same classroom with other students and can socialize. “It’s a good life balance with a lot less stress and more fluidity, not being in the same room all day long.”
For more information: https://www.lovershipapparel.com/