Jessica Pellegrino – General Assignment Reporter
Sitting behind his computer desk, you would not picture Patrizio Arpaia to be a CEO of his own clothing label.
Patrizio Arpaia, graduate from SCSU’s class of 2015, now works at Southern, as a University Assistant.
“I deal with setting up people’s accounts, whether it be students or faculty, I deal with their computer issues.” said Arpaia.
Self-proclaimed people-person, Arpaia thinks his job has more to do with interpersonal skills than with technology.
“I am good at delegating,” he said. “You have to be outspoken for this job. It is more like a customer service job than a technology based job.”
But Patrizio Arpaia is more than just a University Assistant. He owns and independently runs his own clothing brand, called Forgotten Youth Supply Company. He created the clothing brand while he was still a student at SCSU.
“I sell off of a website. My clothes would be considered streetwear, particularly inspired by traditional tattoo art,” said Arpaia.
The brand sells shirts, sweatshirts, hats and patches, amongst other items. The items are all printed on male shirts, but can be unisex. The clothing is designed with prints of traditional style tattoo art on them.
Arpaia runs the whole company right from his apartment.
I get to do what I love every single day,” he said. “I love to create something out of nothing. For me, this is more rewarding. Having a job that you actually love is the best thing in the world. Life is about more than just paying your bills, you know? If I am going to be stuck doing the same thing everyday, I want to at least love what I am doing.”
One of Arpaia’s favorite things to do is to travel. He recently just got back from a 10 day trip to Iceland.
“I just got back from Iceland,” said Arpaia. “I absolutely loved it. We spent 10 days there photographing the new winter line that’s coming out soon. That line is two whole years in the making, so I wanted it to be special.”
Arpaia’s plans for his future do not align with his college career. He said, “I was a Biology and Italian Major, so Southern did not help me at all. *laughs* I can’t say that. Southern helped me come to the realization that I will never want a typical nine to five job behind a desk.”
He said students should always follow their own dreams, not the dreams others have for them. Arpaia struggled for a long time trying to make everyone around him happy, but he knew he was not living the life he wanted to live.
“The stress of being a biology major was too much for me.” said Arpaia. “I woke up one day and realized I was only pursuing biology because that is what my parents wanted from me. But I don’t think I want that. I know that now. I just did not want to waste my whole life doing something that I hate.”
For more information about Arpaia’s clothing brand Forgotten Youth Supply Company, visit the online store, forgottenyouthsupply.com.
Photo Credit: Jessica Pellegrino – General Assignment Reporter