Elliott Snyder is a young man with artistic talent and vision.
A 17-year-old high school senior and Running Start student at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Snyder has started his own business. Called "Overcast Clothing Co.," the company designs and sells Northwest specific t-shirts, hoodies and more.
"I didn't expect it to get as popular as soon as it has...or take off as much as it has," said Snyder, who had over 90 orders for t-shirts and hoodies within a week of making his first design available.

As to why these t-shirts are so popular, the overwhelming response is that they are unique, visually striking and creative, according to Snyder.
Snyder described his idea to design t-shirts as a sudden intuitive leap of understanding.
"I'm always looking for cool t-shirts. It came to me in an epiphany that I could make better t-shirts than the ones I was looking at," said Snyder. "I made one design and a lot of people were interested. So now I'm making more.
"Ever since I was in preschool, I would doodle all the time."

Having lived in the Seattle area since the age of two, Snyder has decided to focus his designs specifically on subjects from the Pacific Northwest.
"I've always thought it would be cool to have a brand that is Northwest specific. It has surprised me that it has become so successful," said Snyder.
When asked where he got his ideas from he said, "For my first t-shirt, Seattle and trees are my favorite two things to draw, so I merged the two."
Although it may have been a surprise to Snyder that his artwork is extremely popular, for those that are familiar with his talent, it is no surprise.
Good friend Amanda Sills, who has known Elliott since age 14, said, "I think that Elliott has great artistic talent. His art style is fun and different; his t-shirt designs are very creative. I like how he uses Seattle in some of his designs. I am already planning on buying his t-shirts."
According to Snyder his parents are very excited for him.
"My parents are supportive of what I am doing, but financially I am doing it all myself," he said.
For the past four years Snyder has designed the logos for t-shirts for the yearly weeklong Day Camp at Des Moines Gospel Chapel in downtown Des Moines; the church he has attended for 15 years.
"I designed an absent-minded professor, century Gothic farm animals, and a lion. I designed some of the props too," said Snyder, whose work was used on the church Web site and on all of the marketing materials that were sent out promoting the activities.
"I also designed the logo for the Home Fellowships held at the church," said Snyder.

This year the church Day Camp, held in August, has a nautical theme and Snyder is busy working on the t-shirt design.
Having been accepted into the Art program at Western Washington University for the fall, Snyder would like to get a degree in either graphic design or visual arts.

For about five months prior to starting his company, Snyder discussed with his life-long friend Collin Harney, the idea of starting a business.

"My friend, Collin Harney, who I'm rooming with at Western next school year, is my business partner," said Snyder. "He's majoring in business and he told me all I have to do is create my designs and he'll take care of the rest of it."
According to Harney, he would bring the professional business mind into the mix and he sees the business as become more than just selling t-shirts.
"I am actually planning on this working into a career for the both of us," said Harney. "What makes me want to go into business with Elliott is that he is always coming up with new ideas for something to do...his designs amaze me, and are always something that I would want to wear."
Snyder and Harney are young men with a vision. At a time when the economy has taken a downturn and there are more and more needy people on the streets, the company is going to donate $1 for every shirt they sell to help the homeless in Seattle.
"We want to do something," said Snyder, "that will set us apart from any other clothing company; we want to go beyond the clothing and actually make a difference...to try to help solve the problems in our own backyard."

They also plan on making a t-shirt that states their cause on it and they will donate $5 for every one of those t-shirts that they sell.
"I will be there to help him," said Harney, "and for now it is mainly for the joy of helping our friends have some cool new clothes and making a difference with our donations to charity."

"I think it is fantastic that Elliott is using his business for a good cause," said Snyder friend Sills.
According to Snyder, he has been doing lots of sketches for future designs. He is currently finishing a t-shirt design with the Space Needle and Seattle skyscrapers in the background; another design bears his company logo.

"I definitely have a lot of ideas. This has all happened very fast. I'm not going to put it on hold that's for sure. I'm going to be doing them as fast as I can," said Snyder.

Snyder is looking into having Zumiez, a retail clothing chain, pick up some of his designs.
"I would want to keep the rights so I would have to see what restrictions they'd have for me selling them somewhere else. That's something I want to look into," said Snyder. "I've also been thinking of doing trucker hats and canvas tote bags."
Both Snyder and Harney are passionate about the business and are currently looking at marketing possibilities.

"As I get more designs I want to make flyers and give them out to people and post them at Highline campus. I also would like to sell items at Pike Place Market and possibly street fairs," said Snyder.

If anyone is interested in buying a t-shirt from Overcast Clothing Co., Snyder is currently working on the process to make it easier and can be contacted in several ways: at overcastclothingco@gmail.com; or by doing a Facebook search for Overcast Clothing Co. He has reserved the website domain name www.OverCastClothingCo.com and the Web site will be available at a future date.
"Right now it's a little overwhelming," said Snyder. "I've always seen success stories of entrepreneurs. I never thought it would be me doing it. It's a cool feeling. My ideal career is having a t-shirt company, or being a t-shirt designer. Right now I'm working on living my dream."