Local online business selling T-shirts for good causes

The online clothing business was started nearly one year ago by Newton resident Beau Van Sickle — sole proprietor at just 24 years old — and currently sells T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and hats that convey a theme of living life unapologetically.

“When I graduated college, I got so caught up in working and I started to think to myself one day that I was working so hard at making a living that I kind of forgot about living,” Van Sickle said in a phone conversation. “So it’s all about expressing your unique individuality and celebrating it.”

More than that, the company recently launched a line of T-shirts called “Live 4 A Cause,” which will support various philanthropic endeavors throughout the year.

“I’ve always been a big believer that one of the biggest parts of life is giving back and being generous with your life. It helps bring fulfillment to a life that’s properly lived,” Van Sickle said. “So, I was thinking of ways a business could (stand) for something more than profit ... and make a positive impact.”

In light of the recent devastation Hurricane Sandy left in its wake, Van Sickle designed a special shirt — red with a hand-drawn Statue of Liberty that has “a grunge kind of look.” His goal is to sell the T-shirts and donate all the money to help victims on the east coast.

“Right now, we’re selling the shirts for $25 and all the profits for this individual shirt are going to be donated to the American Red Cross and to help with the relief efforts,” Van Sickle said.

Other T-shirts in the works include helping out the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation this holiday season, and a rescue league shirt will be rolled out after the start of the new year to promote animal adoptions and donating to rescue leagues in general.

“Every month or so we’ll be running a different cause awareness shirt,” Van Sickle said. “It’s kind of going to be an evolving theme.”

For more information on the business or Live 4 A Cause T-shirts, visit www.kounterkulturestudios.com or email info@kounterkulturestudios.com.