Mental health is being emphasized now more than ever. See The Way I See is a clothing brand that supports this movement. It has become known for its sweatshirts with reassuring short messages on their sleeves. They also sell various fashion items of a similar nature. Founder Sophie Nistico, recently pitched her company on Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. As of 2023, See The Way I See is worth an estimated $3 million.
Sophie Nistico’s Background
Sophie Nistico hails from Trumbull, Connecticut and studied health science at Sacred Heart University. Not long after graduating, she started her own business.
At the age of 15, she experienced chronic migraines up to 20 times per month. It took her a long time to realize that she had severe anxiety. As a result, destigmatizing mental health became the primary motivation behind her apparel line.
Founding See The Way I See
The Connecticut native started as an Instagram artist, creating and promoting sticker designs. The art she created was solely from her perspective, so she named her page See The Way I See.
As her community grew, Sophie decided to expand to clothing. In her parents’ basement, she designed and packaged size-inclusive sweatshirts with affirmative messages on the sleeve. This gained a lot of support, so the founder made new products.
Since 2017, See The Way I See has grown from stickers to sweatshirts, tees, sweatpants, jewelry, gift cards, and stationery. Due to her growth, Sophie moved operations out of the basement and into their garage.
Getting on Shark Tank
Sophie documented her journey on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Many of her followers witnessed her outgrow her family’s two-car garage and relocate to a 6,500 sqft warehouse.
The startup has progressed steadily over the years. However, her business still runs into issues with international shipping and restocking. With this, the entrepreneur sought out help from outside investors.
When explaining Sophie’s work to people, her parents often likened it to entrepreneurial stories that featured on Shark Tank. And as fate would have it, their daughter got the chance to appear on Shark Tank in 2023. Despite her nerves, Sophie delivered a strong pitch and was well-prepared.
Update After Shark Tank
Despite the episode only recently airing, Sophie is expecting to see a huge spike into orders. Potentially the business could struggle to fulfill orders and her website could crash. Fans of the show were supportive as she came across as a likable person.
If you’re interested in making a purchase, checkout their website, SeeTheWayISee.com. They have new collections coming soon, and some of their classic designs are back in stock. Currently, they have a phone case collaboration with Casetify.
Before appearing on the show, they’ve already sold 50,000 units. Thanks to the power of Shark Tank, it won’t take long to double sales. Running a clothing brand is a tough business but Sophie’s USP is the connection with her audience. Anybody can start an ecommerce store but few have the ability to attract followers organically.
