Gabriel began creating the initial Status designs while attending Temple University in 2012. Initially creating designs for himself and friends to wear. After understanding there was a demand around these pieces he began operating and selling clothing under the name “Got Status? clothing”. Upon graduating in 2015 and returning to DC, he reimagined and relaunched the brand as Status Apparel DC.

“When I started making shirts I really was making stuff that I liked to wear. When I started wearing the shirts around campus, and posting pictures on social media I saw that people wanted to support and wanted to represent what we had going on. It also became a way for me to be creative outside of my every day course load. Overall that base purpose of me wanting to create great quality designs that I love has continued in everything that I’ve created since the beginning. I aim to create comfortable, durable, quality clothing that spans age and is really just good design. I’m super appreciative and glad that these concepts continue to be well received.”