Trailblazing Trends Before They Were Cool
Who We Are - Our Story
Since day one, we’ve been driving creativity and innovation in branded merchandise and corporate swag. Here’s a look at how we’ve evolved over the years
Before "swag" became a buzzword, we were already making an impact. In 2012, we launched The Vanity Project (TVP) to revolutionize nonprofit branding and merchandise.
We aimed to create custom merchandise people would truly love to wear—stylish, purposeful, and high-quality. Partnering with organizations like the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, we turned branded gear into a tool for meaningful change.
Initially focused on consumer products, we soon pivoted to embrace exciting opportunities that redefined our business and expanded our reach.
As TVP evolved, we entered a thrilling phase. In 2014, Ryot approached us to design branded event gear for Ian Somerhalder's foundation at the Teen Choice Awards. The response was incredible—Ian’s t-shirt went viral on Twitter, driving a surge in sales and opening doors to collaborations with celebrities, nonprofits, and corporate clients.
This success led to projects for iconic brands, including Disney campaigns for Star Wars and Iron Man. Our expertise in promotional products, logo merchandise, and event swag became the foundation for future growth.
With increasing demand for branded merchandise and custom swag, we outgrew our original fulfillment provider. In 2015, we established our own warehouse for in-house logistics and fulfillment services, enabling us to offer reliable campaign fulfillment and inventory management.
As companies sought customized online stores and uniform solutions, we entered the Shopify Partner Program. This milestone marked the beginning of our journey into creating branded online stores, employee store solutions, and volunteer gift portals.
In 2015, we became Shopify Plus partners—the fastest to achieve this distinction at the time. This achievement solidified our role as leaders in eCommerce fulfillment for branded items for companies.
By 2020, the shift to eCommerce accelerated. As demand for corporate swag, employee gifts, and client thank-you gifts grew, we partnered with notable brands like Carnival, Lonely Planet, and Chantecaille, scaling our operations to meet global needs.
This year marked the rebranding of our eCommerce division into Total Commerce, a fully autonomous operation. This shift allows us to deliver specialized solutions, from corporate gift ideas and conference merchandise to branded gear for corporate events and nonprofit branded solutions.
Our independent divisions now focus on delivering tailored services, including bespoke merchandise production, branded uniforms, NIL swag, and global shipping solutions, ensuring clients receive exceptional service and unmatched expertise.
Before "swag" became a buzzword, we were already making an impact. In 2012, we launched The Vanity Project (TVP) to revolutionize nonprofit branding and merchandise.
We aimed to create custom merchandise people would truly love to wear—stylish, purposeful, and high-quality. Partnering with organizations like the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, we turned branded gear into a tool for meaningful change.
Initially focused on consumer products, we soon pivoted to embrace exciting opportunities that redefined our business and expanded our reach.
As TVP evolved, we entered a thrilling phase. In 2014, Ryot approached us to design branded event gear for Ian Somerhalder's foundation at the Teen Choice Awards. The response was incredible—Ian’s t-shirt went viral on Twitter, driving a surge in sales and opening doors to collaborations with celebrities, nonprofits, and corporate clients.
This success led to projects for iconic brands, including Disney campaigns for Star Wars and Iron Man. Our expertise in promotional products, logo merchandise, and event swag became the foundation for future growth.
With increasing demand for branded merchandise and custom swag, we outgrew our original fulfillment provider. In 2015, we established our own warehouse for in-house logistics and fulfillment services, enabling us to offer reliable campaign fulfillment and inventory management.
As companies sought customized online stores and uniform solutions, we entered the Shopify Partner Program. This milestone marked the beginning of our journey into creating branded online stores, employee store solutions, and volunteer gift portals.
In 2015, we became Shopify Plus partners—the fastest to achieve this distinction at the time. This achievement solidified our role as leaders in eCommerce fulfillment for branded items for companies.
By 2020, the shift to eCommerce accelerated. As demand for corporate swag, employee gifts, and client thank-you gifts grew, we partnered with notable brands like Carnival, Lonely Planet, and Chantecaille, scaling our operations to meet global needs.
This year marked the rebranding of our eCommerce division into Total Commerce, a fully autonomous operation. This shift allows us to deliver specialized solutions, from corporate gift ideas and conference merchandise to branded gear for corporate events and nonprofit branded solutions.
Our independent divisions now focus on delivering tailored services, including bespoke merchandise production, branded uniforms, NIL swag, and global shipping solutions, ensuring clients receive exceptional service and unmatched expertise.
TVP Through the Years
The TVP Difference
Our journey continues with the same passion for creativity and innovation that started it all. From custom online stores and personalized merch options to screen printing services and corporate branding solutions, we remain committed to delivering quality and impact—no matter the project.