Textbooks to Textiles, Student Starts Clothing Brand

Amidst a hectic fall semester, Thomas Remmen grows his clothing brand, Daybreake

Sacred Heart University student Thomas Remmen ’25 recently founded Daybreake, a New York-based clothing brand aimed to create apparel that gives consumers a sense of purpose and passion in their wardrobe.

Remmen is a junior economics major in the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT). Passionate about entrepreneurship, he created the brand with his friend Jack Ryan, who attends Long Island University.

The Daybreake website describes Remmen and Ryan as “two best friends from opposite New York City neighborhoods.” Neither one hails from a business-owning family, yet a shared vision for starting a locally inspired brand spurred them to create Daybreake. Their collections include hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts and more, inspired by local scenery, such as the shores of Rockaway Beach, NY and the New York City skyline. Their designs highlight local landmarks around the area.

The pair launched their company in March, and they spent much of this past summer working to sell their clothes directly to customers at locations around Brooklyn and Queens, NY. Their hard work and direct-to-consumer approach were vital in getting into their first retail location this summer in Rockaway Beach.

Remmen is a full-time student and WCBT mentor, helping younger students adapt to college and find their footing at the University. He said starting the company has been a valuable learning experience in time management. Balancing his own business and going to school is a challenge, but he said the busy schedule has helped him develop schedules and set realistic goals for himself and the company. The company helped him discover what he’s truly passionate about.

Remmen believes starting the venture also was a major building block in understanding real-world business practices. “It’s much more about people and connections than numbers on a page,” he said.

He credits SHU for inspiring him to start the brand. “The culture and community of Sacred Heart is unique in that it breeds inspiration and entrepreneurship; it’s unlike any place I’ve been before.”

Remmen sees the brand as a platform to do good and give back to his community. Daybreake participates in charity events, including providing T-shirts for a summer stroll in partnership with the El-Rose Foundation in Bay Ridge, NY, which supports the area’s senior centers. He and Daybreake play a key role in planning the event and others like it.

Remmen plans to make Daybreake his full-time job post-graduation. Before he leaves SHU, he is committed to partnering with University clubs and organizations to offer them customizable apparel at a discounted rate.

Daybreake’s goal is to create a brand that is recognized throughout the globe. Remmen said it is a steep goal, but he’s devoted to developing it over time. He said the next step is to integrate the clothing brand into the SHU community.

To learn more about Daybreake, visit the company’s website or Instagram page.