A Sweatshirt with a Twist

It all started as a case of mistaken identity.

Friends Tyler Woyshner and Mike Rudolph were at a concert. Woyshner was wearing a blue, zip-up hoodie and had a gray T-shirt over one shoulder. When Rudolph saw him he asked if it was a double sweatshirt.

It wasn’t, but the two entrepreneurial students thought maybe they were onto something.

“We started making them,” said Tyler. “And everyone wanted one.”

The duo started making Switch Shirts over Thanksgiving break 2010. And the idea has taken off.

They have formed a company and have a patent pending on their product. They trademarked their logo, which was designed by Mike’s brother Bryan. The name came from friend Ben Smith.

They have sold more than 600 of the zip-up, two-tone hooded sweatshirts. They have sold them at craft fairs and at the Columbus Market, but mostly sales are through word of mouth.

They have not done it alone, they say, noting that their moms help pick up the inventory for them to make their creations and lend a hand with sewing since Mike and Tyler are in college—Tyler at Drexel and Mike at West Virginia. Both are engineering students. Tyler, who is home on weekends to play hockey with his club team, helps with the sewing duties.

“I never thought seventh-grade sewing class would be useful,” Mike said.

When they started their new venture, they made several different color combinations to have in stock. They stopped that practice when people wanted custom orders. Now they make them as they get the orders. Some of their more popular colors have been navy and gray, orange and black and blue and gold. The Switch Shirts sell for $25 and can be ordered online at switchshirts.net. There are 15 different colors from which to choose and come in adult sizes small through XXL. Other sizes are available in limited colors.

The Switch Shirts are most popular with high school and college students.

“It’s fun to spot them,” said Barbara Rudolph, Mike’s mom. “We’re very proud and happy for them.”