Dowling alumni creates clothing brand Radical Love inspired by faith, fashion
A sunflower washed up on a Naples, Florida shore as the ocean waves hit Dylan Smidt's feet.
The West Des Moines native was walking across sandy beaches holding flower bouquets, celebrating the release of his clothing brand's latest drop, when the moment occurred. He was surrounded by classmates-turned-customers during a beach event he hosted.
"It's still a memory we think of; something that was there as a sign of his abundant love," Smidt said.
Smidt's clothing brand Radical Love, inspired by his Catholic faith, has amassed a following of buyers from his past peers at Dowling Catholic High School to professional athletes.
As Christians around the world celebrate Advent and the approach of Christmas, Smidt is promoting his line's newest drop.
'Just spread a message of love, share God's love' is goal of Radical Love
During his time as a freshman at Dowling, Smidt took an interest in graphic design. His junior year, he designed clothes and a children's book called "God's Little Kiddo." Smidt's classmates encouraged him to take the next step and create the book and clothes.
He listened to their advice and, from there, started the clothing company that combines scripture and style.
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"Different people in the community started picking them up and then just kind of took the momentum from there and just kept making collections and kept designing," Smidt said.
The 21-year-old, who graduated from Dowling in 2021, confessed that his idea to create a brand reached beyond the walls of a church.
"My goal is to build community through clothes and then just spread a message of love, share God's love (and) hopefully do more events," Smidt said. "And just make clothes people enjoy and want to keep."
Smidt works to cultivate community with Des Moines art scene
Collaboration is key to Radical Love's success, Smidt said. The Des Moines art scene features a slew of creatives who have helped Smidt refine his brand.
"In the city, we have a lot of people that support each other so whether it's like all being at the same event or all just like genuinely enjoying each other's work and being friends outside of creative stuff," Smidt said. "It's just like how I might make friends in sports."
Those collaborations led to projects like a sunflower-inspired fragrance, "Hope Does Not Disappoint," created with Ali Coppola, the owner of Currently Candles, a small-batch soy candle company.
His apparel has reached beyond the city's borders and has been worn by NFL veteran Tommy Streeter Jr. and former NBA basketball player Brandon Jennings. Catholic podcaster Matt Fradd also has a piece from Smidt's brand as well as Christian singer-songwriter Montell Fish.
Local celebrity and philanthropist Billy "B. Well" Weathers and Demetrio Ortiz, the creator of his own fashion brand Eternal, also have supported the brand.
Smidt's latest drop is silky, embroidered evergreen-colored pajama shirt
On Dec. 8, Smidt released a resort-themed shirt. On the shirt's left-hand side, it reads "peace beyond understanding." The word "resort" is scrolled on the back.
The shirt is Smidt's first fully cut and sew piece. It's an evergreen-colored silky pajama shirt with embroidered lettering. It joins his other designs in his online shop at radicallove.store.
Shortly after the new drop, Smidt returned home to spend Christmas break away from the shores of Florida, where he attends Ave Maria University.
"(God's love) means unconditional love, it means like a rock of support that won't waver or go away," Smidt said. "It means all of that is alive and can change your heart and bring you into a new life."
Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dowling Catholic grad creates Radical Love, fashion inspired by faith
