While what starts here changes the world, these students are going above and beyond. In addition to handling their schoolwork at the university, these students have also managed to create their own businesses.

Story by Brandon Pegram

Photos by Ashley Ephraim

Teenage Mango

Started by freshman social work major Hibah Shafi, Teenage Mango had unexpected beginnings. Shafi recalls that while making a gift for her friends, she started to receive many questions about the shirt she was embroidering. What began as a simple gift is now a growing business. Creating beautifully embroidered t-shirts, Shafi has found a niche market, blending handmade artwork with popular fashion styles. Her t-shirts rival the quality of larger brands, while retaining the originality that customers admire. While the growth of her business has been swift, Shafi hasn’t forgotten her plans to donate a portion of her profits to charity. She hopes to grow her brand this summer, and open an online shop, so be on the lookout. Check her out on Twitter @hibsdontlie.

Archangel Kicks

It’s no secret that the reselling of sneakers and clothes has become big business. But freshman business major Michel Asperas has taken it to another level. With everything from Yeezys to Jordans to the latest Supreme drops in stock, Asperas has some of the rarest releases from the past two years. His love for sneakers led him to creating his business in the eighth grade and he hasn’t looked back since. Be on the lookout for his name in the next few years, as Asperas plans to open a brick-and-mortar store in the future. Follow him on Instagram @archangel_kicks and peep his online shop.

PhamNism

Nancy Pham is all about promoting positivity and self-love, as shown by her clothing line PhamNism. The brand “reminds people how great they are on a regular basis,” Pham says. The freshman business student looks to eventually mass-produce her clothing, bringing positivity to as many people as possible by way of their clothes. Providing self-love one t-shirt at a time, PhamNism is a business with a message that we can all get behind. View her online shop at here.

IceVisuals

Only a few have the eye to create something picture-perfect. Luckily, sophomore radio, television, and film major Kasim Kabbara has that eye. Kabbara has created and led IceVisuals to prominence in the UT community in just a year. Inspired to create beautiful cinematography, Kabbara saw a lack of videographers at UT and decided to use his skills to fill that void. While his skills with a camera are impressive, Kasim wants to expand IceVisuals to an entertainment company that provides a platform for models, artists and other creatives alike to pursue their dreams as well. For booking, contact him here.